Highmoor (A) – 21.6.15

Highmoor 180-5 (40 overs)

Zia 3-21, B. Hawkes 1-18, Withers 1-28

RUASCC 182-6 (35 overs)

Zia 59, Binod 50, Weeks 36 not out

RUASCC won by 4 wickets

A rarity at Highmoor: sun!  First time I think we’ve ever seen a solid surface here, treated as we have been to some real puddings, and the Highmoor openers made good use of it reaching 92-0 at the drinks break.  It was pretty streaky stuff for the most part, plenty of shots in the air falling just to the left or right of fielders.  A couple of genuine chances went down but overall we didn’t do a lot wrong.

The opening stand reached 111 before it was finally broken by Zia, and RUASCC’s bowling attack did well to keep the score under control.  Going into the last five overs on 159-2 looked like a strong position but Withers and Zia restricted the home side to just 21 runs for the loss of three wickets at the death.

After Eagle’s early departure it looked as if Zia and Binod were going to make extremely short work of the chase, bringing up the hundred in just the 12^th over.  Binod took advantage of some short-pitched bowling and pulled multiple boundaries into the hedge at square leg, then just as he reached his fifty he was given LBW.  Zia followed shortly after, caught and bowled by Mayers for 59, and suddenly the innings took on a very different appearance.

John Baker played for the first time this season but after a notably accomplished performance keeping wicket he scratched around for nine singles before being bowled by a freak lifter that he managed to chop on while trying to leave.  Our two guests, Ben and Dave Hawkes, managed just three runs between them and there was no denying it any longer – we were in a bit of bother.

Fortunately RUASCC found a new hero: Tom Weeks.  He showed promise at Farley and delivered utterly here.  Some spectacular drives to the boundary kept the scoreboard ticking over and even after splitting his bat down the middle he carried on in the same manner, ably supported by Bruce Main.  Run rate was never really an issue, but with only Tranter, Ashman and Withers to come in we were understandably nervous.

No need to worry though – Weeks and Main (13 not out) took us over the line with five overs to spare and gave us a win that had looked at times very unlikely, quite unlikely, very likely, then fairly likely and quite unlikely again before its exciting conclusion.

RUASCC Highlight:  Zia and Binod’s explosive partnership.

RUASCC Man of the Match:  Tom Weeks.

RUASCC Team:  Eagle (capt), Binod, Zia, Baker (wkt), Weeks, B. Hawkes, D. Hawkes, Main, Tranter, Ashman, Withers