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On a fantastic night at Tynemouth, Nine Pins elected to bat when Alan lost the toss. Dave Charlton started off very well with two wickets for very few runs in his first two overs. Eddie at the other end had a good first over but a poor second after being 'wided' by Davy Greener. Mike Britton 21 and especially Sabban 59 were by now consolidating a good stand and the score began to move on apace. Dave's third over was hit for more to give him 3-0-17-2, although Alan persevered with Eddie who straightened up well for his final two overs and 4-0-28-0. Twice through poor backing up a five was conceded and the ten man fielding could have been better. James joined the attack and increased the pace of the bowling considerably, with Alan taking cleanly most of the deliveries high outside offstump. Don took over from Eddie and began with a series of possible LBW claimes, all denied by Tom Nichol. However we found a way round the bat with two stumpings by Alan off Don and this importantly saw the end of Sabban. Matt caught John McIntyre in the deep for 20 off Don who 'always gets this man' and finished with 4-0-31-3. James had helped well to build the pressure with 4-0-28-0 but a slack over from Shaun off which came 23 runs and included more miss-fields gave the Pins a chance at 143-5 off 16 overs.
The Rowlands reply started badly with Shaun fooled only Sabban's second legal ball. Ross came in to join Matt and the pair began cautiously. Ross played on to Sabban and we were 2-11 with Ross getting 5. James came in to steady the ship and he with Matt took the score to 96 before Matt carelessly let himself be run out at the bowler's end by the alert Les Dixon - for 31 (no boundaries this time). Then James was bowled by Greener, trying to repeat a huge six which bounced off the wall of a house and back through the garden fence! James scored a man of the match 55 with 5 fours and that huge six. So, by now we had seen off Sabban 4-0-24-2 and Britton 4-0-36-0 and Greener and Dixon were proving more playable. Roy came in with a valuable 12 not out, Brian Smith managed 2 before being caught in the deep and the stage was set for Ginger Ted. With time and balls very short, our man for the moment steadied himself and blasted the way to victory with: 1 2 2 2 1 4 2 2 2 6 4, not many dots and only one ball to spare. Roy supported well and pushed Eddie along for those important 2's. Dixon had 4-0-34-0 and the ever Greener claimed 4-0-45-2 as the Pins reluctantly accepted defeat.
Both sides agreed it had been the best game of the season. Rowlands march on!
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