rease
and started well but fell for 11. Joel Hanley, asking the scorer to hold his
cigarette as he'd be back soon, then strode to the wicket at 25 for 2. On his
last outing the joint-skipper made a personal best of 57 not out – today he was
to go better. Descriptions of “not pretty”, “brutal” and “entertaining” are
adjectives Hanley is used to – even for his batting – but they were fully earned
as he made a chanceful 73. The usual slogs were joined with some firm shots on
the off and in 40 minutes his second 50 in two innings was complete. Pradip
backed him up well, telling him to keep his head and also contributing with runs
when Hanley allowed him the strike. One over from the tiring Rothwell went for
14, all for Pradip. Rothwell was unlucky not to have Hanley caught deep in the
on-side twice and bowled with venom. A change brought Shakoor on for Ward and he
soon made the breakthrough, Pradip being caught at cover. But at 105 for 3, with
Dustin Magill and others waiting in the wings, things were looking good. Magill set about the bowling more circumspectly at first but soon opened up to hit some fine glances and a one-handed hook for four. Hanley then fell to a muted LBW shout that visiting umpire and one-time 4XI player Jeremy Meyer apparently gave, much to Hanley's surprise as he prepared to face the next ball. Alex Godoy then supported Magill as the runs came nicely but soon slowed as the bowlers were changed. Godoy went for 7 and debutant Steve Titone had his first taste of 4XI cricket. He seemed to enjoy it and ran occasionally well and occasionally dreadfully with Magill, whose calling seemed to go awry. Magill kept going as Titone fell pulling a low one and John Wright began his sixes master class. As we know, he can bowl but he's no slouch with the bat either. Three huge straight sixes followed as the 200 came up to Taylors' glee. Magill was bowled by the returning Ward for a well-crafted 42 and Geoff Smith (16*) joined Wright (40*) to hit out for a declaration. At 6.9 an over, it could be said that the 4s had batted very well.
It's getting boring to say it every week but John Wright started with the perfect line. The pitch lacked its usual bounce but he persevered and made runs hard to come by. Meanwhile the young Titone struggled with his length and the batsmen took advantage. Given time however, Titone will shine, and the 4s are pleased to have some young blood in the side. When big-hitting Terry Rothwell played on to a good ball from Wright, Ian Webb came in and looked nervous, having made three consecutive ducks earlier in the season. He was out to the most magical ball of the year however, a wide-looking, slightly slower ball that suddenly turned from nearly off the pitch to take Webb's off stump. Our young Harry Potter had cast his magic again. At the other end Geoff Smith bowled variedly and might consider himself unlucky not to have got a wicket. But then the most one-sided battle of the day arose. Tony MacDonald-Barker came up against Will Rothwell who carted him furiously to all parts, scything Mac repeatedly until he made a very quick 50. However Mac got his revenge by taking a good catch over his shoulder and into the sun to remove the free-flowing Rothwell.
Opener Andy Spinks was going about his 50 in a much more measured way and he helped the young Craig Peterson through his innings well. Peterson was bewilderingly lucky not to have been given out stumped on 5 but he played with a fortitude that belied his years, making 19. Spinks batted very well to make his 77 until he was caught by Pradip at long-off. The required run rate was however beginning to get out of reach for Ley Hill, with Peterson finding runs hard to grab from Wright. Co-skipper Mark Davis, replacing Mac, then got Peterson, with a good stumping from Magill. Had Peterson been given out when he perhaps should have, the clean-hitting Shakoor would almost certainly had enough time to see the visitors home but both teams must wonder at what might have been. After Peterson's stumping, Davis had Ward caught behind on his first ball and the anticipation for the possible hat-trick was palpable in the Summer air. And then it came: a perfectly flighted off-break gave the guardless Kaye no chance as he tried to hit it, giving Magill the easiest catch of his record-chasing run. It was Mavis' fourth hat-trick in a long and loyal career and he deserved it thoroughly.
Davis then completed his fivefer with the last ball of the match, with the three sixes required in the over already not being hit. The affable keeper Jim Rainey was caught by Wright at short leg (while Magill considered charging him out of the way) and the game was drawn.
A cracking game of cricket and certainly the highest-scoring that most can remember at this level.