News 17/05/2009
Sway off the mark in hard fought 20 run victory
Saturday 16th May 2009, HCL RD2SW
Sway 148 All Out, Ellingham II 126-9. Sway won by 22 runs.
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Sway 1st XI got off the mark at the second attempt after a hard fought win over a determined and experienced Ellingham side. For the second week running it was a bad toss for Sway to lose - put into bat on a damp wicket with a shiny ball and strong wind. And for the second week running Sway made a poor start when Ross Clark went for a golden duck - playing the shot too early and spooning the ball to mid off for simple catch. Skipper Jon Grasham promoted himself up the order to steady the ship and along with Adam Clark, batted sensibly taking the score onto 47 before Grasham was clean bowled by a good ball from C Batten. Honours were still very much even when Alex Hall was bowled for 13 with the score at 72. However the game then swung Ellingham's way. Firstly Steve How played on for 2, then Jack Walton was caught for 2 leaving Sway struggling on 82 for 5. Henry Thornton, down the order to get some form made an improved performance before being well caught and bowled for 5. Meanwhile at the other end, opening batsman Adam Clark had played a steady innings completing a chanceless half century before going on to score 64 when he was caught. Steve Thistleton and Dave Marshall were at the crease together with the score at 116-7, clearly needing quite a few more runs to give the bowlers something to bowl at. Thistleton was bowled with the score at 125, but Marshall and Terry Patch put on 20 together - Patch playing some classy strokes to offset Marshall's more rudimental approach. With 3 overs to go Marshall was trapped LBW going for a big pull. This brought Steve Hannibal to the crease whose 2nd ball was clipped away for a fine 3. Unfortunately the next ball Patch was trapped LBW leaving Sway all out for 148 - probably at least 30 runs short of par for the wicket. In reply, the Sway bowlers were really fired up with Jon Grasham bowling quick and hostile stuff that Ellingham struggled to deal with. At the other end Grasham was supported by the more stylish bowling of Jack Walton whose lush barnet barely quivered as he bowled is the gusty wind. In the 4th over Grasham struck with A Redfern gloving a quick short ball to keeper Adam Clark. Just 3 overs later Walton struck when E Galloway mis-timed a drive and was caught at the second attempt by Steve "the juggler" Thisleton at mid-off. Sway were now on top but they knew they had to dislodge dangerman C Batten. Batten had seen off Grasham's first spell and it seemed that luck was on his side when Steve Thistleton found the edge but the sharp chance was put down by Adam Clark behind the stumps. At the other end Jack Walton continued to bowl superbly, building the run rate pressure on Ellingham but it was Thistleton that took the next wicket and fine high catch on the run by Ross Clark deep in the covers. Sway then took control as Jack Walton enjoyed a purple patch taking 3 further quick wickets - 2 LBWs and a bowled to leaving Ellingham reeling and finishing a fine spell with fantasy league busting figures of 10-5-25-4.
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Ellingham were packed with experience and they did not buckle. With Batten a the other end they did not buckle and were there or thereabouts on the run rate. Grasham decided to go for broke and complete his 10 over allowance and the strategy paid off in his 9th over having bowling Osborne who had played well for 16. It was still nail biting stuff and Ellingham edged nearer Sway's total despite a tight 10 over spell from Terry Patch. Sway thought they had Batten on two occasions, firstly when he was well caught in the deep by Jack Walton off a no-ball by Grasham and secondly when he was the subject of a very close run-out shout. He finally succumbed to a complete pie of Charton proportions from Steve How, which like several batsmen before him he played too early spooning a simple catch to Thistleton at mid-wicket. Sway now sensed victory and the 9th Ellingham wicket fell shortly after again off the bowling of How when Dave Marshall in the gully took a catch diving at full stretch low to his right. Despite the valiant efforts of the last Ellingham pair, they were now significantly behind the run rate and the game was effectively won for Sway. However there was a further bowling point to be won. It seemed that it was secured when in the penultimate over a gentle catch was lobbed the way of Alex Hall only for him to put it down - and at the same time securing a well deserved "mentula diem" T-shirt. Sway were unable to take the final wicket with Ellingham falling 22 runs short.
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Alex "dolly mixture" Hall with his well deserved T-Shirt |
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Around the league Sway's next opponents BAE systems game against Swan Green was called off due to rain. 3 sides have played 2 won 2 - New Milton, Verwood and Burley. New Milton III conformably overcame Alderholt, Verwood thrashed Bransgore and Burley produced a fine performance to edge out Hythe & Dibden at Hythe. Brockenhurst who had crushed Hordle the previous weekend suffered the same fate themselves at home to Ringwood - surely the result of the day. Horlde bounced back from their opening horror show to beat new boys Ampfield. Milford produced a fine performance to beat Bashley and in the closest game of the weekend, Totton and Eling edged out Bournemouth in a thriller.
NOTE -NOT SURE THE TABLES ON THE HCL WEBSITE ARE RIGHT as it should be done on average points i.e. Swan Green and BAE should be above Sway.
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