The 2nd team got off to a perfect start to the 2011 campaign, with a 107 run win over Aston-on-Trent. With 3 new additions to the squad, last year’s 1st team bowling pair of John Thomson and Luke Nelson and youngster wicketkeeper, Elliot Lawley.
After being inserted into bat, Rolleston got off to a steady start with openers Tom Yates and Adam Bowering. Bowering was the first to go in the 9th over when he edged one behind to the keeper for 14, 30-1. Ian Wakefield was next into bat and only made to due to a LBW decision from a panel umpire. Vice-Captain Rich Wyatt was next into bat, and set about making a good foundation for the willowers. With Wyatt pushing the ball around and waiting for the bad ball, university student Yates was also pushing the score on with some excellent leg side flicks to the boundary.
Yates was next out, bowled for a good solid 42 and a steady partnership with Wyatt to put Rolleston back into a good position. Nick Goode was next in, but was removed caught, without troubling Martin Lawley, who was the scorer for the day. Alex “I love the Nets” Brown was then next to the crease and contributed with some sensible batting and ticking over of the strike, whilst Wyatt also pushed on. Wyatt was put to another LBW decision for an excellent contribution and hard grafting 59 and partnership with Brown of 74, leaving the score on 154-5. Wickets then tumbled fast with Luke Nelson and Elliot Lawley out in quick succession. Next to go was Brown, from another LBW decision, for a hardworking 27. Skipper Anton Williams and John Thomson were also removed without troubling too much to leave Warren Cowell not out and leaving Rolleston 171 all out.
In the change round, Thomson and Cowell opened up and it didn’t take long for the wickets too come. Thomson struck in the 3rd over claiming an edge to Elliot behind the stumps who kneed the ball into the air to leave skipper Williams with an easy catch, 11-1. Thomson then struck in his next over with a leg stump Yorker and putting Rolleston in control, 17-2. Cowell the other end was having no such luck, but kept his end tight putting pressure on the Aston batsman.
Thomson struck twice in 2 balls in the 11 over, with an LBW and another bowled victim. Williams then turned to spin, to try and turn the screw and brought Nelson on to bowl in tandem to Thomson. Nelson was next to strike, with the 5th LBW of the day, leaving Aston struggling on 48-5.
Thomson struck again for his 4th wicket, before Nelson got one to turn and the batsman edged the ball behind to keeper Lawley. Another LBW decision followed for Nelson, before Thomson (5-27) completed his 5 wicket haul, to leave the hosts on 64-9. Nelson (4-6) finished the job off, when the batsman spooned a catch up to Wyatt at Mid-off, to complete the job and send Rolleston home with all 27 points.
A good all round team performance, with excellent attitude and discipline, shown in all departments, which will be hoped, can continue through the season.
