Table toppers Cottingham 1st X1 were the visitors this week to the Norwood Recreation Ground back pitch on what looked like going to be rain interrupted day.
Having regular skipper Burton back into the fold was a big boost to the unit and with that magic coin won the toss putting the visitors into bat. However, that was the only thing that went the third teams way for the next couple of hours, the Cottingham opening pair of Balouch and Parker looked in fine form and the usually tight bowling of O’ Brian and Graham was no match as they comfortably seemed to hit the ball to wherever they desired, a couple of quick changes were required with spin coming from both ends and new boy Novis bowling his hand grenades from the sleeping Ian Goforth end was the man to make the breakthrough claiming Balouch for 43, then 3 overs later claiming his second bunny Parker for 67.
With a bit more under than average bowling Moss was able to capitalise to score a quickfire 67 including a couple of big sixes until he was adjudicated LBW from the bowling of O’ Brian. Burton having tried just about everything turned to an unlikely source of Tim Fordon, Fordon claiming he has never missed the stumps whilst bowling in 30 years showed he could carry on this claim for another week by taking 2 for 23 from 7 overs and being by far the most economical bowler of the day, although Fish thinks his 3rd ball in his fourth over was missing leg stump by a fag paper!
Beverley at one point looked like they would be chasing the wrong side of 300 did very well in the latter overs to keep Cottingham to 253 for 9 with O’ Brian claiming 3 for 58 from his 12 overs and Novis 2 for 52 from 8. With a somewhat demoralising first few hours in the field the last hour or so was a massive boost to the Beverley team and they strongly agreed this was a reachable target if they kept their wickets intact.
The Beverley opening pair of Fish and Burton got off to a flying start and gave Cottingham a bit of their own medicine going at 7 an over for the first 8 until Fish dragged one on for a score of 33, the saying 1 brings 2 was applied today and Beverley were quickly 58 for 2 and had to rebuild, Smith came to the crease for a well worked 26 till one popped on him and was caught at point, Fleming the next to the crease also applied himself and Beverley got through to drinks on 129 for 3.
With Cottingham’s best bowler Furlong having bowled his allocation taking 3 wickets Beverley were confident this total could be chased down, however, the first over back proved to be one of the most important ones with Burton catching a leading edge to be caught at mid wicket, Burton added to his healthy run tally for the season with a patient 56.
Fordon couldn’t produce his magic of last week and with Fleming departing for 23 the total was looking more and more distant and it was left down to Chris Charles to bat out for the draw to try and claim as many points as possible. A couple more quick wickets left Beverley 9 wickets down with 8 overs and staring down their first full defeat of the season, however Charles and the very relaxed looking Graham batted out the final overs with no trouble ensuring the game ended in a draw albeit a losing one for Beverley.
The 3rd team still stand 2nd in the table to Cottingham and with a game in hand still have the potential to go top when they play their game in hand.
Reported by Paul Fleming
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