Nocton Cricket Club

Match Report
Sunday 30th August

Horncastle (155 for 3) v Nocton abandoned due to rain

Nocton eventually made it to Horncastle after an eventful morning where they came very close to conceding the match. The skipper awoke with only five available players and a lot of phone calls to make. Fortunately two players were found, to allow the team to take the field with seven men.

With rain around, Nocton won an important toss and chose to bowl. Horncastle got off to a fast start and were 62-0 off six overs. Skipper Matthew Stephens introduced himself and struck immediately. The run rate then slowed, and a change of ends for Dylan Garfoot allowed him to find some rhythm and take the second wicket, thanks to a well-held catch at point by Darren Wilson. Garfoot followed this with an excellent one-handed catch of his own, off the bowling of debutant Rob Appleyard.

With the score on 131-3 after 18 overs, the players were forced to leave the field due to persistent drizzle. After a delay, the players took an early tea. Play then resumed, but for only two overs before another rain delay. Fifteen minutes later the players came back out, sadly just for one further over before it rained again.

After another lengthy delay, and a game of changing room cricket to pass the time, the captains agreed to abandon the game as the weather showed little sign of improvement.

Shortly afterwards, there was an upturn in weather, making the abandonment look slightly presumptuous, yet Nocton were happy to avoid a likely daunting run chase for the second week in a row, and take a much-needed six points from the match.