Report:
EMCC have
found the winning habit since tour and key individuals have
raised their game on each occasion to lift EMCC’s fortunes.
Critically for the batting one of the top three have effectively
batted through the innings allowing others to come in and build
partnerships at key times in games, and today Andy “winter nets”
Grant stepped up. Matt “bully” Yelland made his usual positive
start before getting an excellent delivery bowled him in the
sixth over, and EMCC had to consolidate to see off the new ball.
A 39 run partnership followed including a massive six from Andy
over long-on, before EMCC experienced the traditional
mid-innings wobble. Three wickets fell in 10 deliveries, but Ed
McCartney had the confidence to counter attack with a quick fire
15, and Tom “chops” Hill built a vital partnership of 57 with
Andy, dragging EMCC towards a competitive total. Andy batted on
to get his first 50 of the season, but Tom, with an ever
expanding array of shots, crafted the days second highest score
with 23 not out.
The wicket
had been full of snakes throughout the EMCC innings and it was
critical in a low scoring game that the bowling was accurate.
Paul “animal” Pennock was exactly that, and picked up a wicket
with his third ball, before the attack minded Low countered with
his powerful driving for MCCC and a quick fire 27. An inspired
bowling change and an unplayable delivery from Doug “return of
the” Macintyre ended the counter attack and EMCC wrestled back
control of the game. Another wicket from Doug was followed by a
rush of boundaries which in a low scoring game could have
changed the whole match, but Paul got back in the action and
five wickets fell cheaply. The conditions were worsening all the
time and the ball resemble a bar of soap for much of the innings
which made Paul’s figures of 11 overs, three maidens, twenty six
runs and six wickets all the more impressive. Doug grabbed the
final wicket and EMCC won by 32 runs in a game which was played
in a much improved spirit, with batsmen on both sides walking if
they nicked or gloved it.