E&MWCC 1st VI Fall To Crushing Defeat

Following a solid end to 2012 E&MWCC 1st VI went into their first WDICL Div. 2 game of 2013 against Old Arlesford in the race for promotion to the Winchester Indoor Premier Division.

Adam Kite and Salman Sarwar made a solid start with the ball as Old Arlesford won the toss and elected to bat with Ben Stanbrook hitting a sharp 25. Tristen Newtens and Jamie Martin followed up with two tidy spells of change bowling. Stanbrook returned in the 10th over but could only survive 4 balls before Martin took his fifth wicket claiming 5 for 22 in his 2.4 over spell.

In reply Richard Vaughn and Sam Dickety made a less than convincing start as they struggled to find form and the tact required to hit gaps. Vaughn was ran out for a hard fought 17 only for Kite to be bowled first ball looking to play an unnecessarily expansive. Martin continued to play solidly but eventually fell after failing to push for their runs. Newtens was run out at the bowlers end after Sarwar sent the ball careering to the back wall for a certain maximum until it met Stanbrook's boot and was deflected into the stumps. Sarwar is not one to hold back, sending a volley of shots to the far corners of the court but missing out on the scoring shots required.

A disappointing end to E&MWCCs 1st VI's promotion chase and one that ultimately came down to the sides inability to apply themselves with the bat. Solid performances with the ball have been a constant reassurance this season but have not been met with a commitment to keep the run chase simple. Defeats caused by not looking to hit into gaps. Rather, that failed attempts to pepper the back wall have lost the side vital matches this year.

Disapointing, but plenty of positives to take forward into E&MWCC 1st VI's final clash with Swanmore on January 27th.