On our first visit to Thackley we found ourselves playing on a pitch more suited to alpine sports than cricket? Having lost the toss we were asked to bat first, included in the side were new signings Azizi and Ravi ‘colgate white’ Soda!

On a cold but sunny day the pitch, after a week of heavy showers, was very damp and proved to be a challenge all afternoon.

Elvis Hussain and ‘Colgate’ Soda opened the proceedings against some awkward bowling from Stohart and Boocock before Ravi chipped one back to mid on for 9. ‘Ginger with attitude’ Stevens then joined Saj, not long after Hussain took a full ball right in front, plumb LBW!

Lanky then fell cheaply bowled by Boocock, Faddi (Peter Andre look alike) then came to the crease at 53 for 3, the general feeling at this point of the match was a ‘par’ score of around 150 would be a reasonable target, so still a long way to go?

Andy then discovered a liking for the small boundary managing to strike 4 sixes in a patient 55 which proved an important stand in the game before being well caught at deep square leg by Tate.

At 91 – 4 the match could have gone either way especially after Jas and Amir both fell for ducks playing ‘Champagne’ shots on a ‘Brown Ale’ wicket leaving us then at 92-6.

Aziz then came to the crease with Faddi ,who was starting to find form not knowing what was ahead of him, Aziz smashed a 14 ball 32 which include 4 sixes one of which the home side despatched a taxi to retrieve the ball before being well caught on the boundary edge by Boocock 140 – 7.

MOM from the previous week ‘Boyley’ then strolled with 19 over’s still to go, a brilliant 8th wicket stand of 88 took North Leeds to 228 which clearly in the conditions was going to be difficult for the home side? Boyley finished on 40 not out.

Aziz and Alex opened up and not long after it was Aziz who struck with 3 wickets in his first 3 overs leaving Thackley on 31 -3.

The fielding was at times brilliant with Boyley taking a awesome one handed diving catch however it was Saj who was the star of the afternoon at first slip resembling himself to a ‘Karachi’ traffic policeman waving most of the traffic through all afternoon !!

Jas then had Shackleton caught behind to an athletic catch from the Captain..............?

The Thackley wicket keeper Cutt (who made his opposite number feel bulimic) made a defiant 52 before falling to a good catch on the boundary by Lanky, he then went off to put a ‘lickle’ plaster on on his finger because it was bleeding!

Amir, was now brought into the fold off his new short run up. Not long after he felled number 8 batsman ‘Hanson’ with a sickening ball that reared off a length, he went down like Richard Dunn against Ali before retiring hurt ( thankfully he was ok after!).

Amir and Colgate Soda then chipped in with a wicket a piece before ‘Gordan’ AKA Tabbi finished the job off with a terrific spinning ball that bowled the brave Hanson who had returned to the crease.

That’s all for now folk’s from the Captain.............

NICK BULL