Losing Start for 1stXI in Twenty20 Group

The 1stXI failed to mark their first outing in the new Icon Sports Twenty20 kit with a win as they fell well short on the freezing Hawk Green tundra. That a game took place at all was a minor miracle, the rain eventually subsiding for a second reduced game in succession. The hosts gleefully elected to bat upon winning the toss with the allocation reduced to 15 overs per side.

Hawk Green are a tough proposition in any format but looked particularly suited to the shorter format, getting off to a flying start before a strong fightback from the Jets. Up from the 2ndXI, Matt Wragg (3-11) was the pick with his burly right-arm seamers as wickets fell often enough that only Downey (44) and Richards (35) made double figures. The eventual 117-9 still looked challenging though, especially in the gloom of the second dig. The four other bowlers all chipped in with a wicket apiece as the attack was juggled with an array of single-over spells.

In reply, North East failed to capitalise on the fielding restrictions and, amongst a smatter of wickets, also lost form man Will Ritchie retired hurt when he suffered a nasty blow from a bouncer. It left the Jets in a tailspin, attempting and failing to play catchup as nothing resembling a batting partnership materialised. When Andy Heath was last man out attempting to recreate the previous delivery’s maximum the 1stXI had mustered just 68-9, a poor effort even accounting for the lack of visibility as the innings closed just shy of 9pm.

The result leaves the 1stXI playing catchup in their remaining group games against Bredbury and Trinity, hoping for a clean sweep that would see them qualify for the Shield competition.