1stXI vs Langley
After a disastrous performance at league-leaders Chelford, Disley took on another promotion-chasing outfit in the shape of Langley and regained some confidence with a creditable draw. Chasing an unlikely 200 to win following a middle-order blitz from the visitors, the 1stXI negotiated their way to a comfortable 145-8 after losing wickets at key times during the run chase.
Bowling first on a damp surface, the 1stXI got off to a great start as the openers reeled off maidens and the pressure told as a direct hit from Stewart Reynolds sent Patterson packing (0-1). In increasingly heavy showers Little then produced a bizarre stroke with a rain break imminent and chipped to mid-on but the stoppage would do the home side no favours.
Seven overs were lost, but none of the Disley pace attack reacclimatised to the soggy run-ups and the run-rate soon skyrocketed in combination with fine hitting from the visitor’s powerhouse middle-order. Aussie Brenton Cook, averaging the small matter of 100+, arrived all guns blazing and no bowler was spared.
Simon Hare did remove Cook to a good catch from Xan Wood (96-4), but his blistering 49 had set the tone for the rest of the innings and conditions were such that Hare, Disley’s most reliable bowler, soon had to be withdrawn for fear of injury or enforced removal after two accidental beamers.
To their credit, Langley, and in particular captain Stevens (61*), were ruthless with what remained. The visitors made up for lost time by crushing 45 runs from four experimental overs of Clarke and Wood and the scoring accelerated to such an extent than Langley earned back the overs lost to rain with a declaration at 199-4 after 38 overs.
200 looked a long way away for a side bowled out for 22 last week but a solid start to the run chase was delivered from Andrew Clarke and Stew Reynolds in an opening stand of 40. Opening bowler Betteridge lasted just two overs as he too struggled with his run-up and Cook fared little better as a head-high full toss was hooked over the ropes by the Disley skipper.
A comfortable start was only ended thanks to a superb one-handed grab by Cook at short-cover to see the back of Reynolds, followed by the skipper as he played over a yorker to lead to a more circumspect approach.
Progress was serene but veteran Letven had controlled the run-rate in his long opening spell before the introduction of slow left-armer Pattinson. He helped the visitors take four wickets for 19 runs around the drinks break, but Will Ritchie and Xan Wood calmed the nerves with a solid stand of 49 – only ended when Wood smashed Betteridge to deep mid-wicket in the search of more bonus points.
His dismissal led to the 1stXI shutting up shop and the game ended as it had started, with a stream of maidens. In between Disley had been second best to a strong, experienced side but there was plenty of encouragement there in the way the side bounced back from a morale-sapping performance last week and competed to the last delivery in wretched weather.
