A once again overcast Len and Longridge won the toss and inserted the strongest team in the league, bottom by 15 points.
The Plank opened the batting with the Backpotter, and the opening overs were accurate until Backpotter swatted one behind square for six. He then thrashed one straight back at the bowler and in an attempt to preserve his Swede, he took a very good return catch.
Out strode Clubber and he added a further couple of runs before Plank perished to one that deflected onto his stumps. With the weight of impending fatherhood on him, Sore Knee Nel took guard, and promptly launched a full toss into the field scattering the onlooking horses. However, he too perished along with Clubber and Fat Alf, who chipped away at the bowling adding a fine 22 runs, held the middle order together.
A steady stream of wickets continued with most getting in and then promptly getting out. At one point history repeated itself as Three Pint Barnes and AAC re-enacted the infamous Longridge Sword Dancing partnership of 16 years ago, before Three Pint was bowled, a similar conclusion to the events of yesteryear.
Enter this weeks Junior, Luke Kay, he negotiated fours balls with varying degrees of comfort before the demise of AAC, bowled off a bottom edge onto the leg stump. 97 all out and high flying Longridge were confident.
They requested that the wicket be rolled at the interval, a rare request and one that seldom proves to be correct.
The openers started with a thrash, the ball skewing off the bat at all angles but none to hand. Dorito struck in his second over when the opener, playing a shot from the Agricultural Weekly, otherwise known as the Longridge guide to batting (compulsory for all players to follow), carved it into the leg side. Fat Alf sped round from mid on and with outstretched hand plucked the ball from the air whilst completing a full dive. 5.9 s awarded all round.
More was to follow as Dorito was obtaining prodigious swing and Longridge were 14 for 2. Sore Knee replaced AAC and with his first ball in Tregenzaesque fashion bowled a short wide long hop that the batsman gratefully cut straight to point where Clubber completed the catch.
They were on the rack and more followed with Dorito adding another two and Sore Knee (recently appointed as Diplomatic attaché for the Len for his services to public speaking - to the opposition) added another two.
Not to be over confident following similar positions in recent weeks there was a hunger to finish matters off and the “Higher Walton Express” Graeme Thorp, who uses so much of his income on lager that he cannot afford to clean his car, replaced Sore Knee, his fathers true son! The “express” steamed in from the Rock Cottage End with a purpose and removed the stubborn resistance of the wicket keeper with a short-pitched ball and victory was in sight.
This was wrapped up by two more wickets from the Express GT. Joy was unbounded (whoever she is), a first victory of the season secured. Longridge all out for 58 with extras the top score of 19 and only one score in double figures.
During the post match interview, conducted in the diesel ridden equipment tin, the club Chairman, Three Pint, was visibly emotional, “I always knew 97 would be enough on there. It just underlines the reality that Gregson Lane are returning to the force they once were. I shall be pressing the ICC to recognize the club as the next independent Test playing Nation and I expect that the club will be awarded a wild card entry to the World Cup! There should be no requirement for qualification matches for a team of such potential and flair!” With that, he retired immediately to the Old Oak.
More good news as the second XI were victorious at Ribchester confirming their position in the top two of division D. Gregson Lane 13 points Longridge 3 pts. Dorito 4 for 11 Sore Knee 3 for 12 Higher Walton Express 3 for 6. Fat Alf 22.