Alan Carter scored an unbeaten if not chanceless half century to seal an impressive all round performance by a rejuvanated Crossbats team.
Earlier, an excellent disciplined display of pace, seam but especially swing from the 5 man bowling attack lead by Grumley's & Dunbar's 3 wickets apiece, gave captain Alistair Wright control of the match. On an artificial pitch where the bowl could skid through or rear with the appropiate effort while it was new, the Crossbats bowlers rarely strayed from line as opener Steve Lay's 9 from 58 balls would indicate. Indeed, extras was comfortably top score with 40 followed by Jon Webley's 24.
The second innings however was a completely different story as the Pacific bowlers failed to get a grip with their footing & so consequently also their line & length. Initially, James Gleadow picked up 2 early wickets but it was surely Carter's day. He survived 3 stumping chances, a top edge that fell just behingd first slip, 2 or 3 mistimed shots that fell safely to ground, a dropped catch at short cover that Chris Atkin did well to parry, plus 1 or 2 decisons that could easily have gone against him. Left armer James Smith being predominatly the unluckiest bowler of the day. But Carter was unperturbed by this as half volley after long hop was despatched to the boundary in a way no one either before or after him could emulate. Jon Webley did pick up 3 wickets as Pacific briefly fought back but it was fitting that the game should be won by 4 byes as only Mr Extras could challenge Carter's steamy fare
XI:- Chris Atkin, Charlie Davids, Jim Davies, James Gleadow, Oliver Haill, Peter Hollman, Steve Lay*, Sammy Purcell, James Smith, Jon Webley, Kurt Rademaker. (12th man: Tim Vanderpump).
Other matches: Sat 08 Sep 2018, Marble Hill Park, Sharma steers Pacific to victory in Richmond, Sat 19 Aug 2017, Marble Hill Park, Won by 85 runs Last ball chiller, Sat 08 Oct 2011, Wray Crescent, Won 5 wickets Sat 28 May 2011, Gonville & Caius, Cancelled Arse And Wangered, Sat 09 Oct 2010, Wray Crescent, Lost 5 wickets Who would be a bowler?, Sun 30 May 2010, Gonville & Caius, Won 6 wickets Who would be a batsman?, Sat 29 May 2010, Gonville & Caius, Pure & Simple Every Time, Sat 10 Oct 2009, Moor Mead, Won Hundred not out overnight, Sat 30 May 2009, Gonville & Caius, Won 6 wickets Webley Continues Fine Form & Roberts Picks up Season's Best, Sat 11 Oct 2008, Moor Mead, Won 68 runs Sat 19 Jul 2008, TBC (To Be Confirmed), Cancelled The Wonder of Webley, Sat 15 Sep 2007, Hampton Wick, Won 3 Wickets Crossbats Rain Runs, Sun 22 Jul 2007, Gonville & Caius, Lost by 168 runs Mud on the Crossbat, Sat 20 May 2006, Bushey Park, Won 23 Runs Brown Arsed!, Sat 01 Oct 2005, Moor Mead, Lost 45 Runs Crossbats Washed Away in Pacific Tide, Sat 04 Jun 2005, Gonville & Caius, Won 170 runs Sat 02 Oct 2004, Wray Crescent, Cancelled Braden Blasts King Ton in Kingston!, Sat 05 Jun 2004, Hawker Ground, Won By 100 Runs Downpour ? What Downpour ?, Sat 01 May 2004, Moor Mead, Postponed Close But No Cigar - Again!, Sat 04 Oct 2003, Moor Mead, Lost By 1 Run Cancelled, Sat 06 Sep 2003, Queens College, Cancelled Marshall Magic in Vain!, Mon 26 May 2003, Wray Crescent, Lost 14 Runs Davies Crossbats Pacific to Victory, Sat 28 Sep 2002, Moor Mead, Won by 5 Wickets Great Guy Breaks Crossbats Hearts, Sun 30 Jun 2002, Queens College, Won by 4 Wickets Picknett leads Pacific home, Sat 29 Sep 2001, Away, Won by 5 wkts Pacific dominate one-sided draw, Sun 01 Jul 2001, Queens College, Drawn Pacific Wrench-ed asunder !, Sat 30 Sep 2000, Moor Mead, Lost by 38 runs Crossbats play deadbat, Sat 29 Apr 2000, Wray Crescent, Drawn Good starts for Roberts & Murray, Sat 24 Apr 1999, Wray Crescent, Won by 8 wkts Neil out-foxes Crossbats, Sat 26 Sep 1998, Moor Mead, Won by 123 runs Under water, Sat 25 Apr 1998, Tufnell Park, Cancelled Sherpa Murray returns to form, Sat 26 Apr 1997, Tufnell Park, Drawn
