Not
for the first time in Seconds history, it all began rather unpromisingly, as
Hill slumped to 122 all out. No batsman made a start, and it was only with the
help of 41 extras from a succession of wides, no balls and byes that Hill’s
feared pace attack had anything to bowl at after tea. But Keith Richardson spent most of the 1950s and 1960s defending totals of about 30 on pitches better than Booker’s, and he continued his renaissance in 2003 with the umpteenth five-wicket haul of his career as Hill snatched a stirring victory. He grabbed five for 14 as a succession of Booker batsman were flummoxed by his 30 yard run-up for zero pace and his low trajectory. Az Shakoor, one of the finds of the season so far, took 5 for 29 at the other end, as Hill bagged the 25 points. This is championship winning form!
Ley Hill: 122 all out
Booker: 92 all out (Richardson 5 for 14, Shakoor 5 for 29)
Ley Hill won by 30 runs
Man of the match: Keith Richardson, again rolling back the years with some superb bowling
Clown of the match: Booker in general, for not providing a female scorer up to the standards of previous years