The NHS is a wonderful institution, a national treasure and something that Enstone Cricket is proud to support. Our method of support? –Getting as many injuries as possible when fielding, then visiting the doctors in the days that follow. After last week’s hand injury to the skipper, alongside a dodgy back for Peterson, the race was on to see who could get the best injury. As Enstone surprisingly fielded first, the Oxenford batsman seized the initiative with some powerful hitting. Pete Anthony and Jon Watts were punished for any error in line or length. The prize for first casualty went to Piers Myatt who stopped a stinging drive, in true Julian Watts style, with his shin. Shortly afterward Pascoe fell to Watts, bowling him with the help of an inside edge. The number 3 batman followed shortly afterward, LBW to a clever slower ball from Pete Anthony (6-2-23-1). Enstone sensed an opportunity and the scoring slowed. Yet it was Manwell who was causing the Enstone bowlers the greatest problems. Despite bowling changes causing some pressure, as the batsmen got used to the bowling, they hit out with power. Speke (3-1-20-0) felt the brunt of this with the second injury of the day, as he dropped a sharp caught and bowled chance and damaged his thumb. Rouse (6-1-31-1) and Myatt (8-2-28-0) helped keep things tight and ensured the batsman worked for their runs. Rouse claiming the wicket of Rainer caught by Myatt at point. Despite some strong bowling from Kev Anthony (3-0-23-0) and Peterson (6-0-50-0), the runs continued to accumulate with Manwell hitting a fine 100. As the Enstone fielders chased around the pitch more injuries followed, with both Stewart and Wilson succumbing to leg strains. The walking wounded continued to try and stem the flow of runs, with Watts (8-1-42-2) coming back with another wicket and helping limit the opposition to 222 when more seemed likely. Following a fine tea, Enstone emerged from the changing room strapped-up, dosed-up and prepared to fight for victory. Oxenford’s opening bowlers tested Enstone’s top order with a mixture of pace and swing. The pace of Shafi undoing Kev Anthony (0) and Forder (4). Wilson and Speke then saw off the opening bowlers. With runs starting to flow, thanks to the injured Wilson having a runner in the form of the ever athletic Pete Anthony, optimism grew. Then the skipper fell to Shackleton for 28, with Wilson following shortly after for 25. At this point a collapse of Enstonian proportions seemed likely, with Myatt (0) and Rouse (2) both falling cheaply. Yet the steel of Enstone’s lower order should not be underestimated. Watts (21) and Pete Anthony (17) played some glorious shots to keep the game going, and a potential run chase in the offing before both fell to Pascoe. Peterson made a fluent 7 not out, while the injured Stewart (0) was unable to emulate the glory of last week, partly down to his injury.
Enstone finished on a disappointing 114, but some lessons were taken from the game; don’t stop the ball with your shin (Myatt), stop dropping batsman that go onto to make big scores (Speke) , warm up properly (Wilson and Stewart) and don’t volunteer for running (Pete Anthony). More importantly the team realised that the talent and capability is there, but we need to take our chances and capitalise on starts with the bat. With a full team in the offing for next week, who knows what could happen. Whatever does happen, let’s hope there is there is an ambulance in attendance, just in case.
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