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'Graveney winning streak reaches 6 in a row'
By Paul Fanning
Graveney 209 - 4
Old Manhattans 153 all out
(40 overs game)
Graveney Win by 56 runs
The game against Old Manhattans didn’t begin
auspiciously, as Graveney found themselves with just 10 men for the
second week running. If we’d known we’d have to finish with only eight,
we might have been even more worried. However, we went on to overcome
the odds and celebrate our sixth consecutive victory in this game.
Put into bat, Graveney got off to a slow start
against some tight opening bowling. Barry Gray fell for 18, but Paul
Fanning and Rob Davies dug in until Paul got out hooking for 38. Nick
Goodburn fell soon after for just 3, but Rob and Bruce Graham built
another partnership that lasted almost until the end of the innings,
when Rob fell for 92 – equalling his highest ever Graveney score and
missing out on that elusive first century. However, his efforts had
helped the side post a score of 209-4.
Our confidence in being able to defend this score was
somewhat dented when Manhattans’ opener Mustafa set about our bowling,
bringing up his half century in no time and making a particular mess of
Sudip Sumanta’s figures. Equally, when Barry Gray had to hobble off the
pitch to hospital with a bruised foot, things weren’t looking great.
However, when Ali Newman had Mustafa caught at extra
cover, things started to look up – until Ali, too, had to hobble off
with a calf strain. Thankfully, Old Manhattans’ were kind enough to
provide a substitute fielder to make Graveney’s field look a little less
threadbare.
The situation was rescued, however, by a great spell
of bowling by Bruce Graham, which saw him taking six of the remaining
wickets. He was ably supported in this by Sudip, who picked himself up
after his bruising first spell to come back and take three wickets.
Eventually, after some resistance, Old Manhattans were all out for 153
and another victory was secure.
Man of the match:
Bruce
Graham.
Champagne moment:
Howard
Hamilton picking up a passenger whilst taking a pee in the hedge! |
