27/06/1999 v HEXTABLE

lost

Andrew Cruickshank took two vital wickets. The first was a slightly slower ball which the Hextable skipper could only divert into Jonathan's hands at square leg (where else) and the second a ball that stopped and produced a catch at mid off for Steve Lawton. Steve Jones was bowling well at the other end with little reward and it was only the introduction of Tony Day that started wickets tumbling.

Old Dartechs looked in the driving seat as Hextable struggled to 111 for 7 but some loose final overs from Kevin Groom and some lusty hitting from the tail-enders meant that Hextable finished on 155 without further loss. Steve Lawton and Clive Stringer opened the batting together for the first time ever for Old Dartechs and faced some straight fast bowling particularly from Price the Hextable skipper. Steve played some strong shots through the leg side and a number of sharp singles were taken to keep the score moving. Steve was out with the score on 21 and Jock followed fairly soon after. Tony and Clive made steady progress and at the start of the last 20 overs needed about 85 runs. Price kept himself on and was proving very difficult to get away however runs were coming quickly enough at the other end. The key to winning was to keep Price out since it was apparent that he was going to bowl himself through. Unfortunately Clive was out to a ball which reared up outside the off stump and he gloved the ball into the keepers hands. Sure enough there followed a procession of wickets all falling to Price.

Andrew Cruickshank who came in at seven made a rapid 23 hitting some strong shots through mid-wicket and at one stage Old Dartechs looked as if they could pull off an unlikely win. Neil Woodham was doing a good job protecting Andrew from Price but as soon as he got stuck at the wrong end Price produced another fast straight ball to remove Andrews middle stump. This effectively put paid to the chances of an Old Dartechs win, with Kevin Groom and Jonathan both falling to Price for ducks. At the end of the innings Price had bowled 18 overs and had taken 8 for 27.