ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
LMV 2nd suffered their second one-wicket defeat of the Middlesex Sunday League Division Two campaign when they were edged out by Southall.
They almost turned what looked like being a thrashing into an unlikely win at Rowley Lane. From the depths of 5-3 and 97-6, they made a respectable 167.
LMV won the toss and batted on a used pitch, no excuses could be made though as the top order collapsed leaving David Freedman and Simon Sattin to try and rebuild the innings. They managed to take the score to 97-5 before Freedy was tired out for a well swatted 31.
Sattin continued on his way looking for his third 50 of the season. With Jonathan Lederman soon out to one that jumped off a length it was left to the young guns, Jacob Freeman and Andrew Greenwall Cohen to support Sattin. He was eventually caught having made a superb 67. Greenwall Cohen batted on to make his top LMV score of 18.
A final total of 167 was certainly more than the team could have hoped for.
Southall set off in hot pursuit of the total and at 78-1 after just 16 overs the writing was on the wall.
However, Jeff Permutt, with his usual mix of deliveries, was starting to bamboozle the Southall batsmen, and his spell of eight overs 4-22 at least gave LMV a chance.
Southall were still hitting out belligerently, but in a surprise move, David Freedman was brought on and snapped up a wicket almost immediately.
Lederman came back on and picked up couple of wickets and Greenwall Cohen added another.. Unfortunately for LMV, with the last pair at the crease, the Southall number seven smote Greenwall Cohen over mid-on to win the match.