Langley need ‘one more win to survive’

LANGLEY 1st XI took a giant stride towards fending off relegation with a hard fought victory away at Wayfarers at the weekend, winning their first match since June 25.

Skipper Frame won the toss and elected to bowl. Langley got off to superb start as the skipper claimed a wicket in his first over as Zeb (1) chipped to mid wicket, Betteridge in his second over forced Shirley (1) to mistime a drive to midoff, and when Frame bowled Mushtaq (6) in the next over Wayfarers were reeling on 8-3. Things got no better when Usman was trapped LBW by Betteridge as they wobbled to 13-4.

Credit to Clinch and Mathews who dug in and saw off the new ball, the duo took the score to 53 until Mathews (31) miscued to point where Berzins took a good catch.

Hassard (3) was then LBW to Berzins. Clinch, who had the innings together, then began to increase the tempo. He reached a solid 26 until a ball kept low and he was bowled by Frame. Berzins then had Anthony Mape (1) well caught in the covers by Hughes, and when dad Phil fell caught behind to Frame, Wayfarers were struggling on 83-9. Credit to Smith (19) and Bruce (5) who ensured they reached three figures, in the final over Berzins dismissed the former. For Langley, Frame bowled unchanged taking 5-54 off 22 overs, Berzins 3-25 off 12.4 overs and Bettteridge 2-18 off ten overs.

After tea the hosts went out to bat, having lost five overs to the rain, they got off to a woeful start as Pattison (2) was bowled, Hobbs (1) was caught behind, Hughes (0) was stumped and Gregory (9) was also caught behind as they fell to 13-4 in 12 overs.

Letven, playing with a major back issue and Brown, playing his second game in ten weeks due to a finger injury, led a strong fight back, running well and showing composure. The pair added 49 in 16 overs taking the score to 62 until both fell in consecutive overs, both trapped LBW. Letven (15) and Brown (24), with 42 needed off 12 overs the game was well poised.

Youngster Potts (2) then clipped to mid wicket, Betteridge and Nadin then batted intelligently – just like Letven and Brown they both ran well. Nadin defied his years and struck the ball well. The score reached 90 when Nadin (16) was LBW.

Skipper Frame joined Betteridge with 14 needed off four overs, the pair scampered every run and saw Langley to a fantastic victory with seven balls to spare.

For Wayfarers, Mape took 3-18 and Langley move up to ninth.

Frame was a relieved man. He said: “It was a must-win game, we bowled and fielded very well, all the bowlers did their job and deserved their rewards.

“Greggers kept really well taking two good catches. Our batting struggled initially against some great bowling, but at last the middle order showed some fight. Letven and Brown turned the game around. Betteridge and Nadin continued the good work and we had the bottle to finish the job off – I think we need one more win to survive”.

‘It was a must-win game. We bowled and fielded very well and deserved our rewards’