Capitulation hands Hopton Mills A victory!

Hopton Mills were the visitors to Adwalton on a cloudy and potentially showery Saturday as the two sides second elevens matched up.
The pitch had soaked up the rain of the past couple of days and offered a spongy surface. But Adwalton were not immediately able to take advantage of it as another toss was lost by the captain, Hopton Mills A electing to field.

A solid start was offered by Chris Smith and returning veteran Ian Lindley, seeing out the first ten overs. Lindley then being joined by Graham Johnson and subsequently replaced by captain Mark Palfreeman. Flashes of optimism were seen, but nothing patient enough to provide a genuinely match winning innings. But these flashes of hopefulness were as positive as it was to get as the lower middle order toppled in quick succession for only three runs. Each stay was short lived, as four ducks featured on a dismal scorecard. The tail did however wag as Tom Leeming top scored with 27 taking the opportunity to make the most of what seemed like an otherwise lost cause.

The batting performance had already made if difficult for the bowlers, defending a total of only 114 on what is a small pitch that usually requires much greater targets. And the positive attitude the Hopton Mills batsman approached the task made it no easier. Opener Uviash Patel scored an impressive 96 in only 15.4 overs and from a total of only 117, ably supported at the other end by Vasant Patel. Patel was in fact the only dent Adwalton could make into the Mills line up, caught by James Emmott from the bowling of Chris Smith.

It was another disappointing defeat and left a bitter silence in the changing rooms afterwards. No one person was obviously responsible, but as a team the seconds had fallen way below the required standard today.