Dodgers' proud unbeaten record at Chiswick finally ended tonight when we were beaten by a team of six men... and three women from the Audit Commission.
Batting first, AC launched a severe attack from the word go. Though John Hilary fared reasonably well and took a wicket, Benn going at 8 an over and Luke going at 12 an over were particularly harshly dealt with, as were the first two overs from Adey. We dragged it back towards the end as the retirements rule again came to our rescue, but 136 was way more than anyone expected. AC had batted very well on a flat pitch, albeit assisted by our worst fielding of the season by some distance.
But, let's be fair, 137 was very gettable against only nine. Actually that's not quite right - they had ten with our loaned player. The first ball was a long hop outside off stump and Tawhid somehow chipped it low to mid-wicket where it was caught by... J Hilary, who promptly jogged off to pad up.
McBarron joined Priest and they embarked on a stand packed with competitive running. Unfortunately, they were competing with each other, which did nobody any favours. Nonetheless, Phil batted very swiftly and retired with us well up with rate. Guy showed traces of his South African side before being run out attempting an ambitious second and Neil made his 30 before also retiring.
The much-vaunted middle order again failed to deliver. Luke attempted a bold upper cut to be easily caught; Hilary tired an uncharacterisitc nurdle and was trapped in front; and Benn's rather more characteristic nurdle was caught off a leading edge. In between Cooper had been comprehensively bowled, and with the Cat's departure it was up to Adey and the returned McBarron with 18 needed off two. Phil cut a dashing figure in C&A's finest having bizarrely got changed, but was soon run out.
12 off the last with Priest at the wicket. A two and a one made it nine off four, then Adey launched a sensational slog over mid-wicket to make it five off three. A dot, then all over as John was bowled in the gloom. As last week, the game ended on a sour note with some totally unneccessary bad sportsmanship from some members of the opposition.
AC thoroughly deserved to win this, having batted really well against a lack-lustre Dodgers side that had fielded abysmally. We should still have won, but the batting just didn't get its act together.
Batting first, AC launched a severe attack from the word go. Though John Hilary fared reasonably well and took a wicket, Benn going at 8 an over and Luke going at 12 an over were particularly harshly dealt with, as were the first two overs from Adey. We dragged it back towards the end as the retirements rule again came to our rescue, but 136 was way more than anyone expected. AC had batted very well on a flat pitch, albeit assisted by our worst fielding of the season by some distance.
But, let's be fair, 137 was very gettable against only nine. Actually that's not quite right - they had ten with our loaned player. The first ball was a long hop outside off stump and Tawhid somehow chipped it low to mid-wicket where it was caught by... J Hilary, who promptly jogged off to pad up.
McBarron joined Priest and they embarked on a stand packed with competitive running. Unfortunately, they were competing with each other, which did nobody any favours. Nonetheless, Phil batted very swiftly and retired with us well up with rate. Guy showed traces of his South African side before being run out attempting an ambitious second and Neil made his 30 before also retiring.
The much-vaunted middle order again failed to deliver. Luke attempted a bold upper cut to be easily caught; Hilary tired an uncharacterisitc nurdle and was trapped in front; and Benn's rather more characteristic nurdle was caught off a leading edge. In between Cooper had been comprehensively bowled, and with the Cat's departure it was up to Adey and the returned McBarron with 18 needed off two. Phil cut a dashing figure in C&A's finest having bizarrely got changed, but was soon run out.
12 off the last with Priest at the wicket. A two and a one made it nine off four, then Adey launched a sensational slog over mid-wicket to make it five off three. A dot, then all over as John was bowled in the gloom. As last week, the game ended on a sour note with some totally unneccessary bad sportsmanship from some members of the opposition.
AC thoroughly deserved to win this, having batted really well against a lack-lustre Dodgers side that had fielded abysmally. We should still have won, but the batting just didn't get its act together.
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