WAXMAN SAVES WOOBURN\S DAY
The eighth wicket pairing of Alan Cuthbert and Tim Waxman survived the last 16 overs to give Wooburn Narkovians 2nd XI a hard-earned draw in their Thames Valley Division 3 match against Newbury on Saturday. On a wearing pitch, Wooburn had collapsed to 100-7 before Cuthbert (91) and Waxman (26) saved the day with a partnership worth 70.
At the start of the day, Newbury elected to bat on winning the toss, but got off to a shaky start against some probing seam bowling from Waxman. The Wooburn paceman found the edge on several occasions, only to see the ball disappear to the third man boundary. Wooburn skipper Richard Barker eventually made the breakthrough, having Gregory easily caught by Tabasam at mid on. Grove also struggled against Waxman, surviving two difficult chances before he fell to a fine catch by Steve Sweet behind the stumps.
Rob Rogers was introduced, but he found Price in fine form. Price despatched him for four boundaries before inexplicably lifting one to Barker at wide mid on. Arrowsmith\s long vigil was ended by Phil Day, and a spectacular run out by Paul Cuthbert removed Holt to leave Newbury struggling at 102-5. Sullivan and Walker led the recovery, adding 59 for the sixth wicket before Walker was given out lbw to Paul Cuthbert. Waxman returned, eventually removing Sullivan with a leg-stump yorker. He proceeded to pick up two more wickets to finish with highly creditable figures of 4-63. However, a late onslaught from Mills took Newbury to a challenging 205 all out.
In reply, Wooburn openers Dave Rogers and Alan Cuthbert began steadily against some tight Newbury bowling. Camplin was unlucky to have Cuthbert dropped twice at cover, although both were difficult chances. Wooburn had reached 56 when disaster struck. First, Rogers, trying to force the pace against the change bowlers, holed out at mid on. Three balls later, last week\s hero Tabasam was bowled, and then in the next over, Paul Cuthbert, was caught behind off Walker. At 59-3 the complexion of the game had completely changed.
Barker joined Alan Cuthbert, and a period of consolidation followed. However, the recovery was short-lived, as Barker fell to a simple catch in the gully for 10. The promising Martin Dale was bowled by a fine ball from Price, and when Sweet was run out, the Narks had subsided to 84-6. Day briefly threatened to revive his side\s fortunes, but holed out just after he had taken the score to three figures.
This was Newbury\s last success until the last ball of the innings. Tim Waxman and Alan Cuthbert proceeded to join in a fine stand that saved the match. They continued to play their shots, but were also watchful in defence as Newbury tried to press home their advantage. It was only when the game was safe that Cuthbert\s guard dropped, Mills producing the perfect yorker with the opener nine short of his ton. Waxman finished on 26 to cap an excellent all-round performance.
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