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This
promised to be a competitive game- Bolney on the back of
an impressive victory against Ashdown Forest pitched
against a Palmers side that is really starting to build
momentum. This was evident when Palmers, normally used
to intimidating oppositions with their pre-match
fielding drills arrived to witness the Bolney side who
saw our 'fielding' and raised it by 'a pre-match net
session'.
Hugh
Salter, the Palmers' skipper is starting to get the hang
of losing the toss, and was happy enough when the
Bolney captain invited them to bat. The untried opening
partnership of Alex Cornwell and Russ Perkins strode out
to the wicket, Alex showing the attacking intent that
had served him so well in scoring his maiden hundred
last Sunday complimented by Russ who, keen to establish
himself in the side, seemed to adjudge it too risky to
play the ball off the square. Alex fell to one attacking
shot too many, and when James Dawes and Hugh Salter
quickly followed him back to the hutch, Palmers were
hinting at a precarious position. But up stepped the two
Russ's, Ferrier with his mix of solid defence and
aggressive swish, allied to the admirably straight blade
of Perkins. A partnership of 70 both steadied the ship
and laid the foundation of a competitive total.
Vice-skipper Chris Green has struggled to compile an
innings of note this season, but with the freedom of a
slot further down the order, he showed that class is
permanent as he accelerated the run-rate to finish on an
unbeaten 50. Perkins even began to hit the ball hard
enough to reach the boundary, forcing the Bolney side
who had bowled and fielded well up to that point, to
look more ragged. Russ (83) was unlucky to be dismissed
with an over left, but his job had been done, and a
lusty blow or two from Nick Reason's blade completed the
total of 232.
An
excellent all-round innings was built on the cornerstone
of Russ Perkins' impressive knock. Palmers are not short
of stroke-makers and his solid innings is an aspect that
this side have missed recently, to have the confidence
that one end is solidly fortified allows those
stroke-makers to play with a freedom at the other end.
This was an exemplary demonstration of how to build a
side's innings, a steady run rate was the correct
response to some accurate bowling and when wickets fall,
it is necessary to rein in those attacking instincts and
play with more caution. To score at 6 an over for the
last 20, and 8 an over for the last 10 as we did, was
only possible with the wickets in hand and foundation
that had been set leading up to that point.
James
Dawes and Steve Green led the attack, James bowled with
his customary accuracy and discipline, while Steve,
helped by some bounce from the pitch, bowled with
impressive aggression returning figures of 3 for 53
which would have been better had 2 further catches not
been spilled, the ever reliable Bill Sayburn leapt
majestically to show his side how to do it, with little
thought towards the heavy landing that followed,
his complete concentration focussed on bagging the
difficult chance. Bolney batted with an intent which
tested the Palmers' attack, but the Palmers'
bowlers repeatedly responded. A good catch from Will
Dawes dismissed the dangerous looking Bolney skipper,
and this was symbolic of the Bolney innings, whenever
the Bolney bats began to look settled and ask questions,
the Palmers' bowlers answered resoundingly. Will Dawes
tantalised them with flight and guile, rewarded with a
smart take by Ollie Ferns who capped a fine display of
keeping with his second catch of the day. Chris Green
replaced Steve Green up the hill, but he doled out more
of the same aggression that was too much for two more of
the Bolney line-up.
Bolney's
very own version of the wall came in at no. 7, he batted
according to his reputation, seeming reluctant to play a
shot, and but for a couple of 4's from legside full
tosses, he amassed only 2 from the other 32 balls faced.
Russ Ferrier, however loves a challenge, the
determination and resultant exultation when he bowled
him was testament to that; and this crucial breakthrough
signalled almost the end of the Bolney resistance.
Another Ferrier wicket, and who can blame the young no.
11 from being too scared to come out and combat the
might of the Green and Ferrier onslaught (it was either
that, or he had to go to work, I'm not quite certain)
All in
all an impressive maximum point victory, Bolney are a
side competent in all aspects of the game, who will get
results in this league. There were several periods of
the game where Palmers seemed up against it and Bolney
almost took control, but at every one of these points,
someone from the Palmers side stood up and responded-
whether that was runs, survival, a catch or a key
wicket, all were encouragingly met.
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