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WCL 1st XI match report- Week 2
WCL 1s win convincingly against Studley to make it 2/2 for a perfect start.
Skipper Laud won (?!?!) the toss and elected to bat first on what looked to be a decent pitch at Studley with the team high in morale after a great first week performance. Laud himself opened with Narotra and the pair got Earlswood off to a flyer with Laud’s steady approach perfectly complimenting Chief’s aggressive style of batting. Chief’s 50 contained many flowing drives and was brought up after 19.1 overs, before he fell shortly after to Bashir for 53. Skipper Laud then fell for a well made 33 to a long hop that he guided into the hands of mid-on very charitably. Arron fell to the medium pace of Ahmed bringing Craven to the crease with Khan. The pair rebuilt slowly, hitting the bad balls and batting sensibly to prevent the loss of any more wickets. With the overs running out, Craven plinked one to mid off attempting to clear the infield. Weir joined Khan and the pair added runs quickly, with Johangir reaching his maiden Earlswood 50. Weir added a quick-fire 23 before both batsmen fell. Cox finished the innings off with a lovely sweep leaving Earlswood on 223-7, with Colby ran out off the final ball.
Hassett and Khan opened the bowling for Earls as they did to great effect last week. Usamah Khan raced to 18 for Studley before being caught at mid-off by Laud off the bowling of Hassett. Hassett’s excellent spell was rewarded again as he rapidly picked up the wickets of Roberson and Murphy, the former caught behind by Calkeld and the latter caught at backward point by Weir. Another brilliant Weir catch, this time at second slip off Khan, brought about the end of Studley captain Williams, putting Earlswood firmly in the driver’s seat. C Snipe and Craven came on first change and tightened the screw for Earlswood with some accurate bowling. Craven picked up two wickets in one over to get into the Studley tail, before Bussey came on in his place to get the next wicket with his usual dangerous in-swing. Snipe finally got his rewards picking up two wickets in quick succession before Cox joined the party in taking the final wicket of Moss.
A comprehensive win for the team, setting up a great clash against an also unbeaten Harborne at Watery Lane next week.
