Who would have thought it? A weekend that produced victories for both the 1st and 2nd team.
Starting the day 70 points off top spot and in last place, the game brought a chance for the 1st team to try and reclaim lost points . . . . . . . . And so it turned out!
Batting first away at Mossley Hill, who were flying high at the top of the table, the innings started in explosive fashion with 14 runs coming off the first over. Opening batsmen M.McNally and K.Higham soon found it increasingly harder to score, and a flurry of wickets soon followed. The only batsman who made any score of note was S.Foster who hit 7 fours on his way to 40 before eventually being caught in the covers.
Struggling at 102 for 9, D.Bath guided James' to an unlikley 150 all out, sharing a partnership with J.Laycock of 48, of which Bath scored every run. However he was left stranded on 59 after hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
The Mossley Hill innings started with P.McNally Jr taking an early wicket, however a partnership of 36 followed, leaving James' with a feeling the game was slowing moving out of reach. Bowling changes were made and fortunately, due to some unlucky dismissals, James' were back in with a shout with the hosts 78 for 5. Nervous times were to follow, with a number of fustrating partnerships taking Mossley Hill from needing 30 off the last 4 overs to needing just 8 runs off the last 2. P.McNally Jr, bowling the penultimate over gave away just 4 runs leaving a nail bitting finish to follow.
Off the first ball of the final over, needing just 4 to win, Mossley Hills number 8 decided one big hit was all that was needed, however all that was hit was the top of off stump. With 10 and 11 now at the crease with 4 runs still needed, a few scampered singles took the hosts to within 2 runs of the target with one ball left. A play a miss off the last ball was followed by the non striker setting off for the game tying run, however hesitation at the other end lead to the match winning run-out for James' in what was meet with great celebration and relief.
James', still bottom, have closed the gap stightly on top spot, and with the 2nd half of the season left, will be looking at a perfect record if they are to have any chance of sucess.
1st XI will be at home to Goose Green on Saturday 28th June.