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Hung, drawn and slaughtered!

It's been an unsettling time. Jess has still yet to chavvy out, the Road Runners stuffed by The Plough in their opening league fixture and after the recent general election the last time I saw something that well hung was in the showers with Chris Gayle. So after such a crushing defeat at the hands of the Plough the Road Runners would probably not have chosen to face defending champions Toddington as their next opponent.

The Runners had a few changes to their side since their last league outing, James, Mickey, Parimal, Rich and Anoop all miss out on this occasion. Replacing them were John Catlin a steady top order batsman, Terry, Adam Peart and Alex making his league debut. The most notable addition to their squad however was the addition of Rob Cooke to spearhead the bowling attack. Cooke's accurate fast bowling enhanced recently with new lethal variations, those being the ankle ball, the back of the knee ball and the latest addition - the elbow ball. If any of you are unsure as to the wickedness of these deliveries then please see Mr L Jackson......he has the bruises to prove them all!

The Road Runners won the toss and elected to field. Vishal opened the bowling with a tidy first over conceding just a single run. Opening at the other end, bowling down the famous slope with a slight right to left breeze to aid his away swing, was Rob. Rob was immediately on the money with the ball pitching on middle and moving away form the right-handed batsman. With the batsman unable to get bat on ball and edge to slips Rob took matters into his own hands and bowled a ball on leg stump. The swing working beautifully with the ball crashing into the off stump and it was Rob who also struck the second blow trapping the other opener lbw on the back foot with the umpire taking a age to raise the dreaded finger of doom.

Connor was the next batsman in for Toddington, a dangerous right-handed batsman and this steadied the ship for the batting side. Alex on debut was brought into the attack and showed no signs of nerves for a young man and got the ball to rise sharply off of a good length which had both batsmen playing and missing. Meanwhile Lee replaced Rob down the slope and struggled a little to get a consistent line. It was Alex though who claimed the prized wicket albeit in slightly unusual circumstances, tempting Connor into a lofted pull shot which easily cleared the wrong boundary for six and out for 22 runs. The loss of this important wicket seemed to spur the Runners on still further and went in for the kill. Alex again did the damage with the batsman skying a catch to deep mid on with Rob taking a comfortable catch.

Lee finally got his act together first bowling the new left hander taking his off stump then having the next taken expertly in the gully by the assured hands of Vic. Next was a masterful piece of slow bowling by the skipper Adam Hassall. His first ball going for a single before trapping the next batsman lbw for 10. The new batsman didn't fair much better playing a rather agricultural shot to his first ball and getting a top edge into the waiting hands of Vic in the gully and all of a sudden the hat-trick was on the cards.

Out to the crease strode out our very own Mark Knubley (yes we had to lend them a spare player as they were short) who was gently reminded on his walk to the middle by Lee that the skipper was on a hat-trick and that if he wished his club membership to continue it would be in his best interest to let him get it. Mark decided however that he would attempt to launch the hat-trick ball into the next county but this was an ill advised stroke first ball up with the delivery crunching into the middle stump and the hat-trick was taken.

Last batsman in was Matty minus his lucky (there's now way I'm out) cap and it was another Adam, this time Peart, who got in on the act. Matty playing a pull shot to one of Adams spinning deliveries and skying a steepling catch to Lee at deep mid on. The innings finished 66 all out with some great bowling and fielding performances. Best two bowlers for me were Rob 3-2-2-2, Adam Hassell 1-0-1-3 nicely assisted by Lee 3-1-12-2 and debutante Alex 3-0-15-1.

Cricket much like many sports is a game of two halves and with the job only half done is was imperative that the Runners got off to a steady start. Needing just 2.2 runs per over it was time spent at the crease for the opening Batsman that would ensure a victory. Mike Cope and John Catlin opening the Runners innings. Cope hit some masterful boundaries whilst John dealt with the opening bowlers very well and kept rotating the strike much to Cope's annoyance. Indeed Luton and District Hospital were put on standby when word came through that Cope had run for two.......crash teams were scrambled. It was all unnecessary however as Cope amassed 20 before being trapped lbw with John previously caught for 4. The steady yet rock solid start though was just what the Runners needed and Vishal made the most of his appearance at number three crashing four boundaries - two of which were beautiful cover drives that would have graced any cricket stadium,for an unbeaten 22. Terry having had a nightmare of a net session on Friday play a very mature 9 not out in support of our favourite Indian stroke maker.

So a crushing eight wicket defeat for Toddington which makes for a very open season in terms of who will be champions this year. The Plough will fancy their chances having already beaten the Runners but I'm sure that Toddington will find their stride very soon. As for the Runners, I am sure that they can take the momentum forward to their next league game against The Victoria.

From Chalgrave

PK