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Rowlands Walbottled by Fenham!

Fenham elected to bat at Benwell & Walbottle against a strong Rowlands team, selected from more possible players than ever this week!

The formidable opening pairing of Naveed Iqbal (aka DC) and Zain Ahmed made a quick start against skipper Alan's opening attack of Pratty and Ian Younger. A superb catch by new man Richie Walker off Ian took DC for 19.
Pratty bowled Billy Ahmed for a cheap 2 with a great skidder and the tide turned back a little in Rowlands' favour. Ian recorded 3-0-27-1 and Pratty bowled out with 4-0-32-1. Richie Walker started well with his left arm spin and claimed 2-14 off his first 2 overs thanks to Matt catching Zain for 30 in th very deep and Ian Younger hanging on well to a low catch at point.
However this became 2-35 off 3 as Mukhtar hit out hard. Richie Munro with a bad shoulder bowled 3 overs for 33 and bowled one out cleanly. Alan then made his best decision of the night and changed Don's TFC into a 'bowl the last over of 14 please'? Hiding to nothing? ... Fenham were!! With them chasing the third batting point, Don had the dangerous Mukhtar well caught on the mid off boundary, just north of the Tyne, by Roy for 42 then had Mark Little stumped for a duck by the alert Mike who had kept well and bowled out 2 more to record 1-0-2-4! That restricted Fenham to 2 batting points and gave Rowlands a chance to overhaul their 131-9.

Up stepped Ben and Matt for the task of hitting almost 10 an over. The start was slow with Mark Little and Riaz restricting. However, Ben was able to open up and punish Riaz in the 6th over to raise Rowlands hopes. In the 10th over Matt was caugh for 17 (one 4) with the score on 83. Ben was into his stride having been dropped much earlier on. He finally went bowled for 52 after a valliant effort with 6 fours and a six. Faz Tahir at number three managed many singles with well placed shots but these could not be turned into 2s although his 28 not out included a six and a 4. Roy managed 4 singles in his brief visit to the crease but Rowlands fell short with 122-2. The change bowling of Mukhtar 3-0-25-1 and Shoukat 3-0-22-1 had secured the win with next man in Ian Younger pacing the boundary, symbolising Rowlands
frustration at a game that might just have been won.

Next week is now changed and confirmed as Tuesday at Ulgham V Kirkwood. Names to Pratty as usual.