Thursday 10th June 2010.
It was good to get back to winning ways again after a series of disappointing defeats in both the league and the two cup competitions. The National knock-out competition being particularly hard to take with a close defeat away at Widnes in the semi final.
Once again despite the calender telling us it was almost mid summer the thermometer told a different story with a chill wind and very average temperatures. Ormskirk won the toss and decided to bat on a flat green wicket. The two openers Matty Peterson and Sean Weston got off to a hesitant start with only 3 runs off the first over. However they soon got the bit between their teeth and began to score effectively with the score passing 50 by the 7th over. Tarlton with a much improved side began a fight back and pinned back the hosts with 8 good overs. By the 13th over Ormskirk had only added a further 25 runs. The very technically correct batting style of Peterson started to pay dividends as he grew in confidence and he began to place his shots through the gaps in the field with increasing poise. He was ably assisted by Weston who played the perfect second fiddle to Peterson until he was bowled for 44 by a a straight delivery that hit a small sod of earth carelessly left on the wicket surface by the batsman and stayed low. A tough lesson in the need for a bit of gardening once in a while even at this level. Charles Coldrick made a cameo appearance with an unbeaten 13 whilst Peterson carried his bat to the end of the 20 over innings exiting the field to a well deserved standing ovation from the small but select crowd with an unbeaten 62. Ormskirk finishing on129 for 1.
The visitors set about their target needing over 6.2 runs an over, they never really got going and by the 10th over they were 20 for 0. Sam Forrest, having bowled one previous over for 3 runs came in for his second and claimed the first wicket with his first ball a perfect out swinger which took the off stump cleanly. By the end of the over Forrest had claimed a second with a full length delivery that nipped up and hit the batsman clean on line with middle stump and the umpire had no hesitation once the injured batsman had recovered his composure of answering the question posed by the quick thinking wicket keeper "OUT"!
Tarleton ended on 56 with Sam Forrest bagging his third with an outstanding catch off his own bowling, (you don't drop those ones), he ended with excellent figures of 3 overs 3 wickets for 6 runs.
Another good solid performance and it was particularly good to see some of the less experienced under 13s getting a chance to take a full part in at least the bowling and fielding aspect of the game (thanks Matt!).
photo's taken during the game by Mike Treano to follow shortly