Grace's drew with Highgate Cricket Club on a cloudy and wet Sunday afternoon, after Grace's had won the toss, elected to bat and amassed 265 runs for 6 wickets.
Stockinger and Camberwell opened the batting once more and put on a 74 partnership before Camberwell (38) lost his middle stump playing down the wrong line. Stockinger stayed at the crease to compile another half century (57) before being bowled. Mendis was all too brief in hitting 17 spanking runs, looking in great form before running himself out. Enter Page, an Australian and amazingly, a really nice guy. Page came in with the score on 102 in the 22nd over, and ended undefeated in the 38th over. During his 16 overs he smacked, caressed and bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the ground, hitting an impressive 110 not out with sixes and fours in every direction. Along the way, Ali was run out not grounding his bat, and Rishafi (20) with a 62 partnership kept the run rate ticking along at 7 an over. Page was in destructive mood and almost single-handedly destroyed the Highgate bowling attack, with one fielder suggesting at one point that he thought the batsman looked pretty useful (maybe a classic understatement).
After a delightful tea, it was Highgate's turn to bat, and with an impressively quick Shofiq and accurate Bielby opening the bowling, it was clear that Highgate were going to struggle to chase such a massive score. Their option was to play it safe and defend, because in a timed game, they do not lose if they remain not out at the end. Bielby rotatated his bowlers, Allie, Newton-Sawyerr, Rishafi and Mendis, with Rishafi claiming 4 wickets (including two stumpings by Stockinger), Newton-Sawyerr 1 wicket and Allie claiming his first wicket for the club. Unfortunately, no matter what Grace's did, poor fielding and quite a few dropped catches meant we could not win the game and as a team we need all need to improve.
Grace's drew the game and continued the season with just one defeat in first team games. Well done everyone.