A match punctuated with pockets of controversy ultimately ended in an
exciting draw as Washington who had required 100 from the last 20 overs
nearly lost he game, opting to bat out the final over defensively.
P : 149-9 (ao). D Murray 67. Wood 15-5-36-3.
W : 129-9. N Wickers 31. J Baglivi 19-6-44-8.
The night before had brought a massive local downpour & it was a sodden
pitch which greeted the players the following morning. Both captains had
planned to insert the other side in order for their own bowlers to exploit
the moisture that was still in the pitch. The groundsman had gone to the
trouble of preparing 2 pitches with the accompanying warning that any rain
during the game would lead to the abandonment of the game & a new game being
started on the second pitch.
No side had ever won the game between these
sides by bowling the other out & so the pattern continued. Minnion & Barratt
bowled well in their opening spells finding Peter Hollman¹s edge twice. The
latter so lucky to be dropped on 4 seperate occasions. Conditions & good
bowling stymied any free run scoring as David Murray proved to be the only
batter for Pacific to score well. Once Murray was out, to a controversial
catch behind, walker recalled his opening bowlers to finish off he innings.
In the end they did not succeed, but neither were the lower order able to
score either. Walker persisted & Wilkinson batted on ...& on. walker
remained tactically challenged, Wilkinson adamant that he was not prepared
to simply give his wicket away at the opposing Captain¹s behest. Ultimately,
Nigel¹s judgment was proven to be the accurate one to walker¹s chagrin as
the game went to the final over with all results still possible.
Indeed,
pacific felt justifiably aggrieved, when a confident stumping appeal was
denied Mileham with Cooper out of his ground.
Throughout all this it was
easy to overlook what a stunning contribution John Baglivi made with the
ball, bowling 19 overs straight through & picking up the best figures for a
Pacific bowler for 8 years since Peter Hollman picked up 8-30 against Bexley
park Wood. A brilliant effort given the quality of the opposition batting &
the flatness of the pitch, possibly the best spell ever bowled by a Pacific
bowler.
Despite the moans from some quarters it was agreed that it had been
a closely fought game with an exciting climax & as Nigel said ³They gave us
nothing - what did they expect?².
P : PH AD DM TM+ LY SE MH JB MA NW*
