Hard Luck at Home: 3rds Second Best in Hollingworth Clash

It wasn't quite the Sunday service we’re used to at home, as the 3rd XI found Hollingworth CC a bit too hot to handle in our latest Development League outing. The visitors posted a sturdy 173-8, despite our bowlers toiling manfully in the sun. Rohan Wood was the pick of the bunch, showing some serious control to finish with figures of 2-17, even as Hollingworth’s Aaron Halliday played a rather irritatingly good knock of 50. Our chase never quite caught fire, and we found ourselves lagging behind the run rate like a tractor in a 50mph zone. We limped to 50 in the 16th over and only reached the hundred mark as the shadows grew long. James Giles provided the main resistance with a gritty 23, but when the dust settled, we were 110-9 and well short of the target. While the result didn't go our way, we take solace in the fact that we batted out our 35 overs and didn't completely crumble. It was character-building stuff, though if we build any more character this season, we’ll have enough for a Dickens novel. Onwards to next week, where hopefully the runs flow as freely as the post-match refreshments!