Ilkley CC

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Monday, July 31, 2006

Game 13 - Illingworth (Away)

Date - 28th July 2006

The ICC arrived at Illingworth in confident mood after 3 wins on the spin had seen them eat into the pacesetters lead. Absent this week were Jo Lager Varley and Paul The Hustler Dover but such is the strength in depth at the club this season a trip to top of the league posed no fear.

Unusually this week, Captain Quaife lost the toss and the Illingworth skipper chose to put The ICC into bat. Bails and Racks opened and the scoreboard was soon ticking over, good running between the wickets complemented regular boundaries and the youngsters looked solid. A change at one end brought the Illingworth spinner into the attack and soon Racks was removed to a smart stumping after slightly overbalancing. As Santy Dad joined Bails the score read 57-1. Phil was soon back in the hutch however as the Illingworth Aussie got one to keep low and Santy Dad was removed LBW.

Mike Sant came in at 4 and he and Bails batted well together and put the mini collapse to the back of their minds and managed to tick the score along at 4 an over. However with the score on 120 Bails was out just 8 short of his half-century.

Captain Quaife had put himself up the order and joined Mike at the crease. Looking nervy early on he battled and soon started picking runs up before Santy Lad was removed and Wheels came in with 13 left and 160 on the board. Although neither batsmen looked in good touch, they chanced their arms and ran well between the wickets and ruffled a few Illingworth feathers, not least when Gup chipped one to mid-wicket, was dropped and then 6 runs given as said fielder hurtled the ball over the boundary in frustration!

Gup was bowled by a good Yorker from the Aussie but his 30 proved more than handy. Wickets fell at regular intervals in the last 6 overs but when Dawse joined Dickie at the crease with 3 overs the Illingworth bowlers must have been hoping to wrap things up. These two had not read that particular script however and instead proceeded to smash 27 from 17 balls including a Champagne 6 from Dos Hos! The ICC finished well - 224-9.

The Illingworth teas were the best of the season, melon always a welcome addition to any tea!

The Ilkley defence didn’t get off to the best of starts as Rhodesy Lad injured his back first ball and couldn’t continue after ball 2 and went off for some of Guppy’s Horse pills to shettle the pain!
Jay Zee stepped up to the plate and immediately caused problems. At the other end Dickie was getting them to wobble about and the Illingworth batsmen looked distinctly uncomfortable. When Dickie got one to nip off the seam the opener nicked it to 2nd slip where Wheels took it close to the ground. And when Captain Quaife and Jayzee chose to insert a silly short-leg the Ilkley juggernaught started to go through its many gears as Santy Lad took a superb reflex catch to his right. At the crease now were the two batsmen who won the game for Illingworth at Denton Road and when they got the score up to 60-2 a few Ilkley heads were starting to drop. Captain Quaife wouldn’t allow this and rallied and cajoled his troops to keep battling. When Cocky was brought into the attack the ball really started to dance and Racks did superbly behind the stumps and it was this combination that removed the dangerous Illingworth skipper, stumped. Ilkley were up for it again and when Jayes removed the other batter again to a smart catch from Santy Lad the ICC smelt victory. Wickets began to tumble as the Illingworth batsmen felt the pressure and despite ridiculous cheating from the Illingworth number 6 Ilkley coasted to a much deserved 5 points with Jayes picking up 6-52.

The hard-work is far from over however as we approach the business end of the season. Every game is huge, none more so than the next one with the visit of Menston to Denton Road.
The ICC will be hoping to make it five from five! Come on the ICC!

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