With both sides guarding unbeaten runs this season, something had to give once a limited over match was agreed.
UCS 142-6. (45 overs) Bard 27. Hollman 9-3-19-2. Wilkinson 5-0-22-2
P 142-5 (42.2) P Attwood 46, B Hardisty 32. J Ward 9-1-24-1 Johnson 9-1-24-1.
45 overs game
Hollman deputising for Wilkinson at the toss, was happy enough to agree to the format, with an eye to next week's match. A slow pitch meant the ball had to worked hard off the square & economy was the currency the bowlers would have to deal with. To keep the target below 4 an over & therefore eminently attainable, Captain Wilkinson, on his return, had 3 bowlers mainly to thank, the quick accurate seam & pace of Campbell & Roberts, Darryl going for a mean 13 from his opening 9 overs & Campbell 12 from his 6.
In addition, Hollman with his ability to swing the ball back up the slope, picked up 2 wickets & should have had Bard out early on when he was dropped twice in one over. In the main P's ground fielding was impressive & the fact that 4 U batters got into their 20s but Bard aside all got out when trying to accelerate, was down to tight bowling & fine fielding.
The reply was built around the opening partnership of 74 between Attwood (46) & Hardisty (32) which was broken only in the 26th over. 20 overs left 9 wickets in hand & a reqd rate of 3.4 per over. Hardisty played some excellent extra cover drives & Attwood latched onto the over picthed straight ball by depositing it back over the bowler's head.
The following top order found that with less time to adjust, the going was a little harder & with Campbell going cheaply for 10, & Lay 1st ball, there were some flutters back in the pavilion. Craig Jones's frantic scampering between the wickets unsettled the opposition however, but like Attwood earlier was victim to this do or die policy eventually. Darryl Roberts pushed up the order, joined Hollman at the crease with still 13 off 25 balls needed, but he settled quicker than others before him & an extra cover drive for 4 & a pull for 2 to midwicket off Garfunkel settled it with 16 balls remaining. Nigel was obviously pleased with the overall performance remarking afterwards about the healthy state of the current side's play & the confidence that a winning side exudes.
P: P Attwood B Hardisty+ J Campbell S Lay C Jones P Hollman D Roberts M Alexander N Wilkinson* J Hill I Lay.
