Fighting Mongooses 201 (42.4)
Way 47
Hamed 45 n.o.
Sadlier 3/40 (10.0)
Broady 163 (44.5)
Hall 46
Cable 4/17 (7.5)
Sheppard 4/22 (7.0)
Omicron Persei 8 is in preparations for hosting BT20 matches and as such was a touch greener than anticipated. Selectors had rested Dodge and in comes Killeen. Hamed was dropped to no. 6 in a hope of lightening his duties. Barton was promoted to open in the hope of smashing a big score. Fitness concerns over Cable were alleviated by altering his training regimen and he is expected to play most, if not all, of the BT20.
Moodley won the toss and elected to bat. "It was pretty hard when we had a look at it yesterday, so we figure the green grass won't be an issue."
Fighting Mongooses certainly flew off the mark, the openers standing for 50 runs in 7 overs. Sadlier then took a brilliant c & b to get rid of the dangerman Barton for 30. Browne was the next, another key wicket who fell for an all too fast 16.
Way and Glasser settled for an accumulative partnership that made 48 runs for the 3rd wicket. It ended ingloriously when Way smashed his own wickets off Sadlier for 47.
By 25 overs, at 3/124, they had gone off the boil and now Glasser was doing it tough with the noob Killeen. Killeen soon fell, bringing in the keeper Hamed. Sadlier caught up with Glasser in his last over, bowled for a dour 27 in 53 balls.
Fighting Mongooses were 5/142 with 20 overs left to last. Hamed set about the hard work, while Sheppard plucked off a few boundaries. All looked well when Sheppard was given caught behind off his pads for 16. The tail was now exposed.
Hamed was able to turn strike to his advantage for the most part, but Cameron, Wingham, Hockley and finally McKenna were able to pick through the tailenders. After seven overs, there were no more, but Hamed had pushed them past the important mental milestone of 200 with 45 in 44 deliveries.
Broady come out and almost straight away, Hamed is back in the action with a catch off Moodley. Blair and Thay fight back and at 1/25 in 5 overs, they look sharp. However, Blair is gone to Miah for 18, 2/42 after 10 overs.
Thay and Hall hold firm for the next 5 overs. However, the second change is Cable and he doesn't stand for it; or rather, Thay doesn't stand for it; stumped for 24.
The game grinds down into an almost unconscious state, 3/68 after 20 overs. Dangasela and Hall make 39 runs with just one boundary. Sheppard has the ball wobbling all over the place and does Dangasela for 20 from 47 balls.
After 30 overs, Broady were 4/98 and they had the game well in their sights, but doubts started to creep in. Hall got too free against Sheppard and he bowls him for 46. Ingram and McKenna then endured a 7 over partnership. It might have blossomed, but then Cable returned and immediately catches McKenna for 10 off his own bowling.
At 6/149, the gates are open and Sheppard sends two more home. Cable finds the next. Then an over of waiting from Sheppard. Finally; and fittingly; Sheppard catches Wingham in the deep off Cable. Broady fall short by 38.
In the post match;
Moodley on the result: "We're happy with the result, it was a little tight, but we got through it. We know what changes will be made for this week, so we're very happy in that regard. We're ready for a big week."
Way on his Man of the Match: "Well, you have to be happy when you get these, but I felt this was a team win. Sheppard and Cable bowled magnificently and Hamed batted really well to get the score up, plus he kept brilliantly. "
Moodley talked about selection changes and we wonder what they'll be. Dodge will return, but surely Whaley will come back into contention. Both Killeen and Glasser looked all at sea. Do they have something else in mind? For now, it's us saying 'so long' on Omicron Persei 8.