Grace's lose in tight finish
In what was scheduled to be the last game of the season Graces welcomed North Harrow Cricket Club, in what was expected to be a close encounter following Graces ten run win last season. A lot of rain had fallen on the Saturday and overnight but the wicket was deemed playable and the sun and a good breeze meant that it would improve as the game progressed. A good toss to win which North Harrow managed.
Jonathan and Domimic opened for Graces and found scoring difficult on a sticky wicket and in the fourth over, in trying to pull a short ball to mid-wicket Jonathan only succeeded in chopping the ball onto his stumps. Enter Gordon and with typical aplomb decided upon a more aggressive approach, one thundering straight drive saw Khan the bowler almost take a tremendous catch, in truth he couldn’t get out of the way. Dominic’s patient innings came to an end in the sixteenth over when he was caught at the wicket for four. Nadeem joined Gordon who in trying to repeat his straight drive off Khan was caught and bowled for 29 by a remarkable catch as if to show that his first attempt was no fluke. A stand of 33 followed between Nadeem and Niroshan before the latter was caught behind for 5. Roop guesting for Graces showed positive intent with some lusty blows to the leg side whilst adding a further 24 with Nadeem whose innings came to an end with a mistimed drive which saw him caught at deep mid-on for 35. Roop and Abhi took the score to 143 before trying one more swing to leg Roop was bowled for 30 leaving Richard with one ball to face, Unfortunately in going for the maximum he missed and was bowled leaving Abhi not out on 18.
For the visitors PK was the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 16. On a dryer wicket and outfield Graces score of 143 was probably worth another 25 or 30 runs.
North Harrow began their innings steadily against Richard and the leg spin of Gordon, until a good bit of fielding by Nadeem saw their opener Matt run out for 6 with the score on 22. Newton then had the other opener lbw for 10. A stand of 44 between Deepak and Zain took the score to 75 but the return of Gordon saw the fall of three quick wickets during an excellent but all to brief a spell.
Nadeem bowled an economic spell of 8 overs for 16 but failed to take a wicket. With the scores level and eight wickets down, Abhi bowled Remid for 6 but last man Irfan saw North Harrow home by one wicket. Newton and Abhi both ending up with two wickets apiece with figures of 2 for 44 and 2 for 43 respectively.