Milton Magic Not Enough as Newcombe
Sees Pyestock Though
Pyestock CC Vs Hook & Southborough CC
Sunday 20th May 2012
Weather Conditions: Overcast, Cold
Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Medium, Green, Outfield: Green, Soft, Bobbly.
At the third attempt, Pyestock CC finally recorded their first win of the season, thanks to an unexpectedly routine victory over Hook and Southborough.
Despite the 5 wicket hammering 13 months ago, Pyestock showed a level of superiority over the opponents and looked good value for the win.
Hook won the toss and elected to bat on a surface that looked far more batsmen friendly than the two previous games this season, and seemed to justify their decision with Milton (who scored 72 on the ground in the last fixture) and Johnston starting confidently.
Johnston however was offering chances, with an unsuccessful appeal against a caught behind, and opening bowler Chris Heath just not getting to a caught and bowled effort, it was enough to keep Pyestock’s heads up.
Captain Neil Butler however soon struck, in a similar fashion to the chance that had just evaded his bowling partner, took a caught and bowled to dismiss Johnston and give the hosts their first wicket.
This started a mini collapse from within the visitor’s ranks and also a purple patch for the Pyestock Skipper as he bowled Bryant, Ilyas and R.Milton all for ducks to plummet Hook and Southborough into deep trouble at 34 for 4 when only a short-while earlier 30 without loss looked a lot more solid.
Pyestock were now in the ascendency and with the team realising that taking the pace of the bowling was hampering K.Milton, who was stubborn at the other end, swiched Chris, for brother Dan in order to tighten their grip on the innings.
This proved the right decision as instantly the visitors struggled for runs, Milton was proving a very difficult customer and punished any bad ball, but seemed to lack support from his partners who fell at regular and telling intervals.
Dan was joining the party, by bowling Wilkinson as well as claiming Larsberg and Pilcher while Neil claimed his 5th wicket with Malik falling LBW, but with Dan not being outdone, cleaned up the tail the give the pair 5 wickets each.
Hook and Southborough finished 108 all out making them the first side to score a hundred on a debatable Pyestock wicket this season, and the home side knew their work was cut out after the interval.
After tea, it was evident that Pyestock needed a solid start and not follow the trend of previous weeks and lose wickets early without a score on the board, so would have been devastated to lose opener and usual foundation Jon Ford with the very first over of the innings. Jon can consider himself unlucky as the ball ricocheted off the pads and onto the stumps to leave the hosts stunned.
The rebuild also faltered, with Chris McGovernfailing to settle at the crease and fatally playing back to a delivery from Andy Holder, trapping the number 3 LBW and leaving Pyestock in a familiar state at 11 for 2.
Glenn Taylor however was enjoying the other end and effectively smashed Malik out of the attack, driving 14 runs off the pace bowlers 3rd over to instill some much needed impetuous into the innings.
The visitors reacted swapping the opening pair for Dainty and Pilcher, and this didn’t take long to take effect, with Dainty placing one just right for Glenn to loft to R.Milton in the covers.
At the other end though , Vaughan Newcombe was keeping a low profile, but one that gathered pace as he was joined by Colin Butler. The pair played sensibly but attackingly as the bowlers toiled and put on a match winning partnership of 57 with some lovely shots to take the game towards the home side.
Vaughan finally fell, LBW to Pilcher for a well returned 40 but the damage was done and it was up to Colin and debutant Scott Taylor to knock off the remaining 5 runs and see Pyestock home.
Hook & Southborough CC 108 All Out (K.Milton 69*, N.Butler 5-14, D.Heath 5-33)
Pyestock CC 109 for 4 All Out
Pyestock CC win by 6 wickets