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Strength in Depth Defeats ORP!

Rowlands lost the toss and bowled first at the Medicals V Old Record Players. Davo had a wealth of batting and bowling and Adam kept for the first time for Rowlands. Ed Commons bowled with pace and caused Xohaib to cut back to the awaiting hands of Roy at deep gully, suitably positioned by the skip. Adam Holroyd 45 and Saad 30 then made good progress against Ed 3-0-32-1 and Peter Finch 2-0-10-0 followed by Bob Wilson 2-0-16-0 and Pratty. Pratty bowled Holroyd by removing his on bail and Rowlands were in the game at last. From 70+ for 1 ORP wickets began to fall. Pratty bowled another and then the dubious wickets panel voted that Adam had a third victim stumped rather than run out to give Pratty 3-0-19-3. Don came on at the other end and, after his first two balls went to the boundary, he claimed an lbw and bowled two out for 3.6-0-27-3. Dave Covell was almost unplayable with 2-0-7-2 aided by a superb Davo catch one handed (now the Rowlands standard) and there had been a run out by Jason. ORP posted the target of 116 all out in 14.6 overs but Rowlands had a full 16 overs to get them.

Davo and Ben opened up (who else?!). Davo hit 2 early 4s but perished as Amir removed his stumps for 9. Roy then succumbed to a slower one from Amir and was out for a duck to give him 4-0-23-2. Not good for Rowlands 25-2 after 5 overs. Amar at the other end was proving difficult to get away as he recorded 4-0-12-1..Jason hit a four that was almost a six but was out for that one shot. Ben was plugging away with his classy off drives but Rowlands were well behind the rate. The total of 47-3 off 9 was not good enough at this stage. After a slow start Dave Covell let loose with a six and a four to lift it to 69 off 10 and Rowlands were back in the game again. Dave was caught off Xohaib for 21 having added one more boundary and then Ben, having survived a potential run out for sheer laziness, was clean bowled Saad for his customary MoM 43 with 3 fours and three 3s. Up stepped Ed Common and ultimately Peter Finch to finish the job. Ed created and ran 5 off 2s at a crucial time to give Rowlands a chance. 16 was required off the last over and Ed hit the first 2 balls for 4. After a bye it was over to Peter to hit 2, 2, 4 to finish the game with 2 balls to spare. Wow what a finish! Ed 21 not out (2 fours), Peter 8 not out (1 four). Rowlands revival is well underway!

GEM of a win for Rowlands opens the 2013 account!

Davo skippered a strong batting line up and elected to put it to full use. He started off with Ben and the pair tore into the varied GEM attack led by Kamran Mansour. Ben with 96 given out lbw before the big moment (NOT by Don!) and Davo bowled,also in the final over, for 91 hit a huge total. Phil Morse was caught on the boundary for 1 and James Carr left 1 not out with this pair padded up in the cold for 13 plus overs of the 14. Akeel was flattered with 2-0-26-3. Ben hit 6 sixes and 8 fours, Davo 11 fours and 3 sixes. Kamran went for 63 off 4 overs.but the GEM heads did not drop as Rowlands racked up 208-3..

In reply, Tom 2-0-33-0 and Dave Covell 2-0-28-0 opened up and GEM showed their intent with Kamran and Fiaz Ahmed. The change of Peter Finch and Chad Koen was effective with the main men were dismissed; Kamran for 37 and Fiaz 24. Ben Richardson kept well and took the catch of Fiaz for Peter and Chad had Kamran cleanly caught by Dave. There were no other significant scorers as Davo varied the attack with Peter improving all the time for 3-0-20-2, Chad 2-0-13-3, Don 2-0-17-2 including a nonchelant one handed, half effort catch on ther boundary by cheeky MoM Ben, Phil Morse 2-0-9-2 and finally Roy 0.2-0-0-0 with an inspired pressure run out! GEM were out for 125 in the final over. Phil also took a catch snd Ben a stumping as GEM faltered to 125 all out, Maximum 11 points for Rowlands which opened the 2013 account!

Rowlands Low Show

The first league game of the season saw Rowlands embarrased at the Burn. Alan lost the toss (again) and we were invited to bat with several capable bats not available on the day. Roy lost Gary for an early duck and proceded to act under instructions and 'stay in' which he did almost to the end for a total of 12 singles. Peter Finch adopted the opposite approach and hit a MoM 23 with 2 fours. James McDermott 0, Tom 9 including a 5 with four overthorws past Roy's gaping stumps, Alan 1, Bob 0 and Ian Pratt 1 all succumbed to spin. David Covell 7 not out and Brian who did not face but ran 2 helped the score on to a modest 70-8 off 14 overs. The Seaton Burn attack made full use of the variable pitch and swirling wind: Chris Weldon 4-1-15-1, James Ellis 4-0-17-2, Carr 3-0-18-1 and Jamie Wright 3-1-7-4 turning it in slowly from wide outside.

Seaton Burn had their tails up but Pratty suffered two dropped chances off his bolwing to record 0-15 off 2 overs whilst David Covell suffered a blow to the right hand when dealing with a viscious return catch chance to lose grip with 11 off his 1 over. Don took a wicket, bowling Jason Brown for 17 but Ross Kirkwood with 46 including a final 6 off Don's very variable 1.3-0-18-1 pushed rapidly on. Tom had 17 hit off an over and Peter 9 off one as the Burn were home in only 6.3 overs. It can only get better tan tis for Rowlands! Alan was alert behind the stump with appeals turned down and the centre of Rowland's frustrations; it was almost a 'no show'!

Rowlands Fail to take the Merz and McLellan Cup

The traditonal opener for the NEMWCL season is the Merz & McLellan cup at Swalwell CC with the President's XI hosting last season's Champions Rowlands Chartered Accountants. The President's XI skipper Paul Smith elected to bat and they made 120 all out against an effective Rowlands attack. Opener Delaviz Khan scored 24, Stuart Watson 13 and Arsalan Rahim 30 as the top order made good progress. The opening attack of Ian Pratt 1-29 and Andy Horner 2-12 were followed by David Covell 3-23 and Peter Finch 2-32 who stifled the innings as wickets fell at regular intervals. A cameo of 2-12 from Don Catley including the wicket of skipper Smith then finished the innings.

Rowlands were clearly over-confident at tea or perhaps the tea was too enjoyable but, apart from James Carr with 20 and Perhaps 12 from Roy Haygarth, Rowlands were routed. Rahim with 3-18 and Smith 3 of the top 4 for only 24 in a six over spell followed by 2-15 from Sam Roseby and a tight 1-9 off 4 overs by President's grandson David Cowling visiting from Somerset comfortably accounted for Rowlands although 30 runs were scored by the final four batsmen in brief defiance with a final score of only 85.

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Fixtures for 2013

We start with the Merz & McLellan Cup on Sunday 21st April V the President's XI at Swalwell 1:30 start and 40*6 ball overs. Teas, umpires, ... warm sunshine? Names to Pratty soonest so we have a good team to win another trophy for Alan!

The first League fixture is then away to Seaton Burn.

Download 2013 Fixtures