Delph's senior sides endured a day of batting woes, however, there were encouraging signs from the bowling attack in both games.
1st XI Stumble Despite Rodney's Heroics
The trip to Honley proved a mixed bag for Delph. A bright start saw debutant Stevel Rodney smash a well-paced fifty (50 off 55) with some audacious sixes, pulling Delph out of a precarious 13-3. However, a middle-order collapse saw them tumble from a promising 106-5 to a disappointing 122 all out with 16 overs remaining.
While the batting faltered, the bowlers offered some hope. Nayyar Abbas, returning for another season, showcased his class with another top-drawer leg-spin performance, claiming 3-42 form his 15 overs. Delph had Honley reeling at 81-5, but a gritty rearguard action from Danny Howard and Lewis Kenworthy saw them chase down the target with relative ease. Delph did manage to salvage a single bowling point for their troubles, with a special mention going to Stevel Rodney for his maiden fifty. Perhaps less said about his "footwork" to avoid an LBW dismissal!
Much to work on but lots to take. “There will be far poorer teams than you” was an encouraging observation from one of the Honley contingent.
2nd XI Outclassed by Scholes
Delph's 2nd XI woes continued on home soil against a well-drilled Scholes outfit. Naive batting saw them slump to 12-3 early on, before eventually collapsing to a meagre 90 all out. Jimmy "Hop-Ken" provided some late fight with a quickfire 21 (32) balls, including two lusty sixes. Scholes chased down the target comfortably, losing only 3 wickets in the process. Skipper Danny Jones, Digsy, and Archie Davis each picked up a wicket, but ultimately, Delph were left with plenty to ponder.
Looking Ahead
While the batting left a lot to be desired, the bowling attack showed promising signs. Delph will be looking to translate those positives into a more complete performance next week as the 1XI take on Shepley at home and the 2’s travel to winless Barkisland.
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