Alan Carter scored an unbeaten if not chanceless half century to seal an impressive all round performance by a rejuvanated Crossbats team.
Earlier, an excellent disciplined display of pace, seam but especially swing from the 5 man bowling attack lead by Grumley's & Dunbar's 3 wickets apiece, gave captain Alistair Wright control of the match. On an artificial pitch where the bowl could skid through or rear with the appropiate effort while it was new, the Crossbats bowlers rarely strayed from line as opener Steve Lay's 9 from 58 balls would indicate. Indeed, extras was comfortably top score with 40 followed by Jon Webley's 24.
The second innings however was a completely different story as the Pacific bowlers failed to get a grip with their footing & so consequently also their line & length. Initially, James Gleadow picked up 2 early wickets but it was surely Carter's day. He survived 3 stumping chances, a top edge that fell just behingd first slip, 2 or 3 mistimed shots that fell safely to ground, a dropped catch at short cover that Chris Atkin did well to parry, plus 1 or 2 decisons that could easily have gone against him. Left armer James Smith being predominatly the unluckiest bowler of the day. But Carter was unperturbed by this as half volley after long hop was despatched to the boundary in a way no one either before or after him could emulate. Jon Webley did pick up 3 wickets as Pacific briefly fought back but it was fitting that the game should be won by 4 byes as only Mr Extras could challenge Carter's steamy fare
XI:- Chris Atkin, Charlie Davids, Jim Davies, James Gleadow, Oliver Haill, Peter Hollman, Steve Lay*, Sammy Purcell, James Smith, Jon
Webley, Kurt Rademaker. (12th man: Tim Vanderpump).
