ROUND 14
Cricketers Arms vs GCB at Rowland

We arrived at Alexandria Park for this top-of-the-table clash to discover that the wicket was still suffering the after effects of a week's rain, and that we now needed to move to Rowland Park. The delayed start meant that the game was reduced to 55 overs per side, and with himid conditions, a slow outfield and long boundaries, there was much speculation as to the right course of action if we won the toss. We did, and elected to bat first. Mike and Angus opened, and could make only slow progress against some tight bowling. After scoring 11, Mike attempted to lift the scoring rate but only succeeded in lofting a catch to mid-off. Angus progressed a little more, but chipped one back to the bowler on 17. At 2-36 after 19 overs, some good work was needed and Gerrard and Dave knuckled down and began to work the bowlers around, putting on 57 for the 3rd wicket. Unfortunately Gerrard was bowled for a well-made 35, and shortly afterwards we lost Dave for 24. However they had succeeded in getting us up towards 100 (well, 99 in fact) with just under 20 overs to go. Phil and Tim worked hard, and made up for the lack of boundaries with some enterprising running. It was ultimately to cost them both as a slip on the damp grass and an excellent direct hit saw them each run out (Tim for 13, and Phil for 10). Jeremy set about shoring up the lower order (as has become his regilar task) and along the way he lost John then found a willing ally in Jacob. The two J's put on an 18 for the ninth wicket, and when our time ran out we had made 8-166, with Jeremy finishing with 26 and Jaccy on 4. Allowing for the size and slowness of the outfield (only 3 fours were hit all innings), this was probably worth a bit more than it seemed. However we were going to have to bowl very well to defeid it against the strong GCB batting line-up.

We opened the bowling with the same duo who had closed our batting. The GCB openers looked to build slowly, and wear down the bowlers and the ball. Mindful of the batting to come, we opted to rest Jeremy after a short spell, and bring in Dave's legspin (if anyone would have trouble with spin it would be the openers!). Dave duly broke the partnership, then Jaccy picked up two quick wickets (including another fine slips catch to Angus) to have GCB inearly difficulty at 3-25. However the batsmen at the crease were two of their best, and we had memories of them carting us all over the place in the last game. Jeremy was brought back into the attack, and with Jaccy bowling a excellent tight line, the runs really began to dry up. Frustration set in, and after getting away with a skied drive, the GCB captain was trapped in front by Jeremy. At 4-28, we were suddenly in with a very big chance. However GCB hadn't won 12 out of 13 by folding under pressure, and C.Rao and T.Roberts batted with great purpose to rebuild the innings. Phil and Gerrard took up the attack, and kept things tight enough that GCB were never quite able to get away from us. After they had put on 60, Gerrard finally made the breakthrough with a bouncer which top-scorer Rao (48) top-edged around to Jeremy at fine leg. At 5-98 after 37 overs, the comparison would have had the commentators in raptures (after 37, we had been 4-99). Definitely game on. Jeremy replaced Phil (who had been unlucky not to have had a wicket) and his second spell was a real killer. He sent back Roberts (27) courtesy of a catch to Tim at point, then almost immediately had Phil into the catching action at mid-on. When he backed this up a couple of overs later by bowling the GCB keeper, the score was 8-124 and 167 was looking a long way off for GCB. Opening bowler Inia set out to narrow the gap, hitting some big shots before he tried his luck once too often and became Jez's 5th wicket. With the last pair at the crease and 30 needed in five overs, and Jacob and Jeremy proving very difficult to get away there was no margin for error. A mad scramble for a second run let to a run-out and some serious celebrations for the Cricketers Arms. Jeremy led the bowling with 5-33 (off 17.2 overs), while Jaccy bowled with great accuracy and finished with 2-28 off 14 overs. Gerrard also bowled a long spell (12 overs, 1-41), while Phil (6 overs 0-25) and Dave (1-9 off 3) provided sterling support.

So we have finished the home/away season on top of the table, and will be watching the other results closely to see who our semi-final opponents will be...