Cublington v Ley Hill, 29th June 2003

Tom Holman

Paul Green's army could only manage a disappointing draw in this Sunday friendly with Cublington, after the skipper again fell foul of his efforts to "open up the game a bit".

Cublington were on the rack at 50 for 5 after a flurry of wickets from Jon Lown and Az Shakoor. "Uncle" Tanver continued his encouraging return to cricket action after an interval of about 40 years with a wicket, while colt Lawrence Chamberlain chipped in with his beguiling legspin. Paul Green then helped himself to a couple of cheap wickets as Hill eventually wrapped up the innings for 190.

Keith Strickland (44), Paul Humphreys, left, (21) and Andy Rennard (47) then took Hill to 120 for 1 and within sight of what should have been an easy win. But wickets toppled in an all too familiar middle-order collapse that saw Hill spin to 140 for 8. Jon Lown and Ian Webb, now returned from university, saw off the final overs without alarm, but this was a poor batting performance and the skipper must now be fearing for his job.

Cublington: 190 all out (Lown 3 for 29, Green 2 for 13)
Ley Hill: 150 for 8 (Rennard 47, Strickland 44)
Match drawn

Man of the match: Keith Strickland, for 44 and two stumpings
Clown of the match: Skipper Paul Green, for not grinding Cublington into the dirt when he had the chance
 

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