Club Captain Jon Webley rediscovered the best of his all round form last night as Pacific enjoyed some overdue cup success. Batting he came in at 37-3 in the 5th over & with Sammy Purcell put on a match winning partnership for the 5th wicket of 69 which accelerated the game away from the ex-Notts students now City workers side. Jon's 49 coming off just 26 balls.
Earlier, Ingham & Ellerbeck proved to be very frugal bowlers both returning creditable figures by bowling seam with good bounce & cramping the batsmen.
In reply, Pacific's bowlers poured over the Squirrels' batting much like the heavy rain that had by now begun but this seeemed to inspire Holmes & Jackson who brought their innings back from the soggy depths of 19-5 upto 73 & ahead of the comparative rate when Jackson was bowled for 32 by the irrepressible Webley. The following ball, Jon did it again against Ingham & Pacific were home if not dry & with 4.2 overs remaining.
All due credit to the Squirrels & their Captain Aldridge who kept the game going despitethe conditions & Shayne Rees who showed no inention of taking his side off either.
The sides return to face each other at Wray Crescent later this month where there is at least shelter.
Meanwhile, Pacific find themselves in the 2nd round for the 1st time in 3 years with a match against the equally soaked Norfolk & Chance or Old Fallopians who were less game about the conditions & now require another game to determine the victors.
VIII :- Shayne Rees*, Jon Webley Sammy Purcell, Jonathan Campbell, Ben Gibson, Rob Bastin & Steve Emmins. TBC Darryl Roberts. Reserves (in no order):- Nick Fuller, Simon Smith, Jon Hardisty, Alistair Pritchard, Lucius Faisal, Peter Hollman & Aroon Korgaonkar
. CUP 1st round. Pitch 2
