Ali scored his maiden century for Islington as the predominantly under 17 side took on Islington's only other club at Islington's only public accessible cricket ground. Last Ali had scored a duck & he again could have been dismissed cheaply having survived a confident LBW shout early on but he was given the chance to show his full array of strokes As he lead the way with his fearless strokeplay - a trait that ran right through Islington's gallant batting as other such as Tom Wiggott (24) Tom (27) & Shobuj (30) all made useful contributions.
Pacific meanwhile, despite 2006's result, as the senior side would still be expected to win.
From their perspective, Captain Rob Bastin, had seen significant shots hit in the air which seemed to miss or clear fielders with frightening regularity. A feature which began from ball 1 when Tom Wiggott hit James Gleadow over mid off for 4. Persevearance & patience were the key & the bowling & movement of swing bowlers Jon Webley & James Smith kept Ali from finding any long term partners.
Although a target of 240 meant the second highest successful run chase for Pacific, the short boundaries & rapid outfield suggessted that the impartial observer could not rule it out.
Unfazed batting & the need to make partnerships kept Pacific game as every batsmen reached double figures. More extrordinary though wsa that non reached even a half century with Rob Bastin (38) getting closest.
In fact it was Extras with 71 who top scored. Islington's youth which was their ally in the field & in the batting was their undoing with the ball as they saught ever more for those wicket taking deliveries. The frustrations that Pacific had felt as balls landed in space or zipped past fielders for 4 was now being felt by Islington's young stars of the future. Sadly composure tends to be more prevalent with age & as Pacific's target became ever more realistic the bowlers tried harder, & so went their control.
The youngsters left despondently & were visibly dissappointed to let slip what they felt was sure to be a win, but for them there were more good lessons in the manner of such a loss. For Pacific, it was excellent win against a talented side making up for last year's 1 wicket loss. The double wicket & Seniors v Juniors matches had honed them not only in the field lead by James Gleadow who was magnificent but helped significantly towards the bowling performances.
STATS CORNER. 71 was most extras Pacific batting beating 58 v Chats Palace in a score of 211 on 24th April 2000 also at Wray crescent. Pacific's 241-5 was the 2nd highest successfully chased target overtaking the 235-3 v Lord Gnome on 19th July 1997 at Queens in Oxford. * The highest remains as 255-6 v Crossbats on 30th June 2002 also at Queens. Debuts for Ben Gibson (11) , Andy Harbourne (3-0-33-0 & dnb) & Jim Vanderpump (3-0-32-1) & 12*. Played with 10 as Rob Allum was not succesfully replaced following his withdrawal earlier in the week.
X:Chris Atkin, Rob Bastin*+, James Gleadow, Peter Hollman, James Smith, Jon Webley, Jim Vanderpump, Ben Gibson, Andy Harbourne, Shayne Rees.
