 |
|
| Scorecard |
After heavy overnight rain, the pitch was green and damp, causing early movement and bounce. Stonor got the perfect start with a brilliant diving catch at point by Ben Denton to dismiss Gleed off the first ball of the game and, thereafter, accurate seam bowling from Agar and Dan Fennell caused regular problems for the Ibstone upper order. When Hester was out for a powerful 32, Stonor were well on top with the score on 53-5.
However, the lower order batsmen fared rather better as the pitch dried out and Harding, Emmett and Downing all made good contributions at a very respectable run rate. Eventually all three fell victim to the left-arm spin of Nicholson and Ibstone were all out for 153 off 35 overs with Agar, Fennell and Nicholson all taking three wickets, supported by excellent fielding and catching.
On an increasingly benign pitch and with approximately 45 overs in hand, Stonor’s reply progressed steadily after the early loss of Stick but consistently accurate bowling from all
the Ibstone bowlers, backed up by sharp fielding, restricted the scoring rate.
Martin Fennell’s dismissal after 30 overs of hard graft prompted a Stonor collapse and,
despite Mayo’s excellent 56, none of the other batsmen was able to increase the run rate
sufficiently to reach the target. Ibstone used 9 bowlers in all in an effort to force a result
but the match ended somewhat disappointingly in a draw after a result had looked a
certainty earlier in the day.
(Match Report: Nigel Allsop)