On another warm, dry and still evening at the Clough the under-rated 15s went into battle again. Despite not being unbeaten and part of the dream team the much improved XI were looking confident and hoping to add to their points for the season. Yet again Euan and Grace opened the bowling and had Milnrow struggling on 4-3 in the third over. Grace's wicket was courtesy of a stunning reaction catch from Noah at second slip. As the seventh over drew to a close MIlnrow were 18-4 and Shaw were finally up to a full compliment after Theo, who had been sub-fielding for Lancs in Blackpool, had arrived back by helicopter, obviously on fire and ready to drive on for the win. Bazza and Lucas then came into the attack. Bazza's varied line and length meant she had an economy rate of three from her two overs. Lucas bowled well to finish with three wickets at the expense of just four runs from his three overs. This also allowed Isaac to demonstrate his prowess behind the wickets with two neat stumpings. Isaac got a third stumping standing up to Kaven's medium pacers. Alastair, Theo, Rossi and Bruce then turned the screw with their death bowling which forced a run out with some neat work from Theo taking their final wicket leaving them all out for 69.
This apparently is the Milnrow coaches self-proclaimed favourite number as its factors are three and twenty three so he was quite pleased with their end total.

Isaac and Noah went out to bat and despite some mind games from the opposition, leaving them standing on their own out in the middle whilst they made the most of the continued fine weather, they got off to a flyer. A mixture of confident running between the wickets and some huge hitting including four fours and two sixes from Noah and two boundaries from Isaac allowed them to race up to 64-0 before Noah had to retire with a strike rate of 137.93 this was despite being nearly caught out on 39 by the oppositions Australian sub-fielder, who was in danger of bringing the game into disrepute with some of his vociferous sledging. The retirement allowed Alastair to enter the fray and he kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely before spotting that the scores were level and our number four batsperson had taken her pads off in preparation to congratulate the winners, so he decided to miss a straight one which meant that Grace had to pad up within the two minute time limit before she was timed out (another ridiculous rule in this fine sport). Completely unfazed by this Grace strode on, hit her first ball to the boundary with some aplomb before walking off to the cheers of her team mates.

Noah was quite rightly awarded player of the game sponsored by Carlsberg and gets to keep a warm tin from behind the bar until he is old enough to drink it and was rewarded by his father with a Falafel wrap. Notable mentions go to Isaac with 24no, 2 stumpings and a run out. Lucas with three wickets and a catch. Euan with three wickets and a catch that the whole ground thought he would take (but he didn't) and Grace with 1-7 from her four overs and hitting the winning runs. Undoubtedly this will not be the last win of the season as the team continues their improvement.

Thanks again to everyone that helped getting the game on and in particular the guest editor of this match report R Benaud (dec).