Our 20/20 competition comes to a close with a big defeat. Thanks to all those that turned up to watch and support on a cold Wednesday evening. Oh dear. Yet again this season Grace’s batting line up does not do itself justice. Yes, the bowling from the opposition was good. They were a well organised outfit, and the better team by far. But we can let ourselves down sometimes by not producing the form that we know we can show.
Opening with Scott, Camberwell showed that he had the shots by quickly reaching 12 before being bowled in the third over. And when Stockinger came in and looked good, no-one would have guessed at the collapse to ensue. From 31-1 it soon became 37-6. It was like watching dominoes fall. First Scott (5) missed a straight one and the stumps were hit. He was very quickly followed by Hardisty falling in the same over three balls later, also bowled.
Poor Stockinger, who hit 70 against us at the weekend prior, found no luck again. Hitting a good shot round to square leg he set off for the run. However, not only did his bat fall from his grasp, but the fielder in one movement gathered the ball and threw accurately to run him out for 3 at the bowler’s end. Charles (0) lasted three deliveries before being bowled, and then Shofiq (2) trying to push runs along skied one high to deep mid on for a catch.
Bielby was run out for 1 in a mix up with Akhtar. Then Curtis and Akhtar started the score moving along until Akhtar (15) was trapped lbw with a ball that kept low. Curtis was left stranded on 7 not out when debutante Ainsworth and last man Fawaz both lasted four balls before being bowled both for zero. All out for 60 in just 13.2 overs. Not good enough at all. The bowling was tight. Their number two bowler, Wasanth, bowled excellent figures for a 20/20 game, with 3-7 off his four overs. Baski, too, 3-17 off four. But our shot selection at times was not good, and when we come up against good opposition we must work harder as a team. The better batsmen, and they know who they are, need to show more of an example to the others.
It gave nothing for the bowlers to aim at. However both Shofiq and Curtis were unlucky to not get at least one wicket each. Shofiq (0-8 off 3 overs) had an excellent shout for a catch behind the wicket, which the umpire explained he felt had hit the pad not the bat. Shofiq had another clip just go too low for Stockinger behind the stumps.
Curtis (0-24 off 3 overs) had two drop catches in one over. It has to be said that both were difficult. Akhtar at mid on did well to reach the ball at his feet, whilst Ainsworth just managed to get his hands to the ball running round to a shot hit between cover and midoff. Fawaz, who bowled the fantastic last over against Foreign and Commonwealth Office, had a nightmare. Four wides, four full tosses, 13 scored from it, but he did get the wicket to fall. The batsman saw the short ball and attempted to pull, but only managed to sky the ball high into the air behind the wicket, where Stockinger took the catch. Ainsworth attempted some spin, but it was too late. Ironically it was two wides that sealed victory. Better luck next year!