North Midd 5th XI v Old Actonians 5th XI

Put into bat the Fantastics were quickly in trouble against two accurate and pacey bowlers. After 13 overs we were struggling on 29 for 2. Father Tim and Double Glazer were soon back in the hutch! Recovery came via 2 excellent partnerships. First The Shield (55), which included 9 fours and Motor Carr (28) put on 81 for the third wicket. Fourth and fifth wickets fell cheaply before All Bran (41), which included 8 magnificent boundaries and Claudius Maximus Harris (27) added 79 for the sixth.
Old Actonians heads were down by the 41st over when we passed 200 with 4 wickets still left. Sadly we managed only a further 13 runs in 5 overs amidst a flurry of run outs leaving the opposition reinvigorated and chasing a below par target of 214 in 44 overs (required rate only 4.5 per over).

We needed some tight bowling to take wickets/build pressure. Sadly it wasn't to be with Old Actonians cruising to 94 for none in 18 overs thanks largely to a surfeit of wayward deliveries. In spite of a Double from Double Glazer taking 2 wickets in his first over the opposition continued to score freely passing our target with only 4 down in the 42nd over. Pick of the bowlers were Double Glazer (2 for 30 off 7), Claudius Maximus Harris (1 for 53 off 13), Laurie HGV Pearce (0 for 29 off 8) and Motor Carr (0 for 44 off 8).

The Fantastics were unlucky with some chances just going begging. A couple of near run out and half chance catches which on another day might have put a bit more pressure on their table topping rivals, and could have made the game closer depending on the strength of the oppositions tail.

Fantastics were not so fantastic during this round and lost to a strong Old Actonians 4s side by 6 wickets.