The hosts found themselves under pressure almost from the beginning when the visitors bowled as a unit better than they had ever done & the scoring rate was kept in check with only 36 runs coming in the first 10 overs. The attempted acceleration of Hollman & Bennett saw them both fall in quick succession & the partnership of Captain Rob Bastin & Justin Roy took up the challenge which they mostly did. 250 if unlikley did still seem feasable at the half way stage but all credit the Riffs' chnage bowlers who made successive inraods & the middle order fell away. Some excellent clean hitting from AT including 2 huge 6s - 1 over the pavilion & one into Turle Close's 1st garden + some brave crease occupation by young Luke Hollman took the score to 200 & a little beyond.
It wasn't only the Riffs improvement in the field & with the ball that was noticeable. Their openers were very steady & selective & almost saw off AT who bowled with real pace & a high level of control The former Oman U19 quick did though pick up his maiden wicket in the last over of his spell as an inside edge bowled the unlucky opener.
The no 3 immediatley upped the scoring rate & the reply ticked along at 3 & 1/2 to 4 an over & the wickets in hand looked crucial before the pressure told. An excellent running catch from Bastin in the dep gave leggie Saif Shamsuddin one of his 2 wickets, while 2 run outs contributed to keeping the game in the balance before Atkin nipped out the number 9. 10 runs needed & 1 wicket in hand for the Riffs. An excellent position now seemed very vulnerable yet Justin Roy plugged away even if the visitors loked like they may win it in extras. Capatin Bastin came back to bowl the 38th over. The no 11 played & missed & dug out & was nearlt stumped before he finally edged to a gleeful Matt Holliday. The batting bench's groans almost drowned out the home side's cheers but it truly had been an excellent game which gone right down to the wire & Pacific had done very well to dig that one out of the fire.
Chris Atkin, Rob Bastin*, Joe Bennett, Pete Hollman, Kurt Rademaker, Jon Webley, Matt Patel, Saif Shamsuddin, Justin Roy, Arjun Talwar, Matt Holliday.
