1st Team - Baildon friendly (H) - 14th April 2007

Glorious sunshine, temperatures of 20+ degrees and a large crowd, three things you don't usually associate with an April practice game at Esholt Cricket Club. Who said global warming was a bad thing!

 

Neither Esholt or Baildon were able to field their strongest teams but with the inclusion of a few “guest” players the teams took to the field to play a 40 over match with the rule that if a team was all out they would start the batting order again until the overs were completed.

Esholt batted first and posted a total of 197 for the loss of around 13 wickets! Early runs were hard to come by with Richard Whitehurst playing more defensive stokes than he did the whole of last season and returning opener, Phil Carter, struggling to move freely with a stiff neck. After the openers, came new boy Ben Platt and very old boy Shahid Bashir. Both played some nice shots but both were out prematurely, Shahid bowled (by a straight one) and Ben caught (mistimed pull).

 

The most notable partnership was that between Ben Lister and guest player Richard Soulsby (brother of James). They put on around 80+ runs with Ben scoring 37 and Richard 40. After a slow start and nearly dying after running a 3 an unfit Ben decided to swing the bat. After several fresh air shots he finally connected with a slower ball and hit a big 6 into the sheep field. Richard on the other hand decided to use “ability” to accumulate his runs. After their departure their was a small cameo from Adrian “leg side” Taylor who posted a quick 16 and the innings came to a close.

 

Notable batting scores (one innings!)

 

Richard Whitehurst 22

Ben Lister 37

Richard Soulsby 40

Adrian Taylor 16

 

In the second half Esholt opened the bowling with Nadeen Hanif and Ben Lister with both achieving success in their first spells. Then it was the turn of Esholts new signings in the form of Robin Hill (Ex Brighouse) and Ben Platt (Ex Calverley).

After a shaky start Ben found his range and bowled very well picking up 4 wickets. Robin on the other hand was miserly from the start, bowling a great line and length with little reward. He finally finish with 2 wickets and slightly misleading figures due to some slogging in the closing overs and a short boundry.

Captain Whitehurst also turned his arm over bowling 3 tight overs before sciatica, arthritis, and general unfitness took hold!

 

Bowling Figures

 

N. Hanif: 10 – 47 – 2

Ben Lister: 7 – 38 – 3

Ben Platt: 9 – 32 – 4

Robin Hill: 11 – 53 – 2

Richard Whitehurst: 3 – 9 – 0

 

Baildon fell 18 short of the target scoring 179 in their 40 overs.

 

Esholt won the game but cricket was the big winner on the day!!!