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SNCL Division N

2nd XI v Awsworth II

Saturday 1-May-2004

Awsworth II 180-6 lost to Wilsons II 181-7 by 3 wickets

Mark Wallbank's 86* saves the day

Season 2004 opened rather haphazardly for the 2nd XI with Shoaib failing to turn up and Les losing the toss. We were invited to bowl on a decent wicket looking full of runs. Andy Call opened from the top end and 2 fours came from the first 3 balls as opener Riley got off to a flier. Mark Wallbank settled in at the other end bowling a string of maidens.

Both openers batted with care picking off the odd loose ball and they put together a stand of 112 with Riley reaching 52 before a change of bowling brought the breakthough. Sixteen year old Ajaz Aziz had Riley caught behind by Nigel Smith who had taken the gloves at the drinks break to allow Les to bowl from the bottom end after Mark. Mark conceded only 25 runs in his 12 overs.

Les had opener Hunt caught at cover by Andy Call for 40 hard earned runs but the platform for a big score had been well and truly laid down. As Awsworth looked to dominate, two bowling changes brought reward as Vasim Choudhary and then Andy Call picked up wickets in quick succession with catches from Mark and Nigel. The final flourish in the innings brought a run out by Ajaz and another wicket, clean bowled by Andy as the home side raced to 180-6 at tea.

Wilsons' reply got off to a bad start as Ray Smithson was caught and bowled by Bob Gadsby for 7 with the score on 15. Disaster struck as promising youngster Qaiser Khan fell first ball, caught at square leg. But then Geoff Pook and Dave Nattrass took the score along comfortably until Geoff was caught at the wicket for 11. Nigel Smith, batting at five, also fell to a catch before Mark Wallbank joined the fray. With the asking rate mounting by the over Mark decided that the long handle was the order of the day and started to chance his arm. Dave was going along nicely at the other end until with the score on 70 he was caught behind for 40 valuable runs.

Vasim was next in and the entertainment level increased dramatically. Mark was beginning to find his range after some initial outrageous luck and poor catching. However Vasim fell LBW attempting a reverse sweep for 7 as the score reached 82-6. At this point Les joined Mark and the latter hit a string of big shots and the score raced past the 100 and suddenly targets of batting bonus points became a reality. The first and second bonus points arrived and a third was in sight before Les foolishly lost his head and middle stump.

Ajaz joined Mark, as Mark's fifty arrived with a towering 6, and he gave good support giving Mark the strike whenever he could. With sixes and fours flying from Mark's bat the third batting point arrived and all of a sudden an unlikely victory seemed possible but still unlikely. Ajaz creamed one superb cover drive for four and then Mark smashed several more sixes to give us a chance.

Fourteen were required off the last over with Ajaz on strike. He took a sensible single to give Mark a chance to grab the glory. The next 3 balls went for two, four and six leaving us 2 balls to get the 1 run to snatch a most unlikely victory. Fittingly Mark clipped the next ball away for the winning run to howls of approval from the pavilion. Mark's innings of 86 not out contained 6 sixes and 8 fours - legends are made of less.

The win by 3 wickets realised 18 points and we really got out of gaol. Awsworth must be kicking themselves to lose such a game.

Les Hardy

Bowling

Batting

Catches: Nigel Smith 2 (w/k), Andy Call 1, Mark Wallbank 1