Bournemouth Wanderers come on top in tight match

28 July 2013 Club XI v Bournemouth Wanderers

by Tom Mason

With a later start than usual 2:30 T. Wall and a player from New Milton opened up keeping it tidy and the New Milton debutant picked up two wickets in his 5-over spell, Tom also bowled well despite not picking up a wicket. When I and another debutant came on they were in trouble at 40-2. My first ball went for four but after that, I kept it extremely tight picking up a wicket curtsey of a solid catch by M.Clasby. My spell ended up as 5 – 1-16. At this point, it looked as if were well set to reduce them to well below 180. Then on came Ben Stuchbury who was a little bit expensive but did bowl some absolute beauties and managed to take a wicket. A few catches went down and Ben A and Matt A were bowling with limited luck. One batsman I particular was riding his luck having been dropped and had batted well after some excellent bowling before this. Tom H bowled a couple of overs at the other end before Matt managed to get the batsmen with all of the runs with a catch from myself there were further spells from Matt C and Bones meaning that everyone had bowled apart from keeper Joe in the end they reached 216 from their 40 overs.

After a great tea, Matt C and Tom H opened up seeing the first few overs before both getting out in quick succession. Bring the experienced pair of Joe and Matt A to the wicket and they certainly showed this as they both started carefully but gradually built up their innings with lots of 4s and 6s. Rain was always in the air but despite the shower at tea, it didn’t make a difference as it looked as if these two would see us to their score. Joe was they unluckily out as he was bowled when he left it and it spun dramatically and it hadn’t done so for the whole of our innings. Thus brought the New Milton debutant in and he didn’t last long meaning Matt and Ben S could bring it home for us and they both batted like they did at the latter of the Matt and Joe partnership hitting the ball all over the place before Matt got caught in the deep after an excellent batting display. This brought me in and I was out quickly followed by Ben who was run out going for an ambitious 3rd. This brought T.Wall who got out for duck bringing Ben and Ian to the crease still requiring a fair amount to win but victory was still on the card as long as Ben stayed Bones was bowled leaving Ben stranded on 2*.