WOBSCC v's Emeriti 2006

Four hundred runs in a day, but WOBSCC suffer another defeat

Worth, 30 July, 2006 - WOBSCC 185 all out lost to Emeriti 222 for 5.

A spirited performance from Worth Old Boys' was not enough to enable them to eclipse a large but gettable target set by Emeriti on a track favouring the batsmen. Emeriti elected to bat on what appeared to be a flat and hard surface but as they stumbled to 75-5, the visitors must have been wondering if there were hidden demons in the wicket as WOBSCC seized control.

In fact, it was an excellent opening bowling spell from James Anthony and James Holt that pegged WOBSCC’s opposition back. Anthony was extremely unlucky to come away wicketless in a spell that included 5 maidens, while Holt picked up three for 45, which included a “catch of the summer” from Dom Stobart who bravely stuck his hands in the way of a tracer bullet at mid on.

But then an exceptional sixth-wicket batting partnership by the visitors saw the scales of fortune tip away from the home side, although at tea, the match was evenly poised.

In reply, WOBSCC got off to a promising start, but as has been the case too often, wickets fell just as a meaningful partnership was beginning to develop. Mark Lane top scored with 68 and while he was in, WOBSCC felt confident that victory could be theirs, particularly as both he and Simon Jones (30) had laid such a good foundation. But Lane’s demise was followed by a small middle-order collapse arrested by the arrival of Julian Gairdner at six whose quick-fire 47 sent fielders to all corners of the ground during an innings almost entirely of boundaries.

While Gairdner and James Holt were at the wicket, the target fell to below four an over, but with nine overs remaining and running out of partners, Gairdner holed out at long on.

Emeriti 222 for 5 - J Holt 3-45, J Wallace 1-27

WOBSCC 185 a/o - M Lane 68, J Gairdner 47, S Jones 30