It is quite a while since the 1st team has travelled to Barwick in Elmet. A nice sunny afternoon welcomed us and the ground looked a picture. Barwick is one of the few grounds that have their pavilion pointing towards the sun all day, so it was set to be a very pleasant hour or two. The cool NNW wind was also been blocked by the pavilion so it was a nice place to score from for once and for the 1st time this year I had warm feet.

The 1st team had suffered from a couple of late withdrawals as both the usual openers had other commitments. So when Barwick won the toss and asked us to bat it was the untried partnership of Captain Paul Hebden and Matty Paul which took to the field.

That partnership didn’t last long as Paul was bowled on the 6th ball of the match. He earned the dubious honour of been the first duck of the season in the 1st team. Matty looked more comfortable and continued the good form he has showed so far this season. Together with Dan White he put on 49 runs for the next wicket.

Last week Dan had been in imperious form but wasn’t anywhere as composed. An early chance when on just 5 didn’t help him settle. Though the Barwick wicket looked perfect we were told it can be deceptive. It has a thin hard top layer which can break up as the match goes on and then the bounce becomes very inconsistent.

Just when it looked like Matty & Dan were going to set a really good platform for our innings both were bowled when in their twenties, then when Alex Ward was caught by a fantastic low grab by Barwick keeper Luke Langley we looked in trouble.

Alex was really unlucky, he got an inside edge and somehow Langley managed to change direction and stick out a hand to snaffle the ball just before it hit the turf. Acrobatic stuff. Not sure who was more surprised Alex or Luke Langley.

So now the Milford middle order was going to be really tested. They had been successful so far this season with all batsmen making runs. Today when we really needed a couple of the middle order to stick around and ground out an innings we were unable to do it. When Ben White was out trying to dispatch a waste high full toss the Milford resistance crumbled.

Billy Thompson and Steve Winspear both joined the captain in the duck club. Only Harry Jackson stood up to the Barwick attack. He resolutely defended his wicket. Granted not the most exciting innings I have ever seen but it used up some of the remaining overs. His dour defence earning him the nickname of Stonewall Jackson. If Stuart Morley thought his hold on the Escargot Trophy was going to be unchallenged then he was in for a nasty shock. Stuart scored 5 off 37 balls the other weekend against Church Fenton to set a scoring rate of just 13.5. That would normally be a strong contender for the trophy but Harry was even slower. His 6 runs coming off 48 balls, a rate of just 12.5. Fortunately Dan Ward came to Stuart’s rescue and after a very entertaining 14 was the last Milford batsman out. This left Harry un-defeated and therefore not eligible for the Snail Award.

Hard luck Harry.

So Milford were bowled out for just 108, our lowest total of the season so far. Thanks to Harry we did use up 41 overs but I don’t think we could defend that instead we would have to bowl Barwick out to clinch the win.

The Barwick teas were very nice though by the time I got there if there had been any meat sandwiches they were long gone. Still the egg & tuna were very nice. Best of all was the fruit cake which reminded me of a good Christmas cake, lots of mixed spice flavour. Just needed a slice of cheese and a glass of sherry.

So it was going to be up to the Milford bowlers to pull this win out of the fire for us. Not a big total for Barwick to chase and 49 overs in which to do it. One thing in our favour was that the Barwick batting had been struggling so far this season. If we could get into them early doors their lack of confidence may allow us to defy the odds.

It looked good for us as Loz White struck in his 2nd over. A double wicket maiden rocked the Barwick batting. Loz had struggled so far this season to match his opening partner Steve Winspear but even having to run up the slope today didn’t seem to hinder him too much. A third victim in his penultimate over really opened up the game. Barwick were now wobbling on 27-3.

Up stepped Barwick skipper Gary Bettison, he once scored 6 sixes in an over at St Chads but at first looked very scratchy. Slowly though he grew in confidence. The longer he stayed in the middle the quicker his hand speed & footwork became. Boundaries started to flow and he reached 50 off 66 balls.

If Milford were going to win this game they really needed to get rid of Bettison, the only real chance he gave was when he smashed one through Ben White at backward square leg. To be fair to Ben by this time Bettison was really hitting the ball well. If it had been 6 inches higher it might have embedded itself in Ben’s mid-rift but alas it went through his legs before he could get his hands together.

That was really it for us and Bettison finished the game with real style with a six to claim Berwick’s first win of the season. Best bowling for Milford was Loz White with 3 for 19.

On Tuesday night the 1st team were back in action against Hillam in the Senior Evening Cup. Once again losing the toss we were put in by Hillam.

Of the two sides Milford had the more representative 1st team on display. Every player at least making once appearance for the 1st team this season. Hillam’s drop of Dan White when he hadn’t scored might have changed the match dramatically as Dan went on to make 56. In fact all the top 5 Milford batsmen managed decent scores. Dan’s brother Ben 30 and long levers Matty Paul smashing 32 in just 17 balls. Milford closed on 176 for 4 in their 20 overs. Surely too much for Hillam.

Steve Winspear opened the bowling hoping to repeat his performance in the league at Hillam earlier in the month. A wicket in his 2nd over bringing back memories of his 8 for 38.

As predicted the Hillam batting wasn’t strong enough to challenge the Milford total and Matty Paul and Ben White each picked up 3 wickets. Hillam not helped by it getting very dark in the last 20 minutes. The home side got to 109 before Ben snaffled the last wicket.

So Milford progress in the competition and play Ledsham at home next round on 7th June.