The weekend fixture for Old Glossop 1st XI, against top of the table Mottram, was a must win game for OG if they were to entertain continued aspirations for promotion to Division 1.
As is turned out, OG lost the toss and were asked to take first knock by the Mottram skipper, Marshall, who looked undecided as to what was the best thing to do on a track which was drying out all the time.
Donnelly hung onto his opening spot and, with Paul Eyre, forged an opening partnership of 53 before being somewhat harshly adjudged LBW to the accurate Pottage for 22. Another start for Dave cut short in the 20’s.
Andy King came in at 3 to join Eyrey who by now had moved into the 20’s with some punishing swipes off Pottage and Isaac.
A bowling change then brought two quick wickets with Mottram’s Aussie spinner, Kendrick, clean bowling Eyrey with a peach for 24, and then having Jamie Cannon caught at slip for a solitary single.
OG were now 71 for 3, and this quickly became 74 for 4 when the in-form Martin McGrail went after a short one from Pottage, but mis-judged the bounce and was bowled for 0.
In the meantime, Andy King survived some hairy moments early in his innings, being dropped when skying one Kendrick delivery, and allegedly surviving one Pottage delivery which brushed the off stump but failed to dislodge the bails!
Choosing to attack the Mottram bowlers, and now joined by Mikey Parker, King moved into the 20’s with a 6 to take OG to three figures.
Mikey was struggling with his dodgy back (how old?!) and called for some ice spray to relieve the pain.
Skipper Andy King urged Mikey to retire hurt as he couldn’t lay bat on ball at this stage but Mikey refused and was then bowled by Pottage next ball for a tortuous 3.
George White strode in with purpose at 7, confident from recent good knocks and possibly with a point to prove to his skipper having been dislodged from his previous batting position?
He set off like a train (a fast one, not an old style steam train as they used to set off quite slowly according to Happy Hooker, our very own train spotter) with some of his now trademark drives (moving down the order has proved to suit Osama).
King was now approaching 50 as OG moved towards the 150 mark with 8 overs left, and George was threatening to reach his 50 first, having motored through the 30’s and 40’s with numerous boundaries.
Both batsmen now accelerated, with every over producing a couple of big shots, and with 2 overs remaining the OG total was 209 for 5, the century partnership having turned the game towards OG.
In the final over, King faced the first two balls off Windsor and dispatched them for a 4 and a 6, but was then caught on the edge attempting one further big shot for 74.
As is typically the case, White then fell for 64, also attempting the big one, and it was left to Andy James to round off the OG innings at 222 for 7.
The Mottram innings started with an early breakthrough for OG with Andy King bowling Quinn for 2, and Paul Eyre having Mottram skipper, Marshall, caught and bowled for 3, to leave Mottram struggling at 10 for 2.
Aussie Kendrick came in at 3 and showed positive intentions before being tempted down the track by a looping Eyre delivery, only to be bowled for 10 and OG were now buzzing with Mottram 25 for 3.
Rick Windsor proceeded to smash a few boundaries amidst the carnage, but lost his partner Conroy for 5, with Lenny Allsopp the bowler, caught at square leg by the surprised Cannon who I think was dreaming of French beaches at this point, but hung on admirably to Conroy’s dismay.
48 for 4 quickly became 60 for 5 with Lenny accounting for Fazackerly (6), caught behind.
Windsor continued to play his shots, some big ones included, and rode his luck a little, to move to 50 and beyond whilst at the other end Rob Adderley had replaced Eyrey (2 for 40), and he joined in by taking 2 quick wickets. Mottram were on the proverbial ropes at 105 for 7.
Another brief flurry of runs moved Windsor to 80 before he skied one Hall delivery and was caught by Lenny Allsopp at point, much to the relief of the OG faithful.
Adderley then wrapped up the innings (3 for 22) to leave Mottram 146 all out.
It’s very tight at the top now in Division 2 with 5 teams vying for the promotion places, and OG are bang in form just at the right time.