A stunning boundary catch from Shayne Rees on the last ball saw Allan Roberts pick up the wicket & see Pacific home with a narrow 4 run margin. All Rounder Naveej Vinod said "Great win today. Great team effort. I enjoyed the game thoroughly. Sorry, i couldnt join you guys for drinks after. Hopefully next week."
It was a damp overcast start. Pacific struggled early on against some steady seam bowling but the skipper lead fifth and sixth wicket stands to put Pacific in a good position when rain forced a third prolonged break and an early tea at 125/5 off 27 overs. On resumption the match was reduced to 35 overs and a super tea had dulled the batsmen’s ability to communicate and run. Darren was denied a hundred that his thumping solo stand deserved. Gleadow ran himself out suicidally of the last ball with a mad dash from the non-strikers end when the wicketkeeper had safely collected the ball standing up prompting much mirth among the opposition.
After a quick turnaround Pacific took the field in the sunshine on a rapidly drying outfield. Brown and Gleadow worked hard but Denham’s openers were solid and punished anything off line. However, the required run rate was slowly creeping up and first change Rees bowled superbly exploiting some over ambitious batting. He could have had a couple more wickets had all the chances offered been held. Vinod provided steady support from the other end. Holliday took three catches including a spectacular third. The skipper suffered a nasty split finger attempting a catch.
The game moved to a very exciting denouement as runout appeals were controversially turned down, Lay held a great catch at cover off Roberts and the required rate hovered at six an over. In the last two overs saw 9 fielders on the boundary forcing big hits and in the end Rees held the winning catch one handed.
XI is Joe Bennett, Jon Brown, James Gleadow, Matt Holliday+, Steve Lay, Lahri Mohamed, Allan Roberts, Darren Tempany*, Naveej Vinod, Shayne Rees & Vincent Croft.
Meet at ground at 1.30pm. DT has kit JG match ball & scorebook. Anyone requiring or offering a lift please advise.
