Aussie all-rounder Braden Grigg stole the show as Pacific reclaimed the Longridge-McDougall Cup from UCS in what turned into a one sided encounter. A dazzling catch to take the first wicket, a club record marathon spell of left arm spin bowling and then a blistering unbeaten 70 - all in a day's work for the man from Melbourne.
Returning Pacific skipper Dave Murray won the toss and chose to field, with a damp outfield and heavy cloud cover encouraging his decision that was already guided by a team strong in batting but short of bowling. Wizzened old pro Pete Hollman was given the honour of taking the new ball - but it was old Welsh warhorse Jim Davies who struck in the second over - Leigh Adams astonished as Grigg leapt to take a catch at square leg that looked to be dropping well short. There was concern as the Aussie landed straight onto his head on landing - but thankfully he was soon restored to the action. Davies tied down the batsmen with his 7 overs conceding only 5 runs - while Hollman struggled with his length and was replaced by John Webley.
It was Webley who claimed the next two victims as UCS toiled to 31-3. It could easily have been worse as they struggled in difficult condions against acurate seam bowling. With Grigg now probing at one end, the main chance for runs came at the other. Soon a useful stand was developing and UCS lunched in a good position with only 3 wickets down - with Bobby Abel and Ian Chapman going well.
Davies and Grigg returned to the attack after lunch and the pressure was put back on the batsmen to force the pace against accurate and hostile bowling - and some equally hostile appealing from Davies! Abel fell to Grigg for 45 and 4th wicket the stand of 98 was broken. Wickets then fell regularly to Davies, Grigg and the returning Webley; as Murray turned the screw using only his three main bowlers in the afternoon session. It was Grigg who claimed the prize scalp of Chapman for a gritty 70, thanks to a catch from old timer Allan Roberts at cover.
Braden's 21.3 overs (4-57) is a new club record for the most overs bowled in an innings. Added to Webley's excellent 4-18 from 12 overs and Davies' equally miserly 2-24 from 15; this was the period when Pacific took control of the match. A total of 179 all out from 62.3 overs never looked likely to be enough.
With the weather clearing slightly and the pitch drying out, UCS needed early wickets. Veteran Steve Lay and new opener Jai Rajaraman made sure that did not happen - though Lay was bowled before tea for an agressive 20.
With Jai going soon after tea for a well made 27, the scene was set for the final act in Braden's performance. He might have gone before he scored had the deep midwicket fielder reacted more quickly to a shot that instead went for 4. That set the tone for a blistering attack on the bowling - and an even more blistering attack on partner Guy Wiehahn's running.
The (formerly!) diminutive South African was almost lapped when running threes in some comical moments - but he too kept up the assault on the bowlers once he had go his breath back. Obviously too many pies have been consumed since his wedding to Natalie earlier this year! There was no respite for the battered UCS attack - and matters were brought to an early conclusion with 8 wickets still in hand with an unbroken 3rd wicket stand of 114.
UCS skipper Nick Johnsone was magnanamous in his speech afterwards, confirming that Pacific were well worthy of reclaiming the Longridge-McDougall Cup.
Man of the Match Braden Grigg said afterwards "it certainly made up for last week" following his 22 overs of left arm spin, an unbeaten 70 off 45 balls and a catch of such astonishing agility at square leg that he literally landed on his head. "Last week" referred to Braden's 4 hour trip to Cambridge to witness just 2 balls, before rain washed out the day.
Guy Wiehahn commented "After I had tried to hit a six to the longest boundary and was dropped, Braden said to me "Mate, if you're going to try to clear the long boundary - don't leave anything in your kit bag!"." Guy added "As far as I was concerned I could not hit it any harder - maybe I need to have a few more pies!"
XI:- Jai Rajaraman, Rob Bastin+, Jim Davies, Peter Hollman, Steve Lay, David Murray*, Sammy Purcell, Allan Roberts, Guy Wiehahn, Braden Grigg, & Jon Webley.
