The Park seemed in a bit more determined mood after yesterday's defeat against Old Josephians. Skip Fowdy asked The aptly named Flying Ducksmen to bowl at Footscray after again winning the toss, thinking on the grounds Footscray is a slow wicket not bad for batting and Park have lost just one game all season there, but things didn't quite go to plan as the wicket was very quick and very bouncy. Skip Fowdy opened the innings with the inform Dave Fletcher , but things soon proved tough for the opening partnership with Fletch getting out quickly for 4 although he did seem very fatigued from Saturdays game, Skip Fowdy gave a couple of tough chances for the oppo early on which they were to regret. Simon Ewin came in at No-3 looking slightly nervous which had nothing to do with the pitch or loss of form but more to do with batting with the Skip, who last week run him out. Although at times the both of them looked a little tentative things soon got together and the skipper went on to get his first 50 of the season (about time!!!!!) finally falling for 57, getting a peach of a ball which lifted sharply and had Craig licking his lips like a Cheshire cat. Si after putting on a fifty partnership with the Skipper pushed on and scored a credible 36.
Park then lost a few quick wickets with Jim Flood (3), Paul Thompson (4) and John Ling (2) all getting out very quickly hitting out. Tim Gannon came in at No-6 and continued his new found form and scored a quick 15 before being bowled. Then in the last seven overs the Partridge brothers Craig and Dave continued were they left off from yesterday with Dave scoring a excellent 17 n/o and Craig scoring 10 n/o which left The Flying Ducksmen to get 166 to win, it wasn't a bad score considering the wicket was playing up a bit.
The Skipper opened the bowling with Paul Moss, with Craig at the other end. Paul soon got off to a flyer by bowling one of the openers in the first over. Craig at the other end was soon putting the frighteners up the rest of the batsmen with some sharp bowling. Paul meanwhile at the other end was knocking em' over like 10 pins, taking 3/13 deserving them after yesterday. Craig at the other end was beating the oppo all ends up with the skipper having 3 slips a gully and a third man. He eventually got pulled off after 5 sharp overs having figures of 3/17. So with The Flying Ducksmen on 36/6 they were well and truly on the rack. Lingo and Sam Moss came on but tried there hardest but couldn't get past the Ducksmens rearguard. Next was Thomo and Dave Partridge who again couldn't get the batsmen to hit out. Although the skipper came on for a couple of overs at the end taking a wicket with a sharp catch from Paul Moss it was a little too late. The Ducksmen batted on well for the draw although it was very slow and boring at times it was only what we would have done in the same circumstances. We battled on well and just couldn't dislodge either batsmen at crucial periods of the game, although it was a bit dark to bring him on it would have been interesting how they would have handled Craig in the last 8 overs.
Paul Moss super bit of pace bowling.