Pacific's return to the borough was celebrated with an emphatic win - their
3rd this month against a side they had not beaten for 6 years.
FW : 148-10. Tod 22. M Alexander 12-2-40-3
P : 149-2. P Hollman 53*. S Lay 35. Vulliamy 5.1-0-24-1
Captain Steve
Lay inserted after winning the toss & his seam bowlers did not let him down
making regular in roads at regular intervals. Consequently, the highest
partnership being the 10th for 41 as No 11 Simon Tod top scored with 22. It
was however the seamers who did all the damage, with the wickets spread
around, Mike Alexander, again continuing his recent good form with 3-40,
Neil Fox back from injury picked up 2-28 & there was 1 apiece for John
Baglivi, Nigel Wilkinson & spinner Allan Roberts. The key wicket & champagne
moment though was Old Alleynians !1st XI batter, Chris Hardy who in the
corresponding fixture in 96 & 97 scored a century apiece. He was out for 20
to Mike Alexander caught superbly by John Baglivi at 1st slip & leaving FW's
only option as accumulation before Pacific bowled them all out . Only the
3rd time this season Pacific have succeeded in bowling a side out too. All
this & 2 run outs Steve lay could be well satisfied with the bowling &
fielding.
It only needed a steady reply to weather out any initial storm & with what
was to be 53 overs to reach their target, the conditions were ideal for
openers Peter Hollman (53*) & Steve Lay (35) just placing their shots in the
gaps & avoiding risk wherever possible. Both batters did gave sharp chances
which went past the keeper & slips as the ball flew due to the fast bouncy
track before Steve was 1st out caught at short cover by Vullimay to Tod with
the score on 71. Dave Murray (24) & Craig Jones (17*) kept the tempo up &
contributed useful innings as Pacific steered home with 13 overs to spare
built around Hollman's unflamboyant innings of 53 not out (3 x 4s, 118
balls, 121 minutes) & his 1st 1/2 century since coming back from a broken
ankle in April. Also his only century was on the same ground against the
same opposition in 1989.
P : PH SL* DM CJ PA IL+ AR JB NW MA NF
