Double jug avoidance!
Home V Merton CC July 19th July 2015 – a 40 run win
Established opponents Merton are currently the only team we play home and away and on a lovely afternoon in Greenford we were looking to do the double over them this season.
On winning the toss Dom had no hesitation in batting, opening with himself and new partner Dean. The youthful opening bowlers took up the attack but with no success as Dom kept them out while Dean showed some lovely drives to keep the score going along nicely – reaching 39 in the 10th over. Dean took a liking to the first change bowler, Fodor – perhaps the first Hungarian to play against Grace’s – who was to prove expensive. The other change bowler, spinner Young, was treated with more respect with a good line and length.
The 100 came up in the 21st over with serene progress (apart from 2 costly drops) and Merton were doing a lot of chasing across the fast outfield. Growing in confidence Dom was showing a nice range of strokes and looked set for a second 50 against Merton in 2015 but was unfortunately run out on 49! Mendis, in at 3, immediately took up the attack with a quick fire 24 before being caught off a skier. Stuart who had been chomping at the bit while watching then strode out only to be LBW first ball!
Naroshan, in at 5, then joined Dean and kept up the pressure on the visiting bowlers with some nice shots. His partner meanwhile had continued to dominate the bowling punishing anything wayward until on 97 a rare mistimed shot resulted in a catch in the covers – so double jug avoidance! In future please let him know he’s close!
When our innings closed we had reached a defendable score of 232 for 5.
After the usual Greenford tea Dom opened with a spin/pace combination – Newton & Anosh. Good line and length kept the score down until Anosh bowled the number 2 soon followed by the number 1 also bowled, this time by Mamun. So 26 for 2 in the 11th over and a good start for the hosts. It wasn’t until the 22nd over that the next wicket was to fall – Naroshan with a nice throw to run out Suggitt , the number 3 (77 for 3) Wickets fell regularly as Merton chased the game and Grace’s looked in control until their wicket keeper, Govindarajack, came in at 8 and then showed a tremendous eye with some high quality strokes – He reached 40 in no time until Dean bowled him much to the relief of the fielding side. After he had fallen the tail was mopped up with the visitors finally being all out for 192 in the 37th over.
So a win by 40 runs against sporting opposition. A good all round performance with both bat and ball – Anosh was the pick of the bowlers picking up 3 wickets for 28. It’s Pacific next week and we haven’t beaten them for a while!