07/12/2024
🔴⚫️⚪️HISTORY IN HACKETT⚪️⚫️🔴
Well there it is as the heading says, club history has been made in Hackett, 8 wins on the trot to start the season. The best start to a season in the club’s history, and another statement victory. Let’s see how it all unfolded.
With the best part of the rain seemingly gone the call was put out to say we are on.
With the skipper wanting to bowl first he got the run of the green losing the toss and Barton choosing to bat first.
With Nathan O’Callaghan and Kyle McLeod taking the new ball and doing the job they do all to well putting the pressure back onto the batsmen and not letting to many runs flow. With the first bowling changes imminent, Matt Reynolds got hold of the ball and made an immediate impact taking a double wicket maiden in his first over, and then again with another wicket maiden in his second over before succumbing to a groin injury in the first ball of his 3rd over.
Ryan O’Callaghan joined in on the wickets in his 2nd over, with Barton limping to drinks at 4/60 (23).
It didn’t stop there with a bowling change straight after drinks with Ben Devine handed the ball and striking with his first ball thanks to a magnificent diving catch from Geoff Holder. Simon Thompson joined in with his first wicket in the 27th over and then followed by his second in his next over walking away with 2/35 after his 9 straight.
Ben Devine took his second wicket in the following over and his 3rd an over later, finishing with 3/15 off his 9, while the skipper Kieran Catterall joined in for his first wicket and Barton’s last in the 43rd over.
With the attention now turning to the batting innings, the order was thrown out of whack due to Matt Reynolds injury, with Steve Brown and Josh Creech happy to take the first overs and starting off on the right foot making the most of opportunities offered to them.
Steve Brown was unlucky to be out with a good catch taken at point, but opened the door for Nathan Lumley to join Josh in the middle and made the most of the opportunity taking a couple of overs to get his eye in and didn’t look back, scoring at will, before Josh Creech was next to chopping on to his stumps after a quick fire 23 (19).
Ryan O’Callaghan was next to the crease in the new look batting line up and didn’t look out of place and doing a job he was asked to do, unfortunately being bowled by a good ball in the 11th over leaving the Panthers 3/42.
With Geoff Holder coming to the crease next and doing a job of seeing off Barton’s strike bowler, Nathan Lumley kept making things worse for Barton scoring at will before Geoff Holder was bowled in the 19th over. With Ben Devine in next and Nathan Lumley looking real good the job was simple, play a supporting role for Nathan.
With both Nathan and Ben seeing it to drinks at 4/87 (23).
With a sense of de-ja-vu Ben Devine was bowled first ball after drinks, seeing Nathan O’Callaghan join Nathan in the middle. Shortly after drinks Nathan Lumley brought up his 50 before both Nathan’s finished the run chase in the 29th over securing us our 8th straight win and the Batting Bonus point.
We as a club cannot be prouder of everyone involved with this team and the work that each and everyone one has done to contribute to a successful start to our 25th season.
We look forward to seeing you all back at home next week for our 25th Anniversary match
