Triumph in the Twilight

Dave Fletcher and Dave Brupacher opened the show for Park in this 40 over game against an accuarte bowling attack. With only 8 runs on the board Bru was given out LBW for 4 and Al Whaley was at the crease at no.3. Runs were hard to come by as both batsmen struggled, particularly against Jones. When late arrival Hudson turned up to join the pace attack, the squeeze was applied even further. However, the Jurassic Partnership started to get some shots off, with Fletch hitting a couple of trademark fours and Wonk also finding the boundary nicely. Just as these two were looking set Al was bowled by Jones for 6 to leave park on 27 for 2 after 11 overs. Skipper Fowdy came out at no.4 but struggled to get going and was caught out for an uncharacteristically sticky 2. Park at 38 for 3 in the 18th over. Gannon stepped up at no.5 to join Fletcher who was now batting with a bit more freedom with the openers off. After a couple of quiet overs Gannon started to find the boundary but lost partner Fletch who was caught out for a very solid 20 runs. Park at 49 for 4. Sean Pritchard at no.6 joined Gannon and these two pushed the run rate up a bit and put on 34 before Gannon was bowled for a quickfire 30. Park at 83 for 5 in the 29th over. Sean was bowled at the end of the same over for 5 to have Park on 86 for 6. Paul Thompson came in at no.7 but was undone by a ball that kept low to be bowled for a duck. Park 91 for 7. With new batsmen Alan Russell and Dave Robotham at the crease Park were in a bit of a quandry. There were ten overs left, and there was an urgent need to score runs quickly but we couldn't afford to lose any more wickets. Al and Dave then proceeded to put on the best partnership of the game, with first Alan , then Dave finding the boundary, and augmented by some quick (and often risky) running between the wickets. By the time this partnership was broken, in the penultimate over, 43 runs had been added as Al departed caught for a fine 18, and Park 135 for 8. Paul Moss came out as the last man, and carried on in the same vein, clipping a ball to the boundary and then running a three so that at the end of the 40 overs, Park had managed a respectable 143 for 9, with Dave Robotham an excellent 22 not out and Mossy unbeaten on 7.

With a modest total to defend, park knew they had to be on the ball but were determined to give it their best shot. Paul Moss and Dave Partridge opened the attack but despite keeping the scoring down could not find a way through the Nuxley openers. Then in the 12th over Davey Boy bowled Warner off the inside edge to put Nuxley on 26 for 1. This united Nuxleys two best bats Jones and Hudson and these two started to rack up the runs. Dave Robotham and Alan Russell now became bowling partners and took over from Dave and Paul. Again, there didnt look likely to be a breakthrough so the Skipper brought himself on and lo and behold, he took the wicket of Jones who holed out to a smart catch by dave Partridge at mid on. Nuxley on 70 for 2. With the oppo halfway to the target already we desperately needed Hudson out as well and Dave Robotham duly obliged in the very next over, getting an edge that Dave Brupacher caught behind. Nuxley now 70 for 3 and the Park fielders really thought they were in with a chance. Only 5 runs were added before Darran bowled Russell at no.5 and Park were on a roll. The next partnership added 19 before Darran did it again to put the oppo on 94 for 5 in the 32nd over. Alan Russell returned to the attack at the other end and struck in his first over bowling Harris for 6. The pressure was starting to tell on Nuxley now and they were slipping behind the rate. They were put under further pressure when two quick qickets fell, with Russell bowling French and Fowdy bowling Saunders (??!!) to leave Nuxley struggling on 115 for 8 in the 37th over. The run rate eventually proved too much for Nuxley who finished their 40 overs on 128 for 8, a very good win for Park.

I think this result was due to an excellent team effort particularly in the field and special mention has to go to the Skipper Darran Fowdy who i thought marshalled the fielding brilliantly, and once again did the trick with his bowling. But the MOM goes to Dave Robotham for a real all-rounders performance with some priceless runs at the end of the innings and his now customary excellent spell of bowling.