Opening victory at sunny Hill Top!

26 April 2010

A glorious afternoon at Hill Top greeted our match sponsors and followers, with Slaithwaite looking to bounce back from a woeful opening day display and defeat to our friends at Broad Oak. Holmfirth were the visitors for day. Upon winning the toss Holmfirth decided to bat and set about it at a steady rate. New recruit, Darren Lockwood, formerly of Hoylandswaine (and victim of someone with a bottomless pit of money, after steering the club to promotion in 2009) looked solid and Javed Iqbal seemed content to push the ball around. After a steady start our new Australian counterpart ‘Picko’ made the breakthrough getting Iqbal caught at gully for 14. This led to the introduction of fans' favourite Andrew Gleave. After being heard boasting to his "fan club" about his personal target of 1000 runs this season (It's a team game Andrew), he was soon to be deceived by Slaithwaite's "Monty" Graham, on his belated home debut due to a christening the previous Sunday (wtf??). After a few bludgeoned strokes he was caught behind by a tidy snaffle from Holty off the bowling of Graham, for probably the finest 22 runs we will witness all season. However, obviously unaware that this means you are out he proceeded to re-mark his guard. After a friendly send off from the home crowd he made his way back to the pavilion and took his frustration out on the changing rooms much to the delight of every Slawiter in the ground. He was further heard to challenge the mental stability of our "Monty", unbeknown that "Monty" was fielding directly under the players balcony! Child! This now left Firth reeling at 78 for 2. Gary Jakeman came and went after getting himself run out and Holmfirth were 84 for 3. Ijaz & Monty then began to put a stranglehold on the game. Lockwood stuck around and brought up his half century but he needed someone at the other end to play the big shots. Foster & Gummerson both came in and tried but to no avail. Ibby Younis came back on at the end for a second spell and bowled nice and full, albeit still struggling from a shoulder injury which he incurred during the Winter months, constantly trying to put an arm around a plethora of girls in the local Cinema. After managing to scrape a few boundaries towards the end of the innings Firth ended on 174 for 5. Pickering, Younis, Graham & Khan all sharing 1 wicket a piece. Lockwood was unbeaten on 86 but with a lack of support 174 was never going to be enough on what was a flat deck. Slawit set about knocking off the total in a quick rate. Helped by some generous and at times down right ‘filthy’ bowling & fielding Holty and Waj cashed in. Racing to 100 without loss inside 20 overs it looked like Holmfirth were going to be well and truly embarrassed. They eventually made a breakthrough with former Summer Wine player Wajid being caught at point for a flamboyant 43 off the bowling of Cowell. At 104-1, "skippy" came to the crease and continued where Waj left off. Holty brought up his fifty and then swiftly departed. Boothy entered the fray and after a weekend of dubious decisions, managed to keep his pads out of the way and use his bat. Boothy & "skippy" saw Slathwaite home to a comfortable victory. Our overseas recruit for 2010 finished on 43 not out and looks to be very handy with the bat indeed, following up a tidy spell of bowling dispelling rumours going around our neighbouring village that he was "straight up and down" A positive team performance from Slawit but it looks as if Holmfirth are in for a tough old season.........though of course the 1000 runs from minor counties player Andrew Gleave may just save them. Lets just hope he enjoys the journey along the way and enters into the spirit of village cricket.