Mamun gets 5 on debut!
With an early start scheduled for 12.30 in order that players could watch the England game, only five members of Graces team had managed to find the ground by the start time. Having won the toss they bravely decided to bat first in the hope that reinforcements would arrive in time. On arrival the reinforcements were met by the players scampering from the field to escape the first of many heavy showers. Because of the state of the ground the match took place on an artificial pitch, offering little help to the bowlers. Graces’ openers, Shorrocks and Mendis produced the best opening stand of the season putting on 91 before Mendis was bowled for28 in the 14th over, soon to be followed by Shorrocks for 53 including four sixes and three fours, all despite pulling a calf muscle and restricting his ability to run. Modi and Patel continued the run fest with a stand of 71 in nine overs helping Graces to reach the formidable total of 205 for 5 in what had become a 30 over game.
The Hobgoblin batsmen were never able to match the required scoring rate and only opener Blonde had any success against Graces’ attack of Bielby and Nihar, each taking a wicket apiece. It was the introduction of debutant Mamoun that brought about Hobgoblin’s final demise taking 5 for 16 in his six overs with the opposition finally being all out for 96 in the 26th over but contributing to their demise with 4 suicidal run outs. Graces winning margin of 109 runs.