During a particularly wet weekend, somehow there was enough dry time on Sat
afternoon for the South Middx side to entertain their oldest rivals (this
was the 27th match) in a limited over thriller.
After heavy rain in the morning, the start was delayed till shortly after
1pm, C opting to bat 1st having won the toss. But Lucius Faisal picked up
from last weeks match against Flying Wickets, & again bowled superbly. The
bowlers were conscious of slipping on the damp surface but he generated all
his pace from an economic run restricted by the conditions. In the 5th over
he picked up the wickets Of Captain Alisatair Wright (3) playing on
following a bottom edge & Alan Carter (0) caught off the glove at gully by
debutante Miles Picknett having got the ball to rear viciously, & Malcolm
Spiro (0) next ball plumb in front not knowing how the play the pace &
bounce, to one that was full. Carter & Wright being particularly important
wickets as both had put on 147for there With Jim Davies bowling the other
opener Kirkwood (3) C were reeling on 26-4 & another 30 overs to play out.
Lawrence (64*) played the innings then in the style of what was required -
long patient deefence before accelerating in the final overs. In fact
Lawrence turned the innings around as 95-5 off 30 turned into 17-6 from 40
with Davies going for 38 from his 2 2nd spell overs & Dougall DeKeller 1-34
from 4. Mike Alexander 8-1-49-8 coming out the most economical.
C continued the turnaround when John Bishop (1) was given out LBW to Frank
Lippitt in the 2nd over for another disappointing opening partnership - but
the man he left at the crease, Miles Picknett, another debutante, scored 84*
to anchor the match winning innings. Solid contributions from Matt Holliday
with his highest score of the season 29 & Joe Phelan's top score for P 31
saw 2 solid partnerships of 74 & 63. Picknett remained selective &
circumspect throughout but dispatched Wright for 2 6s when the odd rank bad
ball came his way.
The required rate finally crept to 7 an over when both
Jim Davies & Lucius Faisal were dismissed for ducks. With 35 needed from 5
overs Marcel Boonaert (24*), still not bowling, but keeping wicket due to
injury, dispatched Lawrence , C's quickest bowler, for 11 runs & then 10
runs after C had the win within their grasp with 6s in both overs , Lance
Klusener style 24* off 11 balls , over mid wicket. From the final over,
bowled by Chance, Needed 2 to win, a bye & another 4 to Miles Picknett & P
had won back the honour with 4 balls to spare.
As the players came off, already a ground mist was starting & hovered over
the ground leaving the players to reflect how lucky they'd been to play
nearly 80 overs in such & have such an exciting game that swayed 1st one way
then the other before finally resting with P. reflected Captain, Peter
Hollman afterwards. "great knocks from Mils, Matt & Joe but Marcel's knock
evaporated all doubt. I have no doubt he'll be reminding Jim & Lucius of
that following their ducks - all winter long."
Stat corner: P's 1st win against C following 3 draws & a defeat.
P's 14th win of the season (11 draws & 9 defeats) with 1 game to go. the
best season for 5 years.
Miles Picknett's 84* was the 6th highest score on debut & the best since
1996.
Crossbats 173-6 (40 overs). Lawrence 64*. L Faisal 8-50-2-3.
Pacific 177-5 (39.2). M Picknett 84*. J Phelan 31. M Holliday 29. Reeve 8-0-36-2.
