Match Scorecard

Match Report

The Wall

The Narks Sunday alternative team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they slumped to a disappointing 3 wicket defeat at Pinkneys Green yesterday.



Batting first on a pitch of variable bounce, opener Tom the “brick wall”

Lees set the tone for what was to be a watchful and determined innings for his side as the Narks raced to 3 from the first 6 overs. Despite the early loss of Rob Hall and AJ, to what was probably the worst ball of the day, and a very rare failure for RB, the brick wall and Chris Hall diligently set about rebuilding the innings.



Hall was just finding form when he was bowled for a well crafted 37.

Meantime, the brick wall was starting to gather momentum, moving on to

19 from 28 overs. The batting order was hastily rearranged to enable Dave (“Dovela”) Jordan, who had teased the selectors all week with his “will he play” or “won\t he play” approach, to accelerate the scoring rate. Dovela though soon made the crowd aware of his presence, playing himself in with a lusty first ball boundary, and then proceeding to waft the ball to all parts of the cosy Pinkneys Green ground, at one stage barely missing a fast moving Merceds on the road nearby. By now, the race was on between Dovela and the brick wall as to who would reach 30 first.



The brick wall continued to stand firm, even withstanding the opposition skipper\s claim to have taken a sharpe slip catch to remove him. The brick wall stood his ground in anticipation of a Sky third umpire replay which never came and the game moved on.



Dovela eventually perished for an excellent 44, setting the foundation for a late run chase. The brick wall was by now playing some enterprising shots and finished on a well deserved 52no. A gutsy innings and one which allowed the Narks to post a respectable score….........

was his version of events, and so it looked as the Pinks started their response.



Ali Paine extracted some brutal bouce off a length, having the opening bats hopping around like rabbits caught in headlamps. Opening batsman Woods quickly lost patience and decided on the ariel route and skied one to short extra cover. Unfortunately the swirling wind and the snow that had gathered on the ball from going so high proved too much for the brick wall and the catch went down.



Paine was not to be denied though, taking four early wickets in a tigerish opening spell to leave the Pinks in tatters at 35 for 5.



Youngsters Andrew Barker and Andrew Gerrish entered the attack and bowled creditably as the Pinks batting continued to flounder. Skipper Dolan picked up his third slip cach of the day, a full length dive to his right (in his dreams), and the game looked over at 77 for 7. Opener Woods though continued to blaze away at one end, depite being dropped again and reached a well earned ton, ably supported at the other end by Smith. By this time the Narks bowling and fielding had become ragged and the Pinks raced to their target with 8 overs to spare.



A disappointing end to the day for the young Narks side who departed with the old addage “catches win matches” uppermost in their minds.