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On Sunday 8th May, Boxgrove went to
West Ashling for a 40 over game and again the sun was
shining. The pitch looked OK, but the outfield was long and the grass thick. It
was quite clear that a high scoring game was not on the cards!
Boxgrove won the toss and didn’t hesitate in putting
West Ashling into bat. Mant and McGeough opened the
bowling and the latter soon had the dangerous South African Louber caught
behind by Holl for 1. McGeough took 2 more wickets in his opening spell to
finish with 3-18 (his best figures for over 2 years), Wayne Barrett taking a
good catch at mid off.
Mant had bowled really well but for no reward so skipper
Langton moved to replace him with Rew Reed who then bowled with pace and
movement to pick up 3 wickets for just 7 runs. Ashling were on the rack now but
managed to see out Ockwell and the dangerous Barrett to edge towards tea. Langton
then brought himself on and bowled beautifully to take 1 for 12 off his 8
overs, Glasspool taking a decent catch, and the returning Mant joined the party
to end with 2 for 14.
Try as they might Boxgrove could not take the last Ashling
wicket as they closed on what looked to be a competitive 77 for 9.
Boxgrove’s new opening partnership of Barrett and Ockwell started
slowly and once the former departed for a single the score was 1 for 1 off of 6
overs. Tom Vinnicombe picked up the scoring but when Ockwell was bowled by
Ballingal for 1 Boxgrove were in trouble at 10 for 2 off 9.
Mark Holl joined Vinnicombe and the run rate was upped, Tom smashing
a couple of huge 6’s and losing one ball. The picture was rosier at 30 for 2
off 14 but when Vinnicombe tried to leather another ball he was clean bowled. Liam
Glasspool soon followed caught brilliantly at slip by Louber for 0 and Boxgrove
were staring down the barrel at 32 for 4 off of 15 overs.
However, Rew Reed joined Holl and the pair pushed ones and
twos with the occasional boundary. Reed then opened up with a couple of big
sixes and as the runs continued to flow Boxgrove reached the target with 11 overs
to spare.
Reed finished with 29 not out and Holl 23 not out but Matt
Langton can be pleased with a good day’s work as skipper.
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