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Alan won the toss and elected to bat in a final 12 overs thrash at Percy Main with the visitors Kirkwood.
We started on time and the Ben and Joe show got off to a good start with 22 off the first over and 31 for the first wicket in the third over when Ben skied a catch to the alert Richie Crawford for 17 (a four and a six aided by 4 overthrows). In came Mike Phillips and the score raced to 112 by the 9th over when Mike was bowled by Jaswinder Singh for 22 with one big six. Joe was in supreme control but went for a man of the match 73 to a catch off Singh (7 fours, 2 sixes). Chad Koen did not mess about and hit 2 big instant sixes in a rapid 17 but fell to another superb catch by Richie Crawford. Ian
Younger hit three singles, Richie Walker 2 runs then caught also by Richie Crawford and big Tom 1 not out with a 100% strike rate from his one ball faced! Rowlands had laid out their stall with 143-5 and said chase that! Singh recorded 3-25 and Amjad Ali 2-29 off their 3 over spells.
Kirkwood showed their intent from the start but Pratty kept a good tight line and bowled M Usman for 5. At the other end pressure from Don's bowling saw a mix up and the other opener Rashid run out thanks to Mike Phillips
quick thinking. The Kirkwod innings was mainly about Singh who saw off Don with two big sixes whilst Pratty bowled thrugh for 3-0-15-2 thanks to a catch by Joe. Don terminated on 2-0-25-0 and Ian Younger and Richie Walker
took the reigns. The score rose from 37-3 to 84-4 but then 84-5 as Ian struck double blows to the furniture. A Mahmood had made 26 mainly in boundaries and Singh was still on song. While Richie Walker was suffering with 3-0-46-0, the Younger one stuck gold for Rowlands when Ben took a good catch on the square leg boundary to dismiss Singh for 73 (6 sixes and 3 fours) and Ian recorded 3-0-44-3. This was 127-6 in the 11th over and
getting far too close for comfort but what a big wicket! Kirkwood needed 14 to win off the last over and Alan brought on Mike Phillips for his debut over. This paid off when, after 2 scrambled twos, Richie Crawford was clean bowled and only 7 came off the over. Rowland were home, winners by 5 runs. A no ball and 5 wides had been called but only 1 bye escaped the alert Mike Steven behind the stumps. The Kirkwood high enthusiasm from the boundary was doused and Roy of the knackered knee clapped in the team off the field! Rowlands 10 points, Kirkwood 4.
Rowlands lead the table by 9 points from Fenham and 10 points from Kirkwood with one to play and must win well on Wednesday night at Seaton Burn.
Fenham have 2 to play: Blue Flames at home tomorrow and Whitley Bay at home on Wednesday.
Kirkwood have Genetics at home on Wednesday and Blue Flames at home on Thursday.
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