Woodcester won the toss
and put Stanley in to bat on a surprisingly green wicket, given
the recent dry spell.
Stanley got off to a
rocky start, with 12 on the board in the 3rd over Gabb was
bowled by Payne for 8 trying to work the ball on the leg side.
Groves was next to fall for 24 in the 8th over, bringing Kimber
went cheaply for 2, but Andy Brennan, with Clemence, steadied
the ship with a stand of 42 before Brennan became Paul Carters
first wicket, being bowled for 18.
Fry, who arrived late,
came in at no. 7 with the score on 133 for 5 and, with 18 overs
left, set about the Woodchester bowlers with glee. Clemence
became Carter's 2nd victim for a well constructed 43 and Chris
Uzzell played a good supporting role for Fry, trying to give him
the strike. Uzzell was out stumped for 9, all sngles! Chris
Oakes joined Fry and delighted the home side with some exquisite
shots until he was caught and bowled by Carter for 17. Fry
finally fell for 53, after being dropped 3 times, becoming
Carter's 5th wicket. Nash and recently 21 Marcus Collins were
the last pair at the wicket for the last over, Nash going for 2
with one ball remaining. Stanley were all out for 227 with Paul
Carter mopping up the tail with 7 overs, 1 maiden, 6 for 36.
Needing over 5 per
over, Woodchester's opening scoring rate was the same speed as
their bowling rate, bloody slow!! Having scored only 22 from the
first 12 overs, a change of pace was called for. Groves replaced
Kimber and Nash replaced Walker. Groves have Nuttal trapped LBW
in his second over for 24 and Nash managed to bowl Smith for 16
in his third over. Groves continued by bowling Patel for 24 and
Curtis was stumped by Oakes, having missed a full toss, without
scoring. He was also unlucky not to have Carter superbly caught
one-handed on the boundary by Collins, who just stepped over the
line in what was a fantastic attempt. Woodchester 84 for 4 in 21
overs! Fry replaced Nash and although his first 2 overs only
went for 2 runs, he was taken off for Kimber, having gone for 24
from 4. Walker returned to the attack, replacing Groves and was
unlucky not to have Carter caught and bowled. The square leg
umpire adjudging a 'bump ball'! Kimber bowled Holford for 15 and
Carter finally went for 46 caught by Nash. Not a bump ball!!
Smith survived two good appeals for a catch behind and LBW but
was eventually bowled by Walker for 17. Dave Holmes and M.
Green, saw off the final three overs scoring only 4. the last
being a maiden! Woodchester finished on 160 for 7.
* Please note that these
are the opinions of the individual and not necessarily of Leonard
Stanley Cricket Club
