Horizontals Make History

The Horizontals' history against Graces is far from starred. In eight previous meetings the record read P8 D1 L7. With this in mind, Chris picked his strongest available XI and the side assembled at the Peter May Sports Centre in Walthamstow with a remit to make history.
Under brilliant blue skies, Willcock won a crucial toss and chose to bat first in a 40 over game. Richard & Mike Herlihy strode forth to open up with the Horizontals hoping to inflict on their hosts the kind of hot, airless leather chase that they had been subjected to here last season. This opening pair began well, progressing smoothly at 4 an over, with Mike particularly severe on anything loose, until Richard (9) was adjudged LBW to the first ball of the eighth over with the score on 33. Chris Willcock came in at 3 and he and Mike added 27 for the second wicket to occasion a bowling change. Chris (12), having just tucked in to the newly introduced leg spin of Shorrocks, fell to a sharp catch at slip; 59-2. This brought in Amit who looked in fine form from the outset as the Horizontals began to motor. At the 20 over drinks break, the visitors had reached a highly satisfactory 103-2 and with both batsmen well set, a big total looked on the cards. However, the break proved the undoing of Herlihy who chipped a return catch to Modi in the very next over, bringing to an end a fine innings of 43 (7x4) and ushering in Stiven. Amit cut loose - hitting 67 (9x4) - as a further 60 was added in just 10 overs (of which Amit contributed 43) before he was finally bowled by Modi. 164-4 with nine overs remaining and any relief Graces may have been feeling at dismissing the leading scorer was quickly dispelled as Nikhil Bajaj at No.6 began to flay the bowling all around the ground. He & Stiven pushed the scoring rate to 10 an over as the ball was sent to all parts. Nikhil reached an astonishing half century in just eight overs with a huge six over mid-on and finished on 55 n.o. (8x4, 1x6). Stiven provided excellent support, contributing 35 n.o. (4x4) as the Horizontals racked up 260-4 from their 40 over allocation. The unbroken fifth wicket partnership was compiled in just 9.1 overs and was worth 96. The undefeated batsmen came in to loud applause from their team mates and the peculiar sound of Matt Webster (DNB but the putative No.7) gnawing through his bat handle. 260-4 was just eight short of the team's highest ever total.

Tea was taken on the balcony of the Sports Centre where a pleasing breeze mitigated the blazing sunshine and both teams tucked in with alacrity.

When the match resumed, Willcock surveyed the bowling riches available to him and selected the old firm of Webster & Scally to open the attack. Neither bowler was in the mood to donate any presents and the pair soon exerted an asphyxiating grip on the Graces innings to the extent that Scott called for a helmet after being struck in the armpit by a sharp ball from the Yorkshire (former) quick, something that hasn't happened for many seasons. The first wicket fell when Hardisty (missed attempted pull, plumb in front of middle, on the back foot, below the knee roll) absent mindedly awaiting the outcome of Scally's vigorous LBW appeal outside his crease, was smartly run out by Chris. After 10 overs the home side had reached just 18-1 although Modi was looking dangerous. His innings ended in further run out confusion when Chris was too quick with a flat throw from midwicket and Stiven gathered neatly. Amit was introduced into the attack and quickly found some alarming bounce. At the other end Glenn Winteringham replaced an exhausted Webster and began to probe outside off stump. He found Scott's edge, Stiven pouched the chance and at the 20 over drinks break Graces were looking down the barrel at 50-3.
Just as in the visitors' innings, the break provoked wickets: Amit bowled Bennett and Rob McCleod had Green caught by Nikhil (from an old fashioned full toss) to make it 55-5. Graces 6 & 7, Bielby & Shorrocks then put together a good partnership, the former defending watchfully whilst his skipper hit out mightily. Amit having conceded the first boundaries of the innings, Glenn began to take punishment and was withdrawn and the 6th wicket added 54 before Bielby - to his own huge annoyance - drove a Nikil full toss (did you learn anything Matt?) hard to Chris who effected a fine diving catch. 109-6 and the end was in sight. Rob, who'd been hit for a few sixes, held his nerve commendably and dismissed a bamboozled second victim with a beautifully flighted delivery but Graces' captain continued to blaze away.
Chris had had enough - it was 7.30 and the pubs were open. With five overs remaining he summoned Scally to finish the match. Shorrocks' only answer to the wide long hop he received first up was to leather it in Nikhil's direction. A splendid diving catch and he was gone for 53. Eyre walked out, lost his off bail to the next delivery and walked back in again. Job done in two balls with Graces all out for 129 to leave the Horizontals victors by 131 runs. This final cameo left Scally with 2-13 from 5.2 overs. Rob returned 8-1-32-2 whilst Matt (who tried hard but possibly lacked guile) suffered a fresh air game with 8-2-13-0. Amit had 1-20, Nikhil 1-26 (and two catches) and the merry Horizontals decanted themselves to Walthamstow's Nag's Head to celebrate their first ever defeat of these most sporting opponents.