Gracedieu Park v Loughborough Greenfields Cricket Club 1st XI on Sat 26 Apr 2008 at
Loughborough Greenfields Cricket Club Lost
Loughborough Greenfields 1st XI headed into the season looking for a strong start at Gracedieu. Having won the toss and elected to field on a tricky looking wicket, things were looking up, however a mixture of early season nerves and rustiness allowed Gracedieu to race to 42-1 from just 4 overs. King (17-8-29-4) and Stockdale (16-1-72-4) managed to turn the tide and took regular wickets to leave the hosts teetering at 63-4, Iain Green setting the standards with a fantastic wicketkeeping performance. Springthorpe (63) continued to punish any poor deliveries and after being given a couple of lives by the Greenfields troops, managed to rebuild and create a platform eventually departing at 141-6 to the impressive Parker (5-1-30-2). Two more wickets followed in quick succession and with Gracedieu sitting on 143-8, Greenfields believed that they were going to mop up the innings for a below par total. The fielders did not count on hard hitting Geary who amassed 29 in quick time through a mixture of big swinging and extreme anger, his final over assault leading Gracedieu to 195 all out.
The first 2 overs of the Greenfields innings passed with very little incident, the next 3 ripped the heart out of the top order, Stockdale (0) and Moore (0) were both removed in the space of 3 balls. Loveridge (2) following at the other end just 1 over later and when Horner nicked one behind in the 5th over the Greenfields innings was left in tatters at 4-4. Brown (16) and King (79) managed to rebuild the innings, Brown unfortunate to depart on 55-5, Green (25) continued where Brown left off and played shots to all parts of the ground taking Greenfields to 94-6. Allen and Parker both provided support for King who made batting look easy as he stroked the ball around the ground with consummate ease. Greenfields briefly had victory in sight when Clarke (21) managed to score a couple of streaky boundaries and at 161-8 with 5 overs remaining any result was possible. However Springthorpe returned to remove Clarke and although Cook (1*) gave King support, the allrounder had run out of steam and was LBW to Springthorpe with 3 overs to go.
A disappointing start for Greenfields who go into this weekends game with a lot to prove
Gracedieu Park Batting
195 for 10
Loughborough Greenfields Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling
Loughborough Greenfields Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
166 for 10
Gracedieu Park Bowling