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'Graveney
notch seventh win of the season at Old Manhattans'
By Rob Davies
Graveney 250 - 4 (from 38 overs)
Old Manhattans 126 all out (from 28 overs)
Graveney Win by 124 runs
The new fixture
versus Old Manhattans was graced by one of the hottest Saturday
afternoons of the summer and the Long Ditton Rec is a splendid council
facility with ample space for Neal Taylor's "coffin" should his
retirement be premature. Nick lost the toss & Graveney were inserted on
a decent looking strip with a very fast outfield.
Paul batted like a
man possessed dispatching the ball to all parts & brought up his fifty
before his opening partner Rob had got into double figures. A change of
bowling put paid to the chance of a debut ton when he wafted at the
first looping delivery of slow left-armer Beamish and was on his way (to
the boozer with Tim & Jay) for 54.
The skipper took
up where Paul had left off & had overtaken Rob's score by drinks. His
dismissal (for 63 of a partnership of 103) was rather bizarre, standing
his ground when the keeper withdrew his appeal claiming to have dropped
the ball. This appeal was for a stumping but Nick was given out caught
by bowler's end umpire Jay.
Rob departed
shortly after for a somewhat scratchy 34 & Barry (5) came and went both
victims of the impressive youngster Yusuf. It was left to Ken (20*) &
Jez (31*) to take the score up to a very respectable 250.
Graveney set about
their task of taking 9 wickets in the allotted hour plus 20 overs with
an attacking field. One OM opener took advantage while the other was
bowled of his pads for a golden duck by Tim's loosener.
KC (6-0-31-0) was
less fortunate at the other end with one edge being grassed and others
flying through the slip area. His figures did not do his efforts justice
as he endeavored to bowl at the stumps as instructed. He fared better in
the field pouching a sharp chance at short midwicket to remove the
obstinate skipper Blowers & give Tim (7-2-24-2) a two-wicket advantage
in the race for the bowling trophy.
Ken (4-1-12-3)
replaced KC & picked up three middle order batsmen (two bowled and one
LBW) for ducks while Jay (7-1-33-0) toiled away but finished wicketless
at the other end.
Any chance OMs had
of getting a result evaporated when opener Faiz survived a decent LBW
shout from Ken but was too slow to make his ground as Rob pounced on the
loose ball from forward short leg and threw down his stumps.
Dave (3-0-6-2) got
in on the act with 2 wickets - one preceded by some typical Baz banter
and immediately followed by a strut which most peacocks would be proud
of! Jez (1-0-2-1) picked up the last man to leave
OMs all out for
126 with fully 10 overs to spare & a seventh win of the season in the
bag for Graveney. O'D kept very tidily while the bowlers managed to
rattle through 18 overs in the first hour after tea.
Man of the match:
Nick
Goodburn.
Champagne moment:
Rob
Davies's run out. |
