High scoring draw
A very good day to report,
with over 420 runs, good batting on both sides, a tight finish,
wall to wall sunshine, good food, and reasonable support. With the
Presidents XI packed with former players it was like a club reunion
and very nice to see them all again.
Both sides had late injury problems with Ashley
Westen for us, and Dennis Pettard for the President's XI withdrawing
on the morning of the game. Fortunately we had 12 anyway, and
Bill Cripps came in for the President's XI. We lost the toss,
found ourselves in the field, and soon found out that Mr Terry
Pope can bat a bit. Robin Linnecar and myself bowled tidy opening
spells, with the opening 14 overs yielding 40 runs. Keith Green
played & missed quite a lot but no wickets were taken. 
I then
turned to the spin twins, Edgar & Jerry W. to apply the pressure
which they did with some success although only Keith Green was
dismissed before lunch at 81-1 after 33 overs. After lunch Terry
Pope and Des Pais put together a large partnership, although the
bowling remained tight throughout with Toby C. and Matt H. performing
well. After an uncharacteristic drop by Dave F. on the midwicket
boundary Terry Pope completed his century before retiring at 139
n.o. , and Matt H. collected two late wickets bowling Des Pais,
and Justin Redfern . The President's XI declared on 216-3 off
58 overs. Bowling figures Robin L. 7-2-23-0, Edgar F. 15-4-60-1,
Jerry W. 13-3-40-0, Toby C. 9-1-37-0, Matt H. 7-0-36-2, and myself
7-3-17-0.
In reply we got off to a brisk start with Dave
F. in good form, and Brian Hallam enjoying a rare start at the
top of the order , putting on 36 for the first wicket. Dave went
on to make 60, his second score over fifty in three games. Unfortunately,
despite the fact that all the top seven made double figures, we
kept losing wickets at vital times, and when Jerry S. departed
with under three overs to go we lacked the firepower to conjure
the 18 needed from the last two overs. We closed at 207-8 off
48 overs, a moral victory in my book.
