A tantalisingly balanced game in perfect conditions saw P run out winners & consolidate their position top of Div 2.
P 135-6 S Lay 41 P Hollman 35 J Hodgkinson 4-0-29-3
CP 130-4 Paul 43 P Hollman 4-0-31-2
Chats Palace in probably their most competitive line up to date pushed Pacific all the way & the result remained uncertain to the last ball.
Earlier P had struggled to 53-4 off 8 overs due in the main to opening seamer Johnny Hodgkinson who made his mark with 2 caught & bowled & one clean bowled as he picked up the top 3 P wickets. But a partnership of 75 between Hollman & Lay helped post a useful although surmountable score. Gary Horsman (33) & Robert Devany (16) made a 50 opening partnership & with wickets in hand Chats were in a great position but following another economical spell from Mike Alexander, the other bowlers were able to keep the chase in check. Regularly requiring 13 an over ... & getting it until the penultimate when Hollman picked up another wicket as well as having Faisal dropped on the long off boundary. A brilliant effort by Matt Ralph running full pelt but that slipped from his grasp & went for 4. It could have been a turning point but Faisal was run out next ball due to a mix up.
Final over then, 17 required, speciualist death bowler Jim Davies bowling. Jim was dissapointed that 11 was hit from the 1st 5 balls but a dot ball from the last & P's startingly good season continues along the way of the winning habit.
P's next league match is on 7/6/01 when they face unbeaten Victoria Lounge in what will be an election night special with the spoils of the half season leadership going to the winners.
Pacific: S Emmins, B Hardisty+, M Ralph, S Rees, P Hollman*, S Lay, M Alexander, J Davies.
