Mitchell won the toss and put the 2nd placed Valers into bat. Twist started off with three maidens, while Cooper was edged three times in one over through the slip/gulley region, only one of these shots being a chance with the usually reliable Mitchell spilling a difficult chance to get rid of the BV Vice Captain.Vale began to score at healthy rate before Cooper bowled the Vale opener after a difficult spell.Gavin came to the crease and began to find the boundary with ease, before it was decided to take both Twist (0-29) and Cooper(1-40) off. Mitchell replaced Cooper and to found it difficult to keep Gavin and the now set Waterhouse quiet.
Matt Parker replaced Twist and had Gavin in real trouble with his first two balls
as
Gavin was trying to hit every ball out of the ground.
Gavin hit Parker for a leg side four, before
Parker replied, comprehensively bowling Gavin for (36) with the score on
97. Mitchell and Parker kept BV quiet for a few overs even though they were
still scoring at an impressive rate, Waterhouse edged Parker through the somehow
vacant second slip area, but Parker who was in
no mood to give second chances
produced a
peach of a delivery to knock over Watehrouse (41), the ball pitching on the left
handers off stump before taking his middle out.
Mitchell got rid of the dangerous Burns and this bought BV young no 6 to the crease to bat alonside captain Hibbert. An apparently "injury free" Parker
was putting his best performance of the season in now and was beating the BV
batsmen at regular intervals, Hibbert(21) and his young ally managed to
add 30 runs or so before Parker decieved Hibbert and claimed his third wicket a
caught and bowled effort leaving Birch at 160-4 with 12 overs left. The young Valer was beginning to look dangerous before Parker produced one that hurried the BV batter and he lobbed to Twist at mid off.Mitchell was replaced by the "forgotten man" Tory
and
he bowled with fire in his belly. Traynor
snapped up a sharp chance at short squre leg to give Parker (5-61) his first
five wicket haul for two year and "Monty" like celebration ensued
. Tory(1-25) got a late wicket and the Vale innings ended on 230-8, but for OG this was an achievement as the long Vale batting line-up looked like it would have got nearer 300 at one stage.
At tea the rain came down in ominous form and it looked like there would be no more play. It was decided at 6pm that the umpire would leave it to both captains to decide what to do next, obviously BV were in poll position as they would have 24 overs to try and bowl OG out, but in the meantime would be still be gaining points for each pair of wickets claimed. Mitchell and his troops decided to give BV the chance of winning the game for fair play reasons as with even "gay porn" fan Big T in the ranks surely 231 in 24 overs was a bridge too far. OG decided that they would try and get to 140+ and gain extra batting points. Ste James and Inzi opened the batting and James looked like he was in the mood to ignore his captains instructions and go for the 231, he hit Gavin and Hibbert to all parts of Dingle Park in a rapid opening stand. Wright(6) was bowled and Allcock came to the crease and looked in good form before being run out by James for (4) with the score at 55-2 James hit a six to reach his fifty. Big T was sent in to keep OG on target for bonus points and James looked set to win MOM until he was bowled for a well made 60 with score on 78. Matt Parker(3*) was sent in to the fading light conditions and Big T(7*) hit a trademark bullet of a flat six before umpire Davis called a halt to proceedings with 9 overs left with OG starnded on 87-3 After yet more rain. OG play leaders Compstall next week and just pray for a dry weekend.