26th July 2025 - HBCC 2nd XI vs Pledwick CC (A)
1st Innings
Pledwick won the toss and put the Bridge in to field.
Once again, Farzan and Alex kicked off our bowling innings, searching for early wickets. However, the batsmen were able to soak up the pressure well early on and hit boundaries when the bowlers missed their mark. As the opening stand continued to build, Alex struck in the eighth over, with a moment of magic off his own bowling. A powerful smash down the ground would have had many cowering for cover, but Alex nonchalantly took the catch, to give us a much needed breakthrough. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a further wicket until the eighteenth over. Farzan was consistent with his bowling once again, but had no luck on this occasion, with the batsmen having multiple plays and misses. Dan Allatt was introduced into the attack to try and shift momentum back in our favour. Thankfully, the change worked, as their number three batsman was dismissed for 16. He looked to play straight down the ground, but the ball came off the outside half of the bat and skewed out into the offside. Alex circled like a vulture under the ball, and quickly pounced to pick off another victim. Phenomenally, this is his ninth outfield catch of the season! This brought about a mini burst for the Bridge. Dan picked up his second wicket soon after, with their opening batsman holding out to George at a close mid on position. Alex was then introduced back into the attack, from the opposite end this time, and it proved to be another good decision. He found some better rhythm, and started to pepper top of off with some accurate bowling. For his second wicket, he got one to nip back in, and Hanks was left helpless as the ball crashed into the stumps. All of a sudden, 73-1 had quickly become 86-4 and the Bridge sensed there was an opening.
However, things didn't quite pan out as we had hoped from here. Their young batsman rode his luck a few times, but played some excellent strokes as he built up his score. Alex produced another stroke of genius in the field, running out their number 6 batsman as he tried to grab a quick single. Gribble and Mick Mountain were then tossed the ball to try and close out the innings, as we looked to restrict our opposition. However, their big hitting number 7 went after the bowlers, striking the ball cleanly down the ground and through the leg side. Gribble was finally rewarded for his persistence, as he bowled his man for 41. In a frustrating end, the score slipped away from us and Pledwick finished with a mammoth score of 239. Full credit has to go to their youngster Lewis Geary, who played fantastically and finished not out on 66.
2nd Innings
The Bridge was feeling extremely deflated, and our woes continued as we struggled with the bat. Leo couldn't do much about his dismissal, and had to depart early on for 1. Their pacy opening bowler benefitted from a tricky wicket, as our batters struggled to deal with the uneven bounce. One viciously popped up to Mick M who had to briefly come off through injury, as he was rapped on his gloves. Andy Simpson was his replacement, and after facing some chin music from their opener, made the sensible decision of putting a lid on. From here, wickets fell regularly and any hope of winning the match was gone. 27-1 soon became 35-5 in a match-defining period. Alex started well, but had to depart for 10 as he was bowled by a beauty and a couple of overs later, Andy was trapped in front by their spinner for 8. Soon after, 2 wickets fell in succession. Mick went early on a slower ball, and a mistimed effort looped up to the man at slip. George had to depart for the dreaded golden duck, as he slapped the ball straight to the man at close cover, who reached to take a good catch above his head.
John and Farzan both got a boundary apiece, but departed in similar fashion to Mick, as outside edges were caught in the slips. Ryan was unfortunately adjudged to be out of his crease, as Hanks whipped off the bails, and Heald Snr reluctantly raised his finger from square leg. Gribble was the ninth wicket, and had to depart without troubling the score, as he was given out LBW to the spinner.
John and Farzan both got a boundary apiece, but departed in similar fashion to Mick, as outside edges were caught in the slips. Ryan was unfortunately adjudged to be out of his crease, as Hanks whipped off the bails, and Heald Snr reluctantly raised his finger from square leg. Gribble was the ninth wicket, and had to depart without troubling the score, as he was given out LBW to the spinner.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man (well, not quite). Neil Marshall strode out into the middle with his signature bandana, looking to make up the small task of a 185 run deficit. He was initially watchful, getting his eye in for a few balls, but then unleashed his inner Ben Stokes at Headingley. Boundary after boundary, he terrorised the Pledwick bowlers. Leo watched proudly from the sidelines, with a tear in his eye, completely in awe of his father's brutish batting. To much devastation, he had to depart for 15, as he was caught out well in the ring. This proved to be Bridge's highest individual score, a rare highlight in a poor display on the whole.
It was a game where we massively underperformed, and recent results show that we are a much better side than what we showed this match. However, credit has to go to Pledwick, as they completely outplayed us on the day. Man of the match goes to Neil, who stepped up into the team late on when we needed him. He performed well with the bat, and hardly put a foot wrong in the field. Well done Neil!
Hopefully the seconds can bounce back next week from this disappointing result, as we host Calder Grove at Squirrel Park!