The fourths crossed the divide this Sunday, playing Wythenshawe from the Manchester league in a 40 over match. The hosts fielded their second team, cunningly interweaved with 5 first team players, providing a stern test for the brave fourths on a worn, testing surface.

Skipper Andrew Jackson finally won the toss, and decided to bat, thinking the track would only worsen in the blistering sun. He sent in new recruit Byron McGuigan along with veteran batsman Ben Young to face the new ball. The varying bounce was a factor early on for Young, but McGuigan had no such trouble. Nicknamed “The Horse”, he got into his stride early on, powering two enormous maximums over the bowlers head, leaving local conservatory salesmen rubbing their hands as he peppered the nearby housing.

Young perished for 2, leaving amateur rugby starlet Alex Davies to join the pro in the middle. McGuigan was unrelenting, getting the bit between his teeth and taking the hosts to task. Davies was reined in a little, and soaked up some of the bowling before departing without troubling the scorers.

Adam Smalls, James McNamara & Simon Donald barely put the scorer into overdrive either, as the support for the Horse was diminishing as the Toft innings faded. Drinks were called, and Jackson took the opportunity to dish out sugar lumps and orders to his premier batsman that he needed to stick around, rather than tee off. McGuigan responded, and supported fellow countryman Peter De Bryun Smith, who made a useful 14 in at number 7. McGuigan finally exited the arena for a fine 91, thanks to a useful tumbling catch in the deep. It left old-timers Jackson & the enthusiastic Matty Walker to take on the fight into the final furlong. Walker clubbed 31, and Jackson 18, to guide Toft to a total of 199 from 39.4 overs, despite losing a desolate Charlie Harrison munching on his half-time meal deal cursing a wretched duck.

At the break, Jackson pondered his attack, thinking the pace of McNamara & Walker could trouble the experienced Wythenshawe outfit on a pig of a surface. The venue appeared to be hosting a wedding whilst the Toft players lunched, but they wanted to be the bride, not the bridesmaid.

Walker bounded in, but was troubled by the crumbling footmarks, and called for sawdust from the pavilion. He was able to pick up an early wicket, however, thanks to a smart catch from Donald at point. Big hitters arrived, and although the hosts were behind the run rate, they were in the game with wickets in hand.

McGuigan proved to be a valuable asset with the ball as well, despite some shoddy scoring and record keeping from the home scorer, which upset the visitors captain. He collected 3 wickets, as did Walker, as the visitors looked to romp home to victory. Fine catching was a feature of the day, with Young & the Disneyland returnee Pete Gibbon pouching some incredible efforts in the deep, along with another to the safe hands of Donald.

As time wore on, better batsmen arrived in the middle, and Wythenshawe ended up needing 16 off the final two overs. They got to 200 in a photo finish however, thanks to a young journeyman batsman from India, who had spent the last few years circling the globe playing cricket in far more celebrious surroundings.

A brave effort from the courageous fourths in a testing environment, and a star was born in the form of the Horse. A thoroughbred who was tapped up by both the opposition & teams of a higher standard at Toft as he sipped his lager on the boundaries edge. A narrow defeat in the final over, as Toft fell at the last, but a star was born. Don’t forget us Horse.