2013 Match Report: Lower Earley

Glenn Goes Again

In Earley Finish!

Lower Earley CC Vs Pyestock CC

Sunday 1^st September 2013

Weather Conditions: Sunny and Warm

Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Hard, Green, Flat Outfield: Hard, Flat, Fast

Match Type: 40 Overs, Bowlers limited to 8 overs each.

 

 

 

Glenn Taylor fired an eighth half century as Pyestock cruised to an unexpectedly simple victory over Lower Earley CC this Sunday.

Five wickets from Ben Bromley also proved a massive contribution within the confines of Wokingham Cricket Clubs impressive new facilities as the hosts were out-played almost from start to finish.

Following last season’s 36 run defeat to the same opposition Pyestock needed to approach this game cautiously, and could have done without the late withdrawal of Captain Neil Butler with a rib injury. For the second match running, therefore Dan Heath took the rein. His first job was to organise his bowlers after being forced into the field, having lost the toss, and Chris Heath started tidily with a maiden in the opening over.

Confusion took over in the next over as Steve Maynard appeared to edge Jack Bromley through to Vaughan Newcombe behind the stumps. To start with it appeared that the umpire raised his finger and the celebrations began, only to be curtailed as the batsman stood his ground. After a period of discussion Maynard was allowed to continue with Pyestock agreeing that willow had not connected with leather.

While Maynard was to go on and make the most of the brief scare, his opening partner A.Kahn was less fortunate as Chris uprooted his off stump in the 5^th over to give the visitors their first wicket of the afternoon.

Progress for the home side was slow, and with only 25 runs scored in the opening 9 overs, Maynard and his new partner Jeff O’Grady looked to score quickly to rescue the early section of the innings, and batting looked to be getting easier with Maynard producing some powerful strokes to increase the run rate.

The introduction of Taylor Newcombe initially unsettled the batsmen as loose shots were unlucky not to bring the 17 year old a wicket, and it was Chris again who obtained the next wicket with his final ball of his allotted spell, bowling O’Grady for 20.

This wicket proved the catalyst for Pyestock as 2 further wickets fell for 9 runs as Dan Heath announced himself to the game, Y. Kahn and O.Neal both returned to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and suddenly Lower Earley needed to rebuild once again.

Taylor Newcombe amongst all this, continued to be unlucky as Maynard this time did find an edge only for Jack Bromley to miss the chance at gully. Jim Kahn, by now was Maynard’s 5^th partner and looked competent against the spin of Dan Heath and latterly Ben Bromley as the score reached 78 for 4 at the half way point in the innings, some powerful straight drives seemed the order of the day as Ben was initially expensive.

The youngster certainly made up for this however as, just four balls from celebrating a half century, Maynard misjudged a well flighted delivery and was bowled for 51. Two overs Later Kahn also departed after a smart catch by Glenn Taylor reducing the hosts to 101 for 6.

Ben and Dan were now causing all kinds of problems on a turning wicket and Dan removed Harwood LBW for 4, but from this point onward it was the Ben Bromley show as the tail was wrapped up with considerable ease. Gary Hunt, Malik and Woodhouse all falling as Lower Earley were dismissed ruthlessly for 125 in only 32 overs.

After tea, Jon Ford and Glenn Taylor set about reducing the target and found the opening bowling of Hunt and Malik to their liking with a huge 52 coming from the opening 7 overs.

Unfortunately, the change bowling of Harwood failed to stem the tide as Glenn happily added runs to his already impressive tally for the season. Only once Maynard was introduced did the rate start to fall, but the task was too much for one man as the required run rate became academic.

Several raucous LBW appeals were unsuccessful from Maynard, and Glenn was dropped by O’Grady at wide mid-on to the bowlers frustrations, however the wicket did eventually come as Jon was trapped LBW for a patient 31.

By this time however Pyestock required just 19 runs with 22 overs remaining , and Glenn powered Pyestock to victory, accompanied by Colin Butler, as the visitors brought up their largest “wicket” victory of the season.

Pyestock thank Lower Earley for the game, played in excellent spirit and amongst some of the best facilities ever experienced by the Hampshire based side, and hope future matches can be keenly contested in future.

Lower Earley CC 125 All Out (S.Maynard 51, B.Bromley 5-34)

 Pyestock CC 127 for 1 (G.Taylor 77*)

Pyestock CC win by 9 wickets

Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man of the Match: Glenn Taylor/Ben Bromley