Dug out another old match report….
Park Hill still in the ‘Hunt’
After last week’s comprehensive win against Merton, The Hill faced similarly tough opposition in the form of Ottershaw & Hamm Moor CC.
With Mark back at the helm, the toss was duly won and Park Hill could take their preferred option of fielding first.
Barford (2/39) and Stirling (-/25) opened the bowling effectively, with Tom taking an early wicket with the score only on four. Yet, the opposition dug in and took the score to 90 with Abbas in particular playing some very nice strokes.
However, just when Park Hill thought that the batsmen were escaping them Dave Symons (2/43) struck with two well deserved wickets that started an excellent come back that witnessed The Hill reduce the opposition to 126-6, losing 5 wickets for only 36 runs, ably assisted by the spin duo of Andy Goldsmith (2/41) & Cam Morris (1/34).
With a brief retaliation Ottershaw & Hamm Moor eventually reached a respectable 193-8 off their 45 overs.
The Hill took the crease and, needing a solid start to mount a challenge duly lost Matthews in the first over. Stirling entered and batted with his usual conservative nature we have come to know so well, eventually being caught behind after a flourish of fours (23).
A. Goldsmith then joined his brother at the crease and continued the momentum, chipping in with an efficient 20 of 28 balls including a sparkling six. The score was now on 60, yet The Hill were beginning to fall behind the run rate.
Enter ‘The Hunter!’ Matt then graced (or clubbed) Park Hill with his finest ever league innings and without doubt, a match winning innings. Hunter smashed the opposition bowling all round the park, belting 35 off only 34 balls with his 7 boundaries interspersed with some solid defence. When the entertainment was finally brought to an end the score had moved into 111 but the run rate was well and truly back under control.
Mark then took the lead, after what had been an uncharacteristically quiet innings from the skipper, moving the score onto 130 when he fell for a patient 41.
The game was on a knife edge at this point, there to be won or lost by either team. The Park Hill nerves began to show as Morris (8) and Ciesielki (0) fell cheaply, yet some excellent running from Andrews (20) and NacManson (16) brought The Hill to the brink of victory . . . only for them both to get run out to set the nerves racing once again.
Symons comes to the crease, seeking anything that will get him off strike . . . and he finds it off superbly guided single from his very first ball.
Can Barford bring the match home? He does in spectacular fashion, smashing three fours on his way to an unbeaten 17 off 11 balls, oh and he managed to do it with only two balls of the match remaining.
Park Hill win by a nose!
Fielder – Matthews
Tit – Phil of course, just simply for playing (although I’m sure there were other reasons)
Park Hill Cricket Club 