Mick’s Act on centre stage

Castle Donnington won the toss and asked Rolleston to bat. Andy Ward (14) and Phil Burrows (9) got the team up a running but some excellent bowling from their 15 year old opener saw Phil bowled and Andy getting a small nick chasing a ball sent down the leg-side, getting caught by the keeper. Arron Harper (0) and Henry Parker were next up (7); Arron falling to the other opener who appeared to be hitting a dead spot on the track and the ball shooting through Arron’s defences. Darrell Ford (9) joined Henry and was quickly in his stride hitting 2 fours, unfortunately his tenth stride was hit on the pads and the finger of destruction was raised 44 for 4 off 13 overs. Dan Featherstone (6) and Henry added 13 before Dan perished in a similar manner to Arron. Henry was now batting with Dad Matt (2) but was also on his way back to the pavilion when a bottom edge bounced down and clipped the bails off on its way back up. It does have to be said that Henry looked a great deal more comfortable at the crease than his father who also went in the same manner as Arron and Dan, bowled by the opener who talk 4 for 24 in his 14 overs. Rolleston reeling at 75 for 7 off 21 overs: Simon Billings (7) joined Mick Acton (81 not out) and together they put on 31, although fro most angles Simon had been stumped a little earlier he was given a reprieve only to be caught out at covers. Barry Wynne(29 not out) joined Mick at 106 for 8 and in the last 13 overs they put together a partnership of 95 to take Rolleston to 201 for 8 which apparently is 10 more than Mick and Barry’s combined age, and gave us 5 batting points.

With a total to defend our normal standard of bowling and fielding should possibly have realised victory, unfortunately not to be. Arron Harper (6 overs 1 maiden 1 for 10) opened at the bottom end and conceded only 3 runs off the bat with 7 wides. At the other end Lewis McQuillan (5 overs 0 for 22) making his first start for the league team bowled with purpose making the ball swing and causing the batsmen problems; only 6 of Lewis’s bowls were scored off. In the 9th over the opener drilled the ball to Mid off where Dan Featherstone was left with two options take the catch or visit the dentist, 26 for 1 off 9 overs. The next period of the match saw castle Donnington take control, Dan Featherstone (8 overs 0 for 34) and Simon Billings (5 overs o for 27) toiled but could not remove the 2 batsmen that had settled well. In the 18th over Mick had an opportunity to run out the opener who was keen to get back on strike from 3 yards Mick missed and the ball ran through to the covers with the Batsmen taking a 2nd run, Arron then decided to throw the stumps down at the other end once again missing the ball firing through, under Phil Burrows as he daintily fell to the floor – four over throws! A six scored without the ball leaving the ground and the shot not getting off the square; sadly this was indicative of the fielding on the day. Darrell Ford (11 overs 4 maidens 3 for 23) replaced Dan and made the break through in his 4th over 124 for 2 in the 28th over but Castle Donnington were still on top. The opener however was keen to make it interesting and went down to his third partner after he had hit the ball to ask him to run. Fortunately an accurate throw from Arron to Darrell was sufficient to end his innings. The decisive moment came in the 40th over when Darrell removed the opener with the score on 141 off 40 overs. Barry Wynne (8 overs 1 for 22) and Darrell had bowled in tandem for 16 overs conceding 37 runs and taking 3 wickets. Mick Acton (3 overs 2 maidens 0 for 1) could not make the break through and we had to accept a winning draw. Rolleston 16 points Castle Donnington Town 10points.