Farnsfield v Marshalls 1sts

A MATCH that just about had everything, good cricket played hard but fair, with sportsmanship at a premium (something you don’t get too often these days) and in the end a victory for Farnsfield over Marshalls by three wickets in a tense and exciting encounter on Bank Holiday Monday at Station Lane.

The two skippers Paul Franks (Farnsfield) and Paul Van den Heuvel (Marshalls) kept the game moving and there was never the slightest doubt that either side was going to fulfil their allotment of overs in the time specified.

Both deserve credit for the way they conducted and encouraged their teams.

Marshalls got away to a terrible start with Paul Van den Heuval going early for the first time this season caught by Franks at slip off Neil Sharpe and after losing three more wickets a good stand between Mark Davies and Mark Whitlam began to see them back into the game.

Davies made an excellent 58 runs and with Whitlam (27) and Chris Needham (30) they helped Marshalls reach a respectable 205 for 9 when the overs ran out.

Neil Sharp was the pick of the Farnsfield attack with 2 for 23, and 13 year-old Andy Bell showed a maturity well beyond his young years taking 2 for 55 after a 13-over stint.

Farnsfield suffered an early blow when South African wicket-keeper Damion Crowley was caught by Paul Van den Heuvel at slip off Chris Hearn very early but after another wicket was lost Paul Delaney and Paul Franks redressed the balance and began to turn the game in Farnsfield’s favour.

Delaney completed a fine half century before being dismissed for 62 and this was followed by another wicket as Darren Andrews held on to a return catch to get rid of the dangerous Franks just as he had recorded his fifty.

Wickets fell steadily and Marshalls clawed their way right into the game and the scoring rate went up to nearly six an over until Mark Silcock who had played an extremely sensible innings at last found the partner he was looking for in Lewis Saxby and this pair steered the home side home to a three wicket win.

Silcock remained unbeaten on 35 but it was when he scored 10 runs off the first three balls of the 46th over that the game finally drifted away from Marshalls.

Andrew Coles (3 for 57) and Mark Davies (2 for 48) bowled superbly for Marshalls and the only pity was that somebody had to lose such a terrific game.

This was a magnificent advert for Bassetlaw League Cricket and both sides deserve praise for their part in a truly memorable encounter

Thanks to scorer John Connor and match ball sponsor Paragon Flexibles.