MAL 2nd claimed a 150-run victory over Belmont & Edgware 2nd in a friendly.
On a sweltering day at Rowley Lane, Katten kept up his 100 per record on the toss and chose to bat. Begner and Hill got MAL off to a solid start with a 50-plus partnership with Hill playing some fine cover drives. Hill was the first out for an exciting 33. Andy Hillel then suffered a horrific incident where he was hit just above the eye from a beamer that he was trying to hammer away to leg – the game was delayed as an ice pack was administered and he was then taken to hospital by Eli Nussbaum to have stitches.
Tony Wise then joined Josh Begner and played really sensibly to ensure that MAL used up all the overs. Begner was out shortly after drinks for a well played 28 and showed again how well he is developing as an opener.
Wise then accelerated the pace of his innings as wickets fell at the other end in the chase for runs and was eventually out with a couple of overs to play for an excellent 68 on a slow and difficult track with a large outfield.
Sacher gave Wise good support towards the end and it was a great team effort to reach a score in excess of 200.
MAL opened the bowling with Sam Hillel and Wise – a great combination of youth and experience with something like 35 years between them. Hillel bowled a hostile spell taking three wickets as he ripped through the top order and was on a hat-trick for the second consecutive match for the 2nds.
Wise was his usual miserly self at the other end. They were then replaced by Brad Sacher and Josh Begner with Begner picking up two wickets, one from a full toss which dipped downwards to clip the top of the bails. They were replaced by Leslie Allweis and Yitzy Hill who finished off the tail with Hill bowling an impressive and fiery spell to finish with great figures of 3-9. Simon Levy again impressed behind the stumps.
The fielding was tight and enthusiastic and this was an excellent all round performance by MAL 2nds and shows that we can be a match for much harder opposition in the future.
