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Alan agreed a 16 overs game for the Cup quarter final vs ORP at Ulgham and elected to bat first. With a long batting line up Rowlands were confident. Fenwick and Ben opened up against the pace of Arun and Colin Quigley. Fenwick was caught off Arun for 5 (1 four) going for a lofted off drive, Shaun gave a simple c&b to Arun; out for only 2. Chris Robson left himself stranded and was run out for 9 whilst Ben was getting into 6 hit mode and balls were flying off his blade. Ben was fourth wicket down bowled Quigley for an adventurous 56 (3 fours and 6 sixes) to see Rowlands 68-4 at the start of the 6th over. Davo managed three singles before being caught off Quigley. Roy was getting into his stride when he was bowled by Digvijay for 8 (1 four). The rest of the innings was in the hands of Craig who scored a valuable 29 ( 3 fours) until bowled Xohaib. Phil managed 2, Alan 4 and Pratty 2 not out whilst Don faced 5 balls without troubling the scorers, apparently only the famous Ulgham flies. 150-9 was the challenge. Arun took 3-33, Quigley 2-35 and Xohaib 2-28. Tony Glover was not used and a few chances were put down to punctuate the sharp fielding.
Pratty and Davo started fairly well with 8 off Ian and 13 off Davo in the opening 2 overs. Ian then bowled Digvijay for 7 and Davo bowled Tew for 6 and had Xohaib caught by Chris for 18. ORP were 37-3 and Arun was at the crease. Pratty bowled out for 4-0-28-2, capturing Jason Tenniswood from a sky catch by Ben; out for 4 at 4-42. Davo had 2-29 off 3 when Don took over from him. A spurned catch over his shoulder by Don was rectified when he then bowled 2, still in his first over. The next over started a pattern of 6 off the first ball then not much more and a third bowled wicket was claimed, this the important one of Quigley, knocked out of his stride on 8. Arun was then dropped off Don in the deep. Chris had an over that went for 17 before Shaun was called up. His first over cost 12 and his second 10 but the third (and 15th of the innings) was best with 1-3, with Tony Glover simply resisting, to total 3-0-25-1. It was getting tense with Arun still finding the boundary. Davo had replaced Don to take his 4th over and the 14th of the innings; it cost 9 runs but saw Edwardson bowled for 10 to give Davo 4-0-38-3. Alan deliberated but with fingers and everything else crossed trusted Don with the last over. The pattern continued with a first ball six and so 5 to win needed by Arun off 7 balls. Faith was restored as all Ulgham was silenced for a while. The next four balls were true and dot dot dot dot as keeper Alan shouted skim it in! 5 off 3 now and Don skimmed in another to beat the bat, demolish the stumps and take the tie and MoM also with 3.6-0-33-4! Two balls to spare and into the semis at Stocksfield next Thursday by those 4 valuable runs. Well done everyone, super team effort. ORP were extremely sporting in close defeat and Arun congratulated Don on bowling him out at the death for his 80. We need more games like this one.
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