Pimperne 138-6 (20
overs)
Zia 2-11, Main 1-14
RUASCC 139-4 (17.5
overs)
Ward 50, Malde 34
RUASCC won by 6
wickets
Friday evening of Tour, a sunny evening in Dorset and a
picturesque cricket ground – this is the best part of the weekend, before we
all hate each other and the bitter recriminations begin, like a warring family
at Christmas. Withers, Baker and Main
had spent the day walking on the south coast; Ward and Weeks had been for a
couple of pints – everyone prepares for cricket in his or her own way.
The game: a 20:20 encounter on an astro pitch, with Zia
captaining and Eagle pushed down to number 11.
Pimperne won the toss and predictably chose to bat to get the best of
the daylight. Withers and Baker started
well and after two overs it was 7-1, then Withers got clubbed for a four and
six before Main came on and bowled the other opener.
Carpenter (bowling spin) and Stewart (“bowling”) grabbed a
wicket apiece and the home side were 61-4 in the 12th. Zia started well, going for just one run in
each of his first two overs, and threatened to expose the tail but the Pimperne
number six was an entirely different beast.
First Stewart took some hammer as House launched three
consecutive, enormous, sixes over long-on.
Baker returned and went for 25 in one over; the fifth wicket pair added
54 before Moore was dismissed for just 1!
Zia restored order with two quick wickets but House was
still there and took 10 from the final over to finish on 74 not out. Probably a good thing he didn’t come in any
earlier.
Despite a dodgy start (Carpenter was bowled in the first
over) RUASCC always looked in control of the run chase. Ward played and missed early on and offered a
couple of chances but soon settled down to play the perfect innings for a T20
opener. Malde went on the attack and the
pair posted a half-century stand before Chan was dismissed.
Johnny Baker, playing for only the second time this season,
continued to push the score along with some quick singles before a knackered
Wardy reached exactly 50 and got himself out.
Tom Weeks was bowled just ten runs short of the line but Zia came in and
promptly knocked them off in two deliveries.
A comfortable win and a successful start to the tour!
RUASCC Highlight: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” – as keeper Ward looked for a
run out at the non-striker’s end, bowler Withers appeared less optimistic about the
chances of success. The result: one overthrow.
RUASCC Man of the
Match: Ward - for his work with the
bat, not the gloves.
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