Promotion secured with final victory!

Alderholt 94ao, Sway I 241-5. Sway won by 147 runs

Sway I traveled to Alderholt knowing that a win would secure promotion for the second time in three years. In 2008 the Alderholt wicket had played nicely with skipper Jon Grasham hitting a ton - so on winning the toss in 2009, Grash elected to bat. This year however was different with all kinds of uneven bounce making batting very tricky. So much credit must go to openers Alex Hall and Adam Clark for the steady start made - settling the whole team's nerves racking up 75 before Clark was finally bowled for 33 by the decent J Coleman. Alex Hall was dismissed for a well earned 46 shortly after, and Steve How was dismissed cheaply leaving Sway on 99-3 but Sway never looked liked collapsing. Nilantha Atapattu summoned for his helmet and got his head down to build up a score while at the other end it was the usually circumspect Barry Jones who decided to take on the bowlers providing some entertaining big hitting.

Atapattu and Jones put on a superb 91 for the 4th wicket before Atty finally holed out for 70 but Jones carried  on to record his second fifty of the season before eventually being dismissed for 57 with the score on 234. If was left to Grasham (10no) and Walton (1no) to take Sway on to 241 of 42 overs - a huge score given the wicket and in truth a score  that was always likely to be a winning one.

The Sway bowlers got stuck in straight away with the hostile Grasham picking up two early wickets, both caught behind and Jack Walton removing the off stump with an in-swinger. Decent knocks by T Wilcocks and in particular the unbeaten A Ranger did bolster Alderholt's total, but as they were well behind the run rate, it was merely delaying the Sway party. George Thornton bowled a fine fast and accurate spell picking up two wickets while at the other end A Puttock had to retire hurt after being hit on the head by an accidental beamer [best wishes from everyone at Sway CC - we hope he is ok]. Terry Patch bowled a bewildering spell of 5 over for just 6 runs - cutting the ball off the turf so much that the Alderholt batsmen could not get close enough to get an edge. Atapattu deservedly got a wicket but fittingly it was left to the skipper, bowling spin in the fading light of not just the game but the season to bowl the last Alderholt batsman and ensure that Sway will be playing at a higher level next season.

Well done all the lads that have played for the first's this season including those not in the final game - in particular Joe Rodway and Charlie Smith for their excellent contributions. A big thanks also to David. Thistleton for selflessly umpiring this season

Sway: Grasham (c), A Clark (w/k), Patch, Walton, Thistleton, Marshall, G Thornton, Atapattu, Hall, S How, Jones