Despite Jon Webley's classic 146 & Pacific's daunting 296-9 declared, UCS Old Boy's overhauled it with 4 balls to spare. Gasps & cheers were equally audable from the pavilion thanks to 4 half centuries from 5 of the UCS top order lead by Ali's Jayasuria like 75.
It had been a bowlers graveyard as Pacific racked up their highest score & just like in 2000 when Pacific made a then record 285 it was deja vu as UCS re-enacted this previous success.
James Gleadow reports "The Pacific team turned up at the Queen's College Oxford ground hoping to repeat the previous day's success. The team undertook extra security measures following the previous day's thefts from the changing rooms. It was a bright and sunny morning and the skipper won the toss and chose to bat.
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The Pacific innings got off to a shaky start as Sami bowled a fine fiery spell that removed Steve Lay first ball and accounted for Hollman and Murray. However, Webley had settled in against the other opener with a series of crunching drives. Webley and Picknett played well to add 56 for the 4th wicket as Sami and the hostile, short pitching Ali provided a stern test for both. After Picknett fell, Vanderpump and Webley started to dominate and Webley kept cutting and driving to reach his 100 off the last ball before lunch with the score 147/4.
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Lunch was fantastic (if expensive). The fifth wicket pair kept going after lunch before Vanderpump fell for 33. Rademaker came in and took a while to get off the mark (15 balls) but Webley was superb until he fell for an amazing 146 (the third highest score in the club's history). Davies then sped to his fifty off only 39 balls but seemed to have left the declaration late in allowing himself to get there. It was Pacific's highest ever score and we seemed on top.
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UCS Old Boys got off to a flyer however. Ali tonked all the bowling (especially Gleadow's) to cow corner - even if the ball was a foot outside off. It was a Jayasuriya type approach from him and it worked as tea came with the score at 91/1. After tea the onslaught continued briefly until Davies used his slower ball to bowl Ali (75). This gave Pacific renewed hope but Irfan and Diamond played sensibly to bring up the 200 despite good bowling from Vanderpump and Webley. Murray removed Irfan (74) just as the game seemed to be slipping away utterly. Chapman and Diamond played sensibly, ran well and had some luck (particularly against Webley) to guide UCS home with four balls to spare despite some determined Pacific bowling.
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Overall, it was a good day's cricket on a nice day that ended disappointingly. Pacific do not seem to be able to defend newly set record scores, especially against UCS. The Lay brothers lasted only three balls between them but Ian Lay gave a fine display when keeping. Webley was magnificent with his 146 and his bowling was very good but unlucky (for once). Vanderpump and Rademaker put in useful all round performances."
The day was completed when Captain Davies presented the Lindridge-McDougall Cup back to Nick Johnson.
