Batting first, United's
JT Tree Services Senior B were all out for 159 from 44.2 overs, with major contributions coming from skipper
Rick Eastham (34no),
Rajat Malhotra (32) and Sundries (45). Chris Gavin (3/26), Josh McEvoy (3/28) and Paul Fail (2/17) were the main wicket-takers for Papakura.
Papakura's response was steady as their openers Steve "Old Legs" McEvoy (31) and Glen McDonald (5) added 42 for the first wicket. After the fall of Allan Isaac (10), Glen & Andy McDonald (20) took the score to 2/100, which soon became 4/100 as both departed at the same score. Glen's contribution of 5 out of 100 reminded one of Chris Tavare and Sir Geoffrey Boycott's snail-paced batting. When Josh McEvoy (8) fell at 5/112, Papakura, playing with only 10 players, started getting nervous and lost the next three wickets soon. United's slow over-rate spurred the last pair of Robbie Pipes (20no) and Paul Fail (0no) to hang around once they sensed that they were ahead on run-rate & that United would end up bowling at least a couple of overs short in the allocated time. All that United needed was one wicket for which they needed to keep Paul Fail on strike. Although they kept Paul on strike for a fair bit, but their bowlers were guilty of not making him play a lot of balls by bowling quite a few wides and harmless short balls going well over the wickets which the bunny was glad to leave alone. Robbie Pipes, on the other hand, kept the scoreboard ticking as & when he had the strike. When play was called-off at 7pm, Papakura were still one run short of United's score of 159, but still managed to win the game on the basis of a better run-rate as United ended up bowling two overs short. For United,
Bruce Page (2/21) and
Callum Jude (2/34) were the most successful bowlers, while
Nathan Palmer,
Rick Eastham,
Owen Ford and
Liam Neems chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Brief Scores:
United
JT Tree Services SeniorB - 159 all out (
Rick Eastham 34no,
Rajat Malhotra 32, Chris Gavin 3/26, Josh McEvoy 3/28, Paul Fail 2/17)
Papakura - 158/8 (Steve McEvoy 31, Andy McDonald 20, Robbie Pipes 20no,
Bruce Page 2/21, Callum Jude 2/34).
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