Alvanley secure success in low-scoring thriller as bowlers dominate
ALVANLEY made it three wins out of three with a thrilling low scoring success over Romiley last Saturday.
The pitch was dry and firm and the weather framed a glorious scene as the ground looked at its very best, so the scores that followed came as a complete surprise.
Alvanley captain Chris Charles lost the toss and the hosts were asked to bat first. A slow outfield saw the batsmen struggle to score against an accurate bowling attack and sharp fielding team. Just 12 runs off 13 overs illustrated the point. Add to this the wickets of Michael Rowlands, Stephen Charles and Jonathon Whitley (the latter can be considered somewhat unlucky) and this was not the start Alvanley wanted in such a big game.
Jimmy Ecclestone then nicked a drive to Jonny Holt off David Badrock to make it 16-4
Simon Gee was joined by Chris Wright and the pair added 30 in relative comfort when the former inexplicably hit the worst ball he had faced into the hands of the fielder at cover and departed for 17.
Wright and Andy Bennion took the score to 69 when the latter’s forceful approach became his undoing and he went for 12, caught by Rob Booker off Paul Garner.
When Wright (24) and Chris Charles (another unlucky dismissal) departed, the game looked all over but another mature innings from Lee Ainsworth, supported by sensible batting from Billy Ouzounidis, at least took the home team to three figures – 105 all out inside 47 overs.
A rousing rallying cry from skipper Chris Charles fired up the troops and Alvanley came out fighting.
Ouzounidis got the initial breakthrough, rearranging Sam Astley’s stumps. At the other end, Chris Charles was unplayable. His ball to see off Badrock was as good as it gets, and after troubling the stubborn Tom Rolph ball after ball he finally dislodged him with another peach.
It was the captain who took out import Hamish Burrill but this time with a great pick up and throw to run him out for a duck, and Romiley were now teetering on 28-4.
The sapping outfield meant the skipper’s spell was cut short by fatigue and there followed a remarkable spell of just 11 runs of 14 overs delivered by Ainsworth and Dave Shewring. Indeed Ainsworth, in seven overs only conceded two runs off the bat. He picked up the next three wickets and when he tired, the captain returned to turn the screw. The pressure benefited Shewring who finally tempted James Badrock to play a big shot. The well-placed Ainsworth took a great catch at long on and it was now 53-8. Alex Barbers first ball brought about a scoop-sweep and as he came back for a second run, Stephen Charles’s bullet throw got there first and he fell first ball for one
Alex Hooton played a couple of handsome drives which brought Alvanley’s focus back to the job in hand and so it was left to Shewring to deliver the coup de grace. He found Paul Garner’s edge and Gee’s gloves to spark wild celebrations in front of a sizable and appreciative crowd.