VECC team Red gain revenge after first round pounding

GAME NINE 6/12/08
VS BAR 121

The Reds continued on their winning way, their comprehensive victory over Bar 121 taking the winning sequence to five straight games ( not counting wash-outs!)

The victory was set up by the fine opening bowling of young players Matt Keast (3/26) and Matthew Steele (2/22). Matt Steele started the attack with a wicket in his first over, a well pitched up delivery which skittled the stumps. Keasty relied with two of his own, the first via a swinging yorker, the second to a well gloved catch to wicketkeeper Dominic Bizzarri. Further wickets to both bowlers left Bar 121 at 5 for 22, and in a bit of trouble.

They tried to hit their way out, and very nearly succeeded. Mark Stiller (1/25) and Matt Hardaker (1/26) came in for some heavy punishment, the opposition taking advantage of anything short to send to the boundary or beyond. Dropped catches by Dominic and Daniel Gustard didn’t help (their contributions to the fine tin was, however, appreciated.) Both bowlers came back well to claim wickets, another fine catch to Dominic helping Matt Hardaker to claim some revenge for his sunburnt mouth. Both bowlers were unable to break a stubborn last wicket partnership (Bar 121 were two players short), and it was left to arm ball spinner Neil Best, having his first trip to the crease in two seasons, to finish the innings for an even 100, scored in only 18.2 overs.

Best and Stiller started the run chase more slowly that the opposition, taking advantage of the gaps in the field to rotate the strike. Neil fell in the 7th over with the score at 16, and Paul D’Elboux joined Mark at the crease – and neither left until the end of the game. Mark finished with an unbeaten and chanceless 52, an innings characterised by compact defence at the beginning and some hard hit swings to leg at the end, two of which went over the boundary. Paul also batted impressively for his 29 not out, a clip off his toes and a cut through covers highlighting the run chase.

An excellent win against a team that had given us a hiding in the first round! This time Tony “Home Game” Farnham, Scott “The Diver” Gustard and grizzled battle veteran Justin Dunne weren’t even needed.