Pacific clinched the Second Division title of the Victoria Park League with two games to play by comfortably overcoming bottom club Old Fallopians - despite missing a number of regulars and losing Matt Holliday to a knee injury sustained during the warm-up. It's worth noting that Fallopians generously provided one of their players as a substitute for Holliday in the field.
Old Fallopians 113-5 from 16 overs (P Barrass 40*, Marinko 21, S Kieran 4-0-14-2, J Davies 4-0-15-2)
Pacific 116-2 from 13.5 overs (J Hardisty 47, S Lay 23, S Holliday 16*, G Boyd 4-0-24-1)
Fallopians early batting had little answer to the exaggerated swing extracted by Aussie Scott Kieran - who dismissed both openers in an impressive 4 over spell of 2-14. Only Marinko (21) and Phillip Barrass (40 not out) briefly posed any serious threat - before Jim Davies helped close down the innings with 2-15 from his four overs at the death. With keeper Holliday missing - byes provided the only other double figure score.
Set a very gettable total of 113 - P openers Steve Lay and Jon Hardisty set the innings off sensibly before Lay fell lbw to Boyd. Joined by Simon Holliday - Hardisty struck out to take Pacific to within sight of the winning line - before he fell just three short of his half century. There were no more alarms as P coasted home with more than 2 overs and 6 wickets to spare.
"It was a real team effort - with everyone contributing. That has been a trade mark of the season - we haven't relied on just one or two individuals" said Jim Davies. "Hopefully we can go on to complete an unbeaten season - and carry that attitude through to the First Division next year" he added.
Pacific: Jim Davies, Scott Kieran, Matt Holliday, Lucius Faisal, Simon Holliday, Steve Lay*+, Jonathan Hardisty, Nigel Wilkinson.
