Seconds demolish Sutton Bonnington (and avoid the rain)

Before this match-up of third v fourth, the Ells were 6 points ahead of the visitors. By the end (a rapid one to boot) it was 26 points. I was elsewhere first thing (gardening calls) but Mrs G was on tea duty and sent an anxious text. No, it was not because the Seconds were struggling, on the contrary, they were doing too well too quickly: SB had rushed to 59 in 11 overs but had already lost 5 wickets. Would she have the delightful food ready in time? The answer was just about as SB subsided for 90 in the 29th over. The all left arm opening attack of Usman Aziz (3-24) and Dan Cawley had done well and then along came Taimor Tasnim and Eddy George . Not bad change bowlers given there are few more accurate and probing seamers in this division. They did the necessaries with Captain Ed getting past 30 for the Saturday season and “T” not all that far behind.
I got to LB only a short way into the reply. Not the best of timing. Sam Miller drove a full toss back at bowler Sam Smith who nonchalantly pouched it. Sam slouched off slowly and admitted later (a surprise for this most laid back of characters) that he was “very angry”. For a while the innings stalled: 22-1 off 9. Danny Hammond was driving the ball pleasantly but at the fielders and David Perry was understandably cautious after his recent lack of runs. Finally the runs started to come with 11 off Ian Stone’s 7th over and from then the aim was to get to the target within 23 overs to achieve the maximum points return. While this was happening some fearsomely dark clouds skirted just past the ground and up the Trent. Indeed a whole host of games were abandoned later including the Bramcote v WBs clash. Pezza was now scurrying for singles and opening his shoulders. He was dropped off one skier but not his next to depart for 40 (7 4's). As with last week in an altogether tenser affair, Matt Footitt finished things off with a boundary leaving Danny with pleasingly made 30 to add to his 2 catches and a run out.
Perhaps half an hour later while we were supping our drinks game ending rain set in but no worries here on this occasion. The 2nd X1 are now second with Bramcote in sight (now winless after 4) but with WBs and RoT not far removed the only other contenders, it looks to me. While Jane and I shared talk of cricket and gigs with Paul “Boonie” Harrison (a rare opportunity for him to umpire) a lot of the team rushed off to see the Thirds in their run chase at Farnborough Road. In fact the the wet stuff saved them with 9 down, but no such luck for the Firsts who went back on after a long rain delay (at 7pm) at Hucknall who incredibly reached their 201 target in 20 overs. A real blow for the Firsts with Hucknall some 35 points clear in “A” but the good news is that the Thirds are still top of “L” despite this wobble and Eddy G’s team are now really in the shakedown.