After two disappointing batting performances, the 2s were in need of a much better batting performance this time around, so skipper Zoheeb Ahmed had the bright idea of batting first again for the 3rd time in a row – though after winning the toss this time. Five Ways were already down to 10 men after a player became sick overnight and the start didn’t get any better when young bowler Abrams took a smart caught & bowled to break the opening partnership early.
Although the grounds team had done a fantastic job to prepare the pitch and outfield (due to the rain), it soon became clear that this would not be an easy pitch to bat on at all – and that became evident when a ball shot through almost along the ground in the early overs and was only just kept out by opener and new vice captain Joe Hill. Unperturbed by this however, Joe then took the attack to Pershore and played some lovely shots behind square on the leg side in particular, before Pershore then introduced off spinner Thomas who got one to spin back a long way through the gate to dismiss Joe for 21. Thomas then took 2 more wickets as he bowled his 9 overs straight in an entertaining battle in which the Ways batsman decided to try attack him by using their feet to him with mixed success. With Ways at 78-4, Saurabh Sinha and Zoheeb then put together a nice little partnership by counter attacking, before an ambitious call by Zoheeb resulted in Saurabh getting run out by some sharp fielding, just as he was looking good. This then brought about a mini collapse after Omair Khawaja slogged 2 boundaries to cow corner before getting bowled. With the score at 123-7 (effectively 8 down), Zoheeb decided to farm the strike and for the next 10 overs or so and ground out a painstaking but perhaps crucial 31 run partnership with the resolute Abdullah Mohammadi (which was not easy given that there was no common language between the 2 batsman) who provided excellent support. Many scoops, ramps and reverse sweeps later Zoheeb was eventually out bowled for 68 after he made the mistake of attempting to play a normal shot. Spencer Mckenna then provided a bit of entertainment and chaos before Ways were finally bowled out for a respectable 158 in 40 overs.

In an attempt to motivate the team, skipper Zoheeb fed the team home-made chicken kebabs between innings and fuelled by this, opening bowler Nabeel Tahir sent the off stump cartwheeling twice in the first 5 overs to reduce Pershore to 16-2. Opening batsman Wheatcroft then decided to counter attack from the other end and took his team to 73-4, being involved in two 30 run partnerships – which were both ended by Abdullah Mohammadi who again found the off stump with a fast delivery, and then punished Pershore even further by getting rid of Wheatcroft, who foolishly tried to take a single to his rocket arm (he’s Sabir’s friend). Spin was then introduced and slow left armer Omair Khawaja produced 2 wickets in 2 overs – 1 of them via an excellent reaction catch by keeper Joe Hill. With the score at 84-6, Pershore then attempted yet another recovery, with another counter attacking 30 run partnership between their skipper Stuart Pullin and young leftie Sam Butts. Ways then promptly brought back Nabeel Tahir who, yet again, found the off stump of Butts before Malyar Safi took a very good running catch to gift Zoheeb the first of his 2 wickets. His 2nd wicket was an lbw via a misread googly. Abdullah Mohammadi then came back on to replace Zoheeb and got Thomas to edge 1 behind to Joe Hill who took a fantastic low catch inches off the ground to complete the victory for the 2s.
All in all, a fantastic game of cricket, the batting finally gave something for the bowlers to defend and the bowlers then duly delivered. An excellent team effort in the field with 10 men to keep going and some stand out individual performances as well embodied exactly what the 2s were looking for. Consistent batting performances will be key as the season goes on, but this is the start of something good hopefully.