Match Report by David Scally
On a grey and windy afternoon at Low Hall, the rain which had threatened
all day never arrived allowing the new look Horizontals to deliver
an impressive all-round team performance on the way to an emphatic
victory.
Skipper Needham lost the toss and the visitors chose to field. Niggedly
early bowling on a typically slow wicket with some variable bounce
made for a slow start to the innings but openers David Scally and
Alistair Gaskell had moved the score onto 32 with a flurry of boundaries
when Scally was bowled by one that shot through low in the 13th over.
The bars around the ground quickly emptied as Andre Leon strode to
the crease but the crowd pleaser could smash only ten quick runs before
being bowled. Peter Fairbairn. Martin Morris and Simon Warren all
fell victim to the same bowler who had taken 5-40 by the time Needham
joined Gaskell at 75-5. This pair forged the most productive partnership
of the innings, adding 41 before Needham missed a straight one and
was bowled for 21. Rob Richardson hit a rapid-fire 19 and after a
fine innings, Gaskell's was the seventh wicket to fall when he was
LBW for a career-best 39. Batting at eleven, Keith Smart looked in
excellent nick in scoring 22 n.o. and with support from Tom Bloor
he was able to take the Horizontals total to 167 all out at tea. This
represented a good team effort from the home side with important contributions
all down the order.
After a fine tea, skipper Needham surveyed his battery of seam bowlers
and decided to open up with Craig Murray and Smart. Their tight bowling
had the visitors under pressure from the off and Murray claimed first
blood with an LBW. Wickets quickly tumbled with Needham holding onto
a blinding catch at short mid-off to dismiss the stroke-making number
three and Fairbairn snaffling two smart catches behind the wicket.
Murray claimed five wickets in his opening spell and finished with
5-12. At 27-6, the Taverners were reeling and their only hope lay
with their captain who was batting commandingly well having entered
at number five. Needham unleashed Rob Richardson and Simon Warren
on the hapless railwaymen and Rob made the breakthrough, bowling the
dangerman with a fine delivery to make a hundred run victory a realistic
prospect. A mini recovery ensued before Scally joined the attack from
the bakery end and enjoyed immediate success thanks to another fine
catch by Needham to leave the Taverners tottering on 61-9. Much to
their credit, the visitors' last pair then held out doggedly for more
than ten overs before Smart came back to claim the match-winning wicket.
The Taverners finished on 83 all out to give the Horizontals a victory
by 84 runs.
A good match and a profoundly satisfying team performance from the
Horizontals which will see them travel to Somerset in good heart with
the batsmen in form and the bowlers firing.
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|
 |
| Alistair
on his way to 39 |
A fivefer
in the bag, Craig fields the inevitable call from Desperate
David Graveney |
Si playing
the spinners watchfully |
