Saturday 26th May ~ Garforth (Away)

Taylor's Best Ever

Twelve months forward and Tongs bowlers once again stormed through a weakened Garforth batting order, and the resultant early finish emptied pockets and filled bladders!

Two changes from the Tong side defeated at Redfearns in the cup saw Steve Tankard (for Chris Horsley) and Pat Sowerby (for Irry McCutcheon) take the field on this sultry May Saturday. Garforth winning the toss elected to bat, and with it went any chance of batting bonus points for Tong.

The year before it had been Smiler and Lacky who had steamrollered the Garforth batting, today Smiler was to be outshone by Steve Taylor running in from the pavilion end. The first ball of the second over gave an inkling of what was to come as the ball flew off through the slip cordon. Steve's fifth ball pitching in a similar spot took the outside edge and was pouched by big Nick behind the stumps.

It was five further overs, and some lucky edges and over-pitched bowling, before the second wicket fell, this time a fine low caught and bowled to Smiler. Much cheering from the Tong support celebrated Smilers first wicket of the season, he'd obviously been bowling too accurately before! This first wicket did the trick though and two further Garforth batsmen were skittled in the thirteenth and nineteenth overs.

Steve Taylor and Smiler take a rest

During this spell from Smiler, Steve T had bowled six overs and conceded only one run, but had not taken a wicket. A section of the Tong support (yours truly and Buttocks) thought that Steve was not putting enough into his bowling and to shouts of 'bend your back' he made his breakthrough. This was followed by a steady fall of wickets which finished with Steve achieving lifetime best figures of 6 for 23.

Smiler completed his spell with figures of 3 for 39, and Huddy had one over, taking one wicket without reply a fact that he was keen to point out to all!

Tea was an excellent selection of sandwiches, sausage roll, cakes and biscuits, and was so good that Hornby went back for seconds. Linford's spaniel Paddy did rather well from all the leftovers but showed a preference for the chocolate creams rather than the plain biscuits. Linford (for those without the knowledge this is Huddy's dad) decided to help scarify the Garforth wicket at the interval by throwing Paddy's ball across the middle of it!

Neil (Michelin Man) Dickinson

Chasing a total of only 66 and opening with Michelin Man himself it was always on the cards that a quick finish would result. As it was, eight 4's and two 6's later Neil had his fifty and Tong had their victory, though it was not without the loss of two wickets. The second of these was Pencil Philips giving the Garforth bowler some catching practice with his first ball faced.

The end of the game saw the arrival of Tong's ladies support - good timing girls, but perhaps they only came for the 'afters' anyway!

The route back to Tong took it's usual circuitous path via the club house, Gaping Goose, and Original Griffin, and little was left of the starting line-up come 10 pm at the Greyhound. I wonder if everyone's Sunday was as slow?