"MONTY" GETS "A FIVE FOR"

30 July 2010

Skelmanthorpe Home, 24/7/10. After last weeks victory against relegation bound Holmfirth the tables still suggested at least another 2 victories would be needed to secure premiership status for 2011. The visitors to Hill Top this week were Skelmanthorpe or these days more commonly referred to as ‘Jafferthorpe’. The ex Indian opener who has a double hundred against England to his name has been scoring runs aplenty in a push to try and get Skelmanthorpe challenging for the title. However due to a severe lack of strength in depth they have drifted to mid table mediocrity after a positive start although a Sykes cup final appearance is a big boost. After winning the toss Boothy stuck Shat into bat on a very green wicket. Jaffer opened up with stumper ‘Tiny’ Josh Clarkson. With Ibby & Ronan both tearing in trying to get the prize wicket of Jaffer he refused to budge and began to pick up a couple of boundaries off his legs and on the back foot through the covers. However when Ibby bowled to Jaffer the big breakthrough came about. After pitching it back of a length the ball jumped up quicker than Tom Payne at the sound of a Dixon’s ice cream van and clipped Jaffers gloves for an easy take for Holty. With the main danger man gone early you could be forgiven for thinking the hard work was already done. Unfortunately James Dollive had other ideas. He came to the crease and hit the ball hard trying to take on the bowlers. Clarkson on the other hand had been in 10 overs and managed to accumulate 1 measly run. His battle with Brucey was more one sided than a beauty contest between the Brazilian beach volley ball team & Slawit 2nd XL. This did not phase Clarkson though and his apparent run of endless luck ground Brucey down to the good old Aussie way of sledging him out! Between Clarkson (who had now found a few boundaries) and Dollive the score began to tick along. The scores had reached 99 for 1 before Dollive attempted 1 too many big shots off Monty and skied it to the safe hands of Ibby at long off for 31. This then caused a mini collapse due to some poor shots and tight bowling. Fellow opener Clarkson soon followed after walking past one from Monty for his 2nd of the afternoon. Rashid soon followed him to a smart catch behind from Holty off Ijaz. Slawits old friend Sarfraz then went to a remarkable catch on the edge by Ijaz. After covering all of 15 yards he then reached full length and plucked the ball out of the air in front of the clubhouse to cue wild celebrations. The remaining 5 batsmen of Shat offered little resistance. Only Cocking unbeaten on 26 put up a fight. Ijaz helped himself to 4 wickets and Monty took his first 5 of the season wrapping up the innings with the final ball of the 50 overs. Skelmanthorpe had been dismissed for 157 in a very pleasing first half for Slawit. With Skelmanthorpe’s main bowler in Craig Glover missing through injury it made Shat’s task even greater. James Crosland opened up with his left are medium/fast and got some early swing. At the other end the weighty Rashid, looking a victim of two seasons of Skelmanthorpe teas, opened up with his medium pace. As the conditions became overcast after tea he proved ideal in nipping the ball around and causing no ends of problems to the batters. First to go was Waj as the ball just stopped on him presenting the most easy of c&b’s you will see. Then Picko went to the same result although this time he drilled it back at Rashid who stuck his hand out, shut his eyes and then opened them in disbelief to find the ball still pouched in his grasp. Bjorn came in and got one that left him taking the edge on its way. Boothy was given caught behind although he was adamant he didn’t touch it and then finally Ijaz went caught at mid on for 12. Slawit were all of a sudden 61 for 5 and staring down the barrel. Holty came to the crease with Welshy and Jaffer was introduced with the ball. His slow looping off spin was enticing for the big shots but both batsmen chose to nurdle around into the gaps. The rate had dropped massively and the game was staggering along like Dingle after a few pints. Welshy then was given a dodgy decision to a ball that looked high but he had to go. Langy came and went for 8 after becoming Jaffer’s 2nd victim and Slawit were 102 for 7. Holty’s brave 28 was then ended as he became Rashid’s 6th victim in a fine spell of bowling. 106 for 8 was now the score as Ibby came to the crease to join fellow opening bowler Ronan. Not many gave them a chance of getting near to the now distant total of 157 but Ibby & Ronan had other ideas. Ibby picked his shots wisely in despatching Rashid for 19 in one over. This forced them to bring on Crosland and he took him on too hitting 2 straight boundaries. Brucey played the supporting role magnificently and between them got it down to 3 needed of 3 overs. Then Ronan skied it to mid wicket. It looked like Monty was going to have to bat but then the fielder gobbed it and they ran 2 as he lay on the floor in despair. The heads of Shat had now gone and Brucey hit the winning runs to end up on 16 not out with Ibby 34 not out. A gritty performance and a fantastic result which moves Slawit 19 points clear of the drop. Rashid must get a mention with 6 for 63. Next up the trip over to the wrong side of the Pennines to face the ego’s of Delph. Don't forget your passports!