Langley see off champs in tight finish
LANGLEY 1st XI got their season off to a winning start with a nail biting win at home to last year’s champions Ashley.
On a damp wicket the visitors elected to bat. Adam Cartwright and skipper Alex Berzins took the new ball. The skipper struck in his second over in usual fashion when R. Baig (4) drilled a full toss to cover and Zak Howdle took a good catch with the score on 14.
S. Baig joined Butt and the pair saw off the new ball. David Frame replaced the skipper and claimed a wicket with his second ball as Butt 22 top edged to fine leg and Adam Cartwright took a simple catch with the score on 47-2.
Wahab came to the crease and showed intent immediately as he struck a massive six first ball.
Veteran Matty Betteridge replaced Cartwright and he to felt the force of Wahab as he hit 2 huge sixes in his first over.
Betteridge fought back and had S. Baig 23 caught at midwicket by Howdle.
Skipper Butt (1) fell cheaply when trapped LBW by Frame and when Khan (1) chipped Betteridge to mid on Matty Doggart took a simple catch, Ashley had wobbled to 93-5.
Things got no better when Wahab (35) including 5 huge sixes pulled Frame to the deep mid wicket boundary where John Scragg took a fine catch. With the score on 109-6.
Vaid and S. Baig rallied adding 22, the Innings the fell away as Frame forced Baig (8) to lob a simple catch to Scragg at midwicket.
Matty Doggart then claimed 2 wickets in his first over for the club, Wimbury (1) became Scragg’s third catch and Hatchell (0) was caught behind. It was left to Luke Cartwright to superblt run out Vaig 29 as Ashley slumped to 131 all out.
Frame 4-34 off 8 overs, Doggart 2-0 off 1 over, Betteridge 2-35 off 7 overs and Berzins 1-24 off 5 overs took the wickets.
Chris Pattison and Luke Cartwright opened up the reply, they took the total to 17 when Cartwright (7) was caught behind.
John Scragg (2) soon followed as he edged to slip and when Howdle (0) was bowled Langley were in trouble at 30-3.
Chris Pattison took the attack to the bowlers and along with Neil Pennington pushed the score to 60 before Pattison (47) took one chance to many and was stumped.
Pennington (11) hit a couple of lusty blows but carelessly hit to the deep midwicket boundary and he was out with the score on 71-5.
Adam Cartwright and Tommy Potts fought hard,
Cartwright hitting 3 sixes and Potts was more defensive.
The score reached 109 when Cartwright (23) was also caught on the boundary at deep mid on.
Potts was then run out for a solid 14, Doggart (1) clipped a half volley to square leg and when Berzins (1) was LBW Langley were 120-9.
It was up to the two senior members of team Betteridge and Frame. The duo, well practiced in these situations, remained composed and took every a available run. It was left to
Betteridge (16no) to hit the winning boundary as he and Frame (2no) took Langley to victory.
Langley 2nd XI travelled to HMV. The hosts hit 157. Danny Jones 3-29, Timmy Pattison 3-34 and Kenny Love 2-19 all bowled well.
In reply Langley could muster only 109 Timmy Pattison too scored with 17.