Shipston sink the Rs.......but only just!

 

Rowington hosted Shipston on what must have been the hottest day of the year and, having lost the toss, were put into the field to fry.

 

Usual opener Steve Jay started well with the new ball swinging past the bat on most occasions, his first three overs all maidens. Opening partner Eike Gilbert was more expensive but made the breakthrough in his fourth over getting Reynolds (11) to edge one to keeper Mike Nash. Jay then conceded his first runs as both Nash and skipper Rogers in the slips missed the edged ball from Morris (God knows how) and it cost Jay not only a wicket but 4 runs! Gilbert then bowled Betheridge (1) in his next over. Jay began his sixth over, bowled yet another maiden and was then taken off (obviously deemed too expensive by the captain - 6 runs off 6 overs!). On came Dale Glover to replace Gilbert and Rogers himself, eyeing up a nice swinging ball, replaced thrifty Jay. Glover got results in his second over, bowling Morris for 15, then big-hitting Murray played the same shot once too often and Simon Cross snapped him up at mid on, again off Glover.

Rogers decided he'd had enough after only 4 expensive overs (26) and Leon Clarke came on. In his second over he grabbed Pratt LBW for 6 and Glover took a nice easy caught and bowled (Cross 2) in his 7th over to leave the Ships sinking on 136 - 7. But Hall was still there and was smashing the ball at every opportunity, so Jay returned to the fold to try and stem the flow and Andy Shaw came on to replace Glover. His first ball saw Hall prod it back to him for 49, caught and bowled, 145 - 8 off 31 overs. Strong and D Murphy joined forces and cleverly grabbed runs when they could but took no chances as they tried to see off the full 45 overs. Murphy made 45 before holing out to Clarke in the deep off Jay and Strong 26 no as the Ships sailed past 200 and ended 207 - 9 off the full 45.

Luckless Jay 1 - 36, Gilbert 3 - 43, Glover 3 - 27 Clarke 1 - 44 and Shaw 1 - 20.

In reply Rogers' bad day got worse as he went first ball off Cross. Rowington old player Mike Nash, back from patrolling the outback of Australia, lasted about as long as he would in the desert as he went in the same over. Jay was starting to regret his overseas selection - dropped catch and no runs - Nazir keep your gloves warm! Simon Cross joined Alex Smith and they cemented the Rs' batting, putting on 172 before the pressure got to Smith and he was stumped for 69. Cross lasted 1 run more, caught for 80 off Hall.

Gilbert and Page joined forces with the Rs needing 34 off 5. Page attempted to push it and was run out, 176 - 5. Clive Haywood grabbed a run a ball for 7 off Murphy and Gilbert got 5 before being bowled by Hall, 185 - 6. In came Jay to join Glover with 9 balls remaining and the Rs needing 22. Jay grabbed 2 off his first ball and a single off the next, Glover then got bowled for 1.

One over remaining and 19 needed, Murphy against Jay, first ball 6, 13 needed, second ball 6, 7 needed, third ball play and a miss! Fourth ball hit.....it's going to cow corner, there's a fielder there, will he get it..........YES! Jay went after a valiant effort, the Rs were 6 short of their target, could Shaw do anything with 2 balls left? Fifth ball - it's a couple, 4 needed off the last ball, Murphy bowled, Shaw hit.....but it didn't go to the boundary, 1 run and and the Rs have lost another tight one by 3 runs.

Cross 2 - 6, a good spell off 10 overs. Hall 3 - 29, Murphy 3 - 50 the bowlers.

Steve Jay