Runs galore, who could ask for more?

In his first game as skipper, Lenny won the toss and , remembering how good a track we were playing on, decided to bat first, as Old Glossop had done the week before.

Enter, the elder statesmen of the 1^st team, Donnelly and Eyre, who were hoping for a similar fruitful opening partnership to the one they had produced against Mellor the previous week.

The Romiley opening attack, however, proved to be somewhat better than what OG had faced so far this season and with both openers bowling quick and not offering any loose deliveries, it was no surprise when Donnelly (8) edged one to the keeper to leave OG 15 for 1.

In quick succession, Andy James (1) and Paul Eyre (6) both perished, Eyre to a quick in-swinging yorker.

Looking a little worrying at 21 for 3, these fall of wickets brought White and McGrail to the crease, both in good form from the previous week. They looked to  steady the ship, and once this was achieved they both started scoring freely, despite the continued good spells of bowling from the Romiley openers.

McGrail continued his good personal form, and quickly reached his 50, and when the introduction of Romiley’s spinner quitened one end, a few big hits at the other end, from both White and McGrail, moved on the score rapidly.

With the score on 127 McGrail lofted one to square leg and was out for 63. This brought Hall to the crease and straight from the off he showed his intentions, by hitting the ball to all parts, in the process quickly overtaking White, who at this stage had stalled in his innings.

After struggling for a few overs White fell to a frustrated shot and was caught for a fine 46. This brought stand in skipper Lenny Allsopp to the crease, who quickly saw Hall perish for a rapid 55, and it was left to Lenny and Ste James to take OG to the 225 target, thus achieving maximum batting points.

Lenny was bowled, to leave Ste James and Dan Shaw to carry on the run scoring. James returned to a bit of his old form with a well earned 23, and Dan Shaw (18 no) hit a late cameo, including one mammoth six, to take the final score to 256 for 8.

After seeing how Romiley’s spinner had extracted some turn from the wicket, Lenny opted to gamble on opening the bowling with Hall, in tandem with young Rob Adderley.

Adderley (2 for 37) produced a spell of quick bowling, which accounted for both Romiley openers, and Hall teased and cajoled the batsmen and produced figures of 2 for 35, one of his wickets bringing an outstanding catch from Shaw.

After his fiery opening spell, Adderley was replaced by Allsopp (4 for 27) who proceeded to rip into the Romiley batters, thus showing why he is at the top of the league averages. After tiring, Lenny brought on Coops who never really got going, and it was left to Paul Eyre to wrap up the tail with 2 wickets for 2 runs, to leave Romiley all out for 123.

Another fine win for Old Glossop against a close rival in the league.