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Ashley vs Stretton Date: 4th June 2006 Venue: Ashley CC Toss won by: Ashley Batted First: Stretton |
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Match Report Ashley took on Stretton at HQ hoping to bring to an end a losing streak of two games. Due to the shocking display of catching all season, the team took the unprecedented step of catching practice prior to kick off. So as not to forget what had just been learnt the skipper won the toss and invited Stretton to have first use of what looked like a fantastic track. Critchley and Wells soon got stuck into some erratic bowling and within no time Ashley were under the cosh. Cusack, the pick of the Ashley bowlers, removed Wells to provide some rest bite, however even when Mckie took an excellent catch off Burgess (M)’s first ball, Stretton continued to score runs at will and finished up with a very imposing 227 for 7. The team retreated to a very quiet dressing room at half time to lick their wounds.
The impetus that was to bring about an amazing transformation in the fortunes of the team for the afternoon came from the unlikely source of Lucy, who marched up to Ferris during the tea break and called him “butterfingers”. Whilst many a man might have been destroyed by such straight talk, this was the catalyst that unleashed the beast within Ferris. Following the early dismissal of Tavner, Ferris turned to his teammates and said “What we do in life echoes in eternity….at my signal unleash hell”, and with that picked up his bat and disappeared off to the middle. Following the now predictable dismissal of Burgess (M), having got himself out again when set for a big score, Ferris began to dispatch the Stretton attack to all parts of the ground – Ashley were back in the game. On passing 50, Ferris taunted the crowd with “Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” and continued his assault. The skipper who had provided some support exited, and Pitsillidis and the Chairman gave further, excellent support, until with one run required Ferris was out caught and bowled off the last ball of the second to last over. “I am required to kill, so I kill. That is enough….Strength and Honour” Ferris explained to the Stretton attack before marching off to a well deserved ovation from his teammates.
However there was still drama to unfold with one run required from the final over. Following 3 dot balls the chairman was bowled by the fourth, which meant Burgess (P) and Mckie needed to scramble a single from the last 2 deliveries. This was achieved off the last delivery as Stretton’s shy at the stumps thankfully went wide. All in all, a fantastic game of cricket played in great spirit by the 2 teams. Congratulations to Ferris for a magnificent innings, a career best by some distance and to Eadie for achieving his target of 15 league wickets so early in the season.
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FIRST INNINGS |
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SECOND INNINGS |
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Result: Ashley win (Ashley 20 points Stretton 13 points) |
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