Sway Massive come up short in opener

Langley Manor Lions 139 all out   Sway Massive 110-8

Report by Nick Brien

After many cancellations and rescheduled starts Sway Massive eventually began their campaign away at the scenic Langley Manor to face the Lions. Sway bowled first and kept the run rate reasonably tight to start with the Manor opening pair of Turner and Hine happy just to knock it around. Sway eventually made the breakthrough though after Turner didn’t pick Sway wonder kid Joshua Bailey’s wrongun edging it through to keeper Nick Brien for a steady 14. Hine was to follow shortly after as a result of a good catch from Vito Falso in the deep off the bowling of James Marshall for a positive 28. The Lions pushed on though with skipper Ponting and the aggressive Hatton keeping the boundaries flowing as Manor looked to post a good score. Ponting had to depart in the end for a well-made 30 after Marshall claimed his second victim having the Manor skipper stumped by Nick Brien. Bradley Varley was then introduced into the attack and it didn’t take him long to strike as he got rid of the dangerous Hatton for 20 after he was well held by ‘The Graduate’ aka Henry Marden. Skipper Brien then introduced Michael Allport into the attack who turned out to be the pick of Sway’s bowlers. He and Varley tore through the Manor tail with the assistance of a bit more good glove work from Brien and some outstanding fielding in the deep from Falso - Allport finishing with figures of 4 for 25 and Varley finishing with 3 for 24.

So after some good death bowling and handy contributions from Asa Drodge and Oscar Marshall Sway were able to hold Manor to 139 -  a score which seemed achievable but would require a solid batting  performance from the Massive.

Sway opened up with Chris Straw and Oscar Marshall in response but it wasn’t the best start for the visitors as Smith had Straw bowled for a duck in the first over. Brien was in next but he could only manage 2, as he became Smith’s next victim. Sway began to  settle the ship though with Oscar Marshall and Ryan Drayton playing some super shots to all parts of the ground whilst keeping Sway’s total ticking. Drayton eventually fell though for a classy 22 after Spencer bowled him. Marshall then fell for an intelligent 24 after being caught and bowled by Ponting. It was then time for ‘The Big Show’ Vito Falso to come to the crease to try and get Sway’s run chase over the line and he gave it a good old go with some destructive boundaries all around the ground including a humongous six to cow corner. Henry Marden who rotated the strike well ably assisted Falso and the two gave Sway a real fighting chance until Marden was run out for 3. It was then up to the returning Smith to destroy Sway’s chances as the right arm quickly completed a heroic hat trick first picking up the big wicket of Falso for an entertaining 44 and then James Marshall and Bradley in the next two balls leaving him with five wickets. Sway hung around to the end but fell well short in the end with Asa Drodge and Joshua Bailey finishing not out at the end of it.

So a disappointing start to the T20 season for Nick Brien’s Sway Massive but a relief to finally get out and play a game after all this time. Thank you very much to Langley for being great hosts and a big thank you also to Dave Marshall and Steve Drayton for stepping in to umpire and score the game.