14th June 2025 - HBCC 2nd XI vs Rossington Main CC (H)

Rossington vs The Bridge – Match Report 

Rossington won the toss and elected to bat first, and it wasn’t long before opening bowlers Al and Farzan were dismantling their top order. Just a few balls in, Farzan got one to swing in like a ripe banana, rattling the opener’s middle stump. At the other end, Al was building relentless pressure with dot ball after dot ball. 

That pressure soon told. The Rossington captain and number 3 tried to loft a good length delivery over cover, only to find the safe hands of Mick ‘Bucket Hands’ Rozanski. Not long after, the remaining opener misjudged an in-swinger from Al, shouldering arms only to be struck plumb in front. The umpire had no hesitation. Al finished his devastating spell with figures of 2/8, leaving Rossington reeling at 22/3. 

Rossington attempted a counterattack when Leo was brought into the attack, landing a few lusty blows to the boundary. But wickets kept falling. Farzan (2/19) struck again with his trademark in-swinging yorker. At 60/4 after 17 overs, the innings was in the balance. 

That balance quickly tipped. One batsman overbalanced and was swiftly stumped by the lightning reflexes of Steve “The Cat” Koleszar off Leo’s bowling. From there, the collapse accelerated. Mick Mountain, on for his first bowl of the season, got one to skid through and bowl his man clean. At the other end, Leo was having a field day, bamboozling the Rossington lineup. 

The key wicket came when Rossington’s top scorer (30) tried to launch Leo out of Squirrel Park, only to watch in horror as debutant Marshall Senior sprinted in like a steam train to take a nonchalant catch — to the great surprise of bowler and crowd alike. 

The innings fizzled out, with Leo completing a fabulous five-wicket haul (5/38), taking the final wicket with the last ball of the innings. Rossington bowled out for a modest 74.

The Chase 

The Bridge approached the chase with confidence — albeit with a touch of caution, knowing their tendency for dramatic collapses. Openers Leo and Mick Mountain set out to build a solid platform and did just that with positive running and some lovely attacking strokes. 

However, Mick was undone by a ball that stayed low, and with one wicket down, Al strode to the crease. The crowd held its breath — but any nerves were quickly dispelled. The two young batters showed composure and confidence, rotating the strike well and peppering the boundary. 

Al fittingly sealed the win with a crunching four, finishing unbeaten on 21, while Leo carried his bat with a superb 36 not out. The Bridge won comfortably — and deservedly — to the sight of a standing ovation. 

Player of the Match 

Without question, Leo Marshall takes the honours with match-winning figures of 5/38 and an unbeaten 36 to anchor the chase. A phenomenal all-round performance. 

Here’s hoping for more days like this as The Bridge aim to climb the table. Onwards and upwards!