Pacific 07/07/18

Due to the pitch at Plush not being booked, the game was switched to Hazelbury Bryan.  On another blisteringly hot day, the start time was brought forward and the match limited to 35 overs to allow everyone to see the football at 3pm.  Therefore, the first innings was to be played in the absolute heat of the day (Noel Coward’s “Mad dogs and Englishmen” comes to mind!).  Simon won the toss and duly elected to bat.  Peter and Will S opened the innings and after a couple of maidens got off to a steady start on another good looking pitch at Hazelbury.  Both batsmen took it easy on the running, conserving energy for hitting to the boundary.  The 50 partnership was brought up in the 12th over with plenty of fours in the score.  The second 50 came in less than 8 overs and Will reached his 50 shortly afterwards.  Peter (83) continued to hit the ball aggressively to the boundary, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes in his innings before he was caught, ending a fine opening partnership of 165 in the 28th over.  Jon came in and got on with it straight away, hitting 5 sixes in his 51 before he was run out on the penultimate ball of the innings!  This was just after Will (103no) brought up his 100 with another well timed four.  He then played out the last ball with a forward defensive shot, allowing Tommy to nearly run himself out!  252-2 in 35 overs was a great score, even allowing for the quality of the pitch and the electric outfield.

Simon’s parents had prepared tea which was taken in the cool of the pavilion before heading over to the Antelope to see England move into the semi-final of the world cup.

Luke (3-20) again opened up coming down the hill and was just as difficult to play, taking 3 of the top 4 of the Pacific line up.  Jon (1-8) opened from the other end and was almost impossible to get away, taking the other wicket.  Some great fielding was backing up the bowlers and in PW there was a match winner.  A Pacific batsman was blasting the ball all round the ground until he tried to go down the ground to PW and found the ball to turn just enough to beat the bat and then was stumped by Simon.  At 56-5 the game was all but over, but one Pacific batsman had other ideas – firstly passing 50 for the first time and then left stranded on 93 not out when 35 overs was up.  There was time for Bob to get a good spell of slow left arm spin in before everyone retired to the Antelope for a well deserved pint.

MOM: PW

Catch of the day: Not recorded!

Quote of the day: It’s coming home!