Won
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Driver | Out | 2 | ||||
| Fred Travers | Out | 12 | ||||
| Steve Banning | Out | 7 | ||||
| Dave Allen | Not Out | 21 | ||||
| Dan Medhurst | Out | 9 | ||||
| Jamie Travers | Out | 2 | ||||
| Mark Anderson | Out | 0 | ||||
| Matt Hill | Out | 1 | ||||
| Phil Wilding | Not Out | 0 | ||||
| Dan Adkins | Out | 4 | ||||
| Dan Anderson | Out | 0 | ||||
| Extras | ||||||
| Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Travers | 8.0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 3.38 | |
| Mark Anderson | 12.0 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 1.58 | |
| Phil Wilding | 9.0 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 1.89 | |
| Dan Adkins | 10.0 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 2.40 | |
| Extras | ||||||
| Fielder | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Driver | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Medhurst | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Wilding | 1 | 0 | 0 |
August 25 v Shinfield Home. Won by 1 wicket
If the last three weeks measured seven out of ten on the tension scale, then this game was a maximum!
So what fine mess did we get ourselves into this time? Chasing just 97 to win, we had somehow contrived to collapse to 74 for 8. Our batting card was mostly marked out in binary, with 0s and 1s the predominant figures apart from Freddie, who opened the innings and made 12. Dave was still at the crease with 8, having watched a procession of batsmen lose their heads, and their wickets, but whilst he was there we had a chance. Obviously, we needed someone to stay with him! Next man in was Matt Hill [Matt], aged 12, and then Thing. So, with all due respect, the position seemed lost, and with it any prospect of finishing runners-up which, after our recent run of success, would have been very disappointing.
The following thirty minutes or so was captivating viewing. Run by run, Dave and Matt inched us towards the target, showing a cool head and great bravery respectively. To start with, the bowlers respectfully reduced their pace when bowling to Matt, but became less considerate as he held firm. Taking some blows to the body and a particularly nasty one on the hand, Matt didn’t flinch once and, encouraged by Dave, who was craftily picking off the runs, the improbable became possible. With just five runs required, Matt’s brave resistance finally ended. In their stand of 20, Matt had scored one run, but his contribution was equal to a half century or more. Fortunately for Thing, Matt had been out to the final ball of the over, and so he found sanctuary at the non-strikers end. Dave, sensing the moment, turned the first ball of the over for two and then, a couple of deliveries later, crashed a boundary past extra cover. He finished on 21*, nearly half the runs scored by the rest of the team, extras totalling 41! Clearly, this was another defining moment of the season, and a draw in our final game would be enough to secure second place in the league.
To have dismissed Shinfield for just 96 was again an excellent achievement by both the bowlers and fielders. At the toss, their captain was exceptionally confident about their batting on a wicket which was expected to, and did, play well. Thing and I shared the new ball, and we both bowled tidily, Thing took 2-17 off 9, and Ali took a good catch behind off my bowling.
Anners replaced me at the Adwest end and Dan Adkins [Adko] making his debut, came on at the driveway end. Like Anners, Adko is an off-spinner, with previous experience at Finchampstead. Showing great control, he and Anners combined to run through their innings, capturing the remaining seven wickets for 40.
There was much celebrating back at Pound Lane on the back of this victory. All contributed in the field, but clearly special mention must go to Dave and Matt, a fantastic partnership and ultimately a memorable victory. Matt, how good did that feel?!
