More overnight rain & a dodgy forecast. A toss no one wanted to lose &
holders' Captain Paul Attwood had no hesitation inserting once he won it.
UCS 183-10 J Ward 46. D Roberts 19-4-49-4
P 147-8 P Hollman 20. N Johnson 9-5-16-3.
A further 25 minute delay for the pitch to dry out followed but once the
batsmen made it to the crease they soon departed with the exception of
Leigh Adams (22) who played with patience & determination. Darryl Roberts
in particular relished the conditions exploiting good lateral movement &
the fielders backed it up.
At lunch 86-5 was already a good recovery but
Jamie Ward now in the middle found an excellent partner in Bolsom (39)
making his highest score thanks to finding gaps at deep point that did not
seem to be there. With Ossach chipping in with 22 not out & a substandard
post lunch fielding display , 5 catches went down before the 10th wicket
fell to Alexander. Paul Attwood could still afford to be pleased to bowl
them out in under 66 overs for a score under 200.
In reply, the UCS seamers of Jamie Ward & Valler did well - the latter
picking up Holliday (8) with a flyer off a length just catching the top of
his handle & ballooning up to the keeper.
Hollman & Campbell continued cautiously until when an exploratory last
over of spin before tea from Nick Ward picked up Campbell (14) stumped
down the leg side by Bobby Abel & the balance & momentum headed to the
Cricklewood side.
Nick Johnson's field placings continued to strangle & stifle, & wickets
fell as batters continued to try to break the shackles. Johnson himself
kept the pressure on, & the big hitters Marshall Roberts & Rees all fell
to catches at slip or mid wicket. There was no where else to go for
Pacific & with UCS not quite having enough to extract the determined
defence of Attwood & Alexander, the Captain's shook hands. UCS the moral
victors, Pacific the retainers of the trophy.
Captain Paul attwood said afterwards "Felt mentally and physically exhausted yesterday after
UCs. I have never felt so nervous as facing those last
few overs!!"
P: M Holliday P Hollman J Campbell B Hardisty H Patel T Marshall D Roberts
S Rees M Alexander P Attwood*+ I Lay.
