No one could accuse Pacific’s season of being boring – with yet another game going down to the last over. Sadly the tide went against them yet again – in what is becoming a disappointing trend. This time a target of just under 5 an over in a 40 over match was just not enough at Denham – as a late flurry of blows sealed the win for the home side.
Pacific 197 for 4 from 40 Overs (Paul Attwood 44, Guy Wiehahn 43, Steve Lay 35, Leon Yates 34*)
Denham 198 for 7 from 39.2 Overs (Maynard 96, Tim Marshall 2-32, Leon Yates 2-39, Rob Bastin 2-39)
In a game that ebbed and flowed – Pacific got off to a steady start – with openers Guy Wiehahn and Paul Attwood notching the first century opening stand of the season before Wiehahn fell for 43 with the score on 101. Attwood followed 2 runs later for 44 before Steve Lay and Leon Yates carried on the acceleration in a stand of 61 in 9 overs for the third wicket – an exhausted Lay eventually stumped for 35. With Yates having to retire hurt with a leg injury and Peter Czabotar (5) missing out - it was left to burly Aussie Tim Marshall to finish things of in style – with a 4 and then a 6 coming from the last two ball of the innings.
197 seemed a fairly good score with a slowish wicket and one long boundary to protect. Shayne Rees – in his first start of the season – and Rob Bastin did well in their opening bursts – Bastin claiming two early wickets. However Denham middle order man Maynard took full toll of change bowlers Colin Black and skipper Nigel Wilkinson as he blasted the ball to all parts. A number of catches of various degrees of difficulty were spilled – and it wasn’t until the “Little and Large” Aussie spin duo of Yates and Marshall were introduced that a further breakthrough occurred.
Suddenly wickets were tumbling – Marshall claiming danger man Maynard for 96 – and a Pacific win seemed on again. However a few lusty blows from the tail meant and another spilled catch when the scores were level was Pacific’s last chance – as the game was finished off with a towering six.
“Yet more frustration as another strong team performance fell just short.” said a clearly disappointed skipper Wilkinson after the match. “So near and yet so far – certainly if we had fielded like we did last week against Washington we would have won.” he concluded.
XI: Paul Attwood, Pete Czabotar, Craig Jones, Steve Lay, Tim Marshall+, Shayne Rees, Guy Wiehahn, Nigel Wilkinson*, Leon Yates, Rob Bastin & Colin Black.
See also Denham CC match report for more on this game |
www.pacificcc.co.uk
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