N2 CC v Elite CC
Sat 25th June 2011
Tudor Sports Ground.

DYERS DARE ENDS IN DESPAIR


N2CC's unbeaten start to the season came crashing to an end as visitors Elite eventually claimed a late 20 run victory as the hosts were left to rue a poor batting display in a seemingly straight forward run chase.

On a typically wet and cloudy summers afternoon at Tudor, the hosts won the toss and invited Elite to bat in the challenging conditions. The warm conditions meant the ball would swing, and on a green and moist wicket it would not only be difficult for any side having the pleasure of batting first, but also any bowler steaming in from the pavillion end with no spikes. That was the avenue taken by the surprise and the surprised opening bowler Rob Crouchley, who in place of the fashionabaly late Richard Jacobi, teamed up with skipper Shailesh Bhatt to begin the proceedings. After a spell of stacks and sawdust, Crouchley settled in to an off spin themed medium pace spell, and kept it water tight as his 10 overs went for just 26 runs, laying the platform for strike bowler Bhatt to make the early breakthrough in an equally economical start.

Fresh from his of field activities, Jacobi started what was to prove to be a blistering spell of swing bowling, taking two quick wickets to reduce Elite to 34-3 He was supported by Crouchley and Anil Shah, who were both unucky not to end up with a wicket. There was also an over from Rob Barrow which kept the batsman guessing, and when Bhatt brought himself back into the attack the wheels were to fall off of the visitors plucky fightback, closing on 133-9, as Jacobi claimed an excellent 5-51, and Bhatt returning equally impressive figures of 4-19, backed up by a good fielding performance.

After a wonderfully prepared and scrumptious tea, N2 set about chasing down the modest target. The clouds had cleared and the wicket was drying more and more as the day went on, never the less the wicket wasnt offering too much help to the batsman, but no excuse as to events that were about to unfold.

Before the innings had really got started, N2 were 24-2, openers Bobby Moore and Ryan Barney departing cheaply. But Dave Parker and Simon Dyer steadied the ship and took the hosts into a commanding postion, before Parker was bowled for 15, the first of 5 wickets to fall for just 5 runs as the visitors now looked more likely with the score 61-7.

But Dyer was still there looking as solid as ever, and with support from Bhatt (13), N2 were 104-8, when Crouchley commandingly marched to crease sporting his lucky pink socks. The situation looked made for the pair to see home the last 30 runs, and with Dyers advice of 'Smash it Rob, just smash it yea' the finish was going to be tense. But when the number ten held out to mid on, it was down to 5 wicket hero Jacobi to play the last 4 overs for a draw.

Just as N2 had looked like they done it, the jack was trapped lbw with 3 balls remaining, leaving the home side heartbroken.

Man of the Match - Richard Jacobi for his 5 wicket haul.


Bowling Figures

O M R W
Bhatt 10 5 19 4
Crouchley 10 1 26 0
Jacobi 15 1 51 5
A.Shah 5 0 19 0
Barrow 1 0 12 0


Batting

R Barney LBW 8
B Moore BOWLED 4
D Parker BOWLED 15
S Dyer not out 40
T Hawes LBW 1
J Newham BOWLED 0
R Barrow STUMPED 0
A Shah RUN OUT 1
S Bhatt LBW 13
R Crouchley CAUGHT 1
R Jacobi LBW 0