Cross succumb to Royal bowlers

7/24/2010

Farnham Royal 239-9 (60 overs)
Gerrards Cross 179-10 (39.2 overs)
Farnham Royal won by 60 runs

Gerrards Cross’ mid-season slump continued on Saturday as they crashed to their third straight defeat, losing by 60 runs at Farnham Royal.

Farnham Royal sprinted out of the blocks, racing to 33 off five overs. Dan Simpson was well caught on the long-off boundary by George Graham, but this failed to slow the momentum as Royal reached 67-1 after ten overs. The introduction of Johnny Hughes reaped immediate rewards. He trapped Warren Miller leg before with his second ball and then had Steve Shaw caught behind four balls later. Royal were now 72-3. Javed Khan (47) and Ollie Clayson (51) shored up the defences and Royal went into lunch on 163-3.

Royal were well placed to set a target close to 300, but three quick wickets immediately after lunch put paid to that. Michael Fabish-Wood had Khan caught behind for his second wicket; Paul Davis inexplicably called for a non-existent run and was run out by Will Butterworth and Graham claimed the first of his three wickets by having Clayson, the Bedfordshire captain, caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

Royal now seemed to be struggling against the twin spin of Graham and Matt Watson. Tom Drake and Husnan Shah shared a seventh wicket of stand 33, and although the tail offered little resistance, Royal still posted a competitive total of 239.

The Cross’ reply couldn’t have got off to a worse start. Hamza Taj “fished” at a wide delivery and was caught at slip off the first ball of the innings. Ian Cockbain (93) and Matt Watson (18) then took 19 runs off the second over and 17 off the third as they put on 50 for the second wicket off just 39 balls.

It was at this stage that the Cross started losing wickets with alarming regularity as the middle order was blown away and only Cockbain seemed capable of handling the Royal bowlers. Tea was taken with the score on 115-5.

The Cross needed a hefty partnership if they were to have any chance of winning the game. But, they lost skipper Steve Rimmer shortly after tea and when Cockbain edged behind with 14 overs remaining and 74 still needed, the Cross were dead in the water – even a draw now seemed unlikely.

Naeem Baig blew away the tail taking four wickets for three runs in 12 balls and the Cross were all out for 179.

The Cross host Dinton next weekend and are desperate for a victory to end their mid-season slump.