09/05/1999 v HARTLEY MANOR

lost

Martin had relinquished the captaincy to Richard Coverly (heir apparent) for the afternoon and Richard had little choice other to open up with himself and Tony Day since Bob Dunkley had not arrived following a football match he was refereeing. Tony made a great start by bowling the Hartley opener second ball but Richard found the pitch which was green in patches with bare areas on a length less to his liking.

Tony went on to take another wicket as Old Dartechs kept on the pressure with magnificent fielding.

When Bob arrived he immediately came into the attack in tandem with Martin Smith and started bowling well. It was Martin though who initially took the wickets taking the all important scalp of the number 4 batsman who had played some courageous shots over the infield.

Bob though eventually got amongst the wickets and ended up with a pleasing 5 for 33. Old Dartechs had done well to restrict Hartley to 154 but it could have been so much better if the Hartley tail end had not plundered the bowling of Neil Priddy for 30 in three overs. Clive opened up with Steve Lawton against pace at one end and steady medium pacers at the other.

Steve played a careless shot to his first ball seeming to have too much time to see the ball and choose where to hit it. In fact he dollied a catch up to cover. Things were to get worse as Clive who was struggling to get off the mark took a sharp single to the fielder at point who promptly throw in accurately to run Neil out also for a duck. Tony Day came in and took a liking to the slower bowler playing him away to his stronger legside which was also the shorter boundary. Tony hit one massive six deep into the wood. Clive finally got going at the other end playing shot cracking shots square of the wicket on the offside. This arrangement worked well with both players favourite shots being to the shorter boundary that is until Clive took an unnecessary single which brought Tony to the quick bolwes end. Tony played all round an inswinging delivery and was out for 29. Adam Deal came in and played some good shots but struggled against the spinner who had come on at the far end.

However Old Dartechs were going well and keeping up the required rate of four an over. Then Adam got out to a legside shot gallantly walking as he glanced the ball to the keeper. Richard Coverly came in and did not last long again not waiting for the umpire to give him out after a faint nick to the keeper. This should have brought Bob Dunkley to the wicket hoeever he was in the shower so it was left to the Stringers to try to bring victory in the last ten overs. (Jonathan coming in at the heady position of number 8). Clive managed to hit some more fours against the young bowler , who Hartley bravely kept on. However in the fading light Clive hit all round a straight delivery, and was bowled for 70. Bob Dunkley came to the wicket with 18 required and promptly hit a few fours to keep Old Dartechs in the hunt.

The bad light told in the end as Jonathan was clean bowled by a straight delivery which ordinarily he would have kept out and as there were no more batsmen Hartley duly won this thrilling match..