Pacific went into this all-day game with confidence high on the back of 3 consecutive wins but despite wholly outplaying one of their oldest rivals, the match ended in an exciting draw with all fielders crowded around the bat.
P: 294-9 dec. L Yates+ 74, S Lay 40, J Baglivi 39*, D Roberts 33, J Davies 31. Lawrence 17-0-81-5
C: 152-9 A Wright 32. D Roberts 12-1-31-4
Captain Wilkinson opted to bat first on a lightly green tinged & slightly moist pitch. Overcast conditions initially assisted the bowlers as Lawrence who extracted good movement quickly picked up quick wickets to leave P on 19-2 after 5 overs. The P innings then built up around a 117 run partnership either side of lunch between Steve lay & Leon Yates, the latter who looks more accomplished as his game strengthens from week to week. He followed his knock with a stunning catch to dismiss Fitch off Darryl Roberts after the batsman inside edge forced a full readjustment. Stunning. Some more cameo knocks brought up P's highest ever total but sadly Crossbats could not come to terms with the chase.
Captain Alistair Wright top scored but what was needed was a solid partnership somewhere but his with Fitch for 39 for the 2nd wicket was the highest until Yates stumped him following an injudicious stoke against Allan Roberts' flight. P had looked lively in the field from the start & their Twickenham based opposition could barely resist - until the last. Great spells from John Baglivi following a sound knock from him earlier, Darryl Roberts - on the top of his game with 4 wickets, as well as Davies, Ralph & Allan Roberts seemed to prove irresistible.
With the 9th wicket falling still 154 runs behind but more importantly 6 overs to see out, P looked well in the frame but Reeve (4*) who had joined Jones (7*) crucially succeeded in playing out 18 balls. Meanwhile Jones, a regular top order player, came in at no 10 because he had been asleep ! How Crossbats missed him for the run chase ! But he was as solid in defence as in attack & earned Crossbats their draw despite all Wilkinson's attempts. Matt Ralph did miss an extremely sharp chance at silly mid on as the ball came low & quick but that was P's last chance for the win despite 3 overs remaining & Ralph's & Baglivi's best efforts.
Despite not converting their superiority, Wilkinson was very pleased with an excellent all round team effort but singled out efforts from Leon Yates & Darryl Roberts " If we could find a quality leg spinner & another recognised opening bat we would be looking at an irresistible line up, & with the squad strength in depth in all other areas, I couldn't have hoped for the team to have played as well as this.Now at the half point in the season our target of 20 wins remains very much still on. !"
Pacific: P Hollman, S Lay, D Murray, L Yates+, J Davies, M Ralph, T Mileham, J Baglivi, D Roberts, N Wilkinson*, A Roberts.
