22nd May 2010

Atty ton sends Sway top!

Burley 149-8, Sway154-4  - Sway won by 6 wickets

A fine unbeaten century by Nilantha Atapattu saw Sway home  to their third win on the trot - and sent the boys top of the league in their first season in RD1S.

Sway played hosts to local rivals Burley on a glorious early summer afternoon in the first ever league clash between the two first teams. Sway skipper John Grasham won the toss and elected to field. Burley, with two defeats in previous weeks, understandably started cautiously but without being unduly troubled by the Sway's openers, Grasham and Walton. Burley made is to 40 after 17 overs, but crucially just when the base was laid, Steve Thistleton struck for Sway with opener Munro flicking a catch to Steve How at square leg. 

The crucial breath through for Sway came is the 21st over when George Thornton claimed the crucial wicket of Burley's dangerous opener Kieran Hudson - Alex Hall taking a fine catch at mid-wicket. This was somewhat of a disaster for Burley as Hudson had invested a lot of time and overs in getting well set and was probably just about to cut loose. Thornton was on top form bowling some cracking deliveries and picked up a further wicket to finish with excellent figures of 7-2-18-2. Atapattu also bowled a decent spell deservedly picking the wicket of Moorman

Burley continued to struggle to score at a decent rate even though wickets did not come easily for Sway. A partnership between Tucker and Edworthy did take hold but when they were both dismissed by Grasham and Walton respectively, Sway started to expose the Burley tail. Nevertheless Burley made is to 149-8 after their 42 overs - a total that looked too small on a decent wicket and quick outfield.

In reply however Burley got off to the perfect start, a jaffa of a quick delivery by the impressive Edworthy surprised Adam Clark and clattered his stumps with just the first ball of the innings. This brought Atapattu to the wicket to join the in form Hall. The Sri Lankan made a somewhat eratic start to his innings - it seemed like he thought it was a 20/20 game as he clattered the ball and scampered between he wickets. Unfortunately a suicidal quick single saw Hall run out. With Steve How being dismissed for just 1 and Grasham for just 6, Sway were suddenly struggling on 56-4 and nerves began to fray. However, next in was Jack Walton, the perfect man for a crisis and as cool as a cucumber. Walton was quite happy to play second fiddle to Atapattu and the Sri Lankan cracked the ball around the ground. By the time Sway were over a 100 without further loss of wickets, the game looked secure and Atapattu sniffed the chance of a ton. With the scored tied, and needing 6 for his hundred, Atty's 3lb plank dispatched the ball straight back over the bowlers head and into the bushes.

The win will please skipper Grasham and this was very much a team performance with everything chipping in with their contributions. Next up a trip down the road to the Gore on looks like being a hard fast wicket - the houses on the boundary could well be under Atty Attack!