Cross continue the chase

8/22/2009

Gerrards Cross 240-5 (60 overs)
Falkland 143-10 (38 overs)
Gerrards Cross won by 97 runs

A maiden league century from Hamza Taj and a five-wicket haul for Jon Newell secured a 97 run win for Gerrards
Cross against Falkland.

Taj and Hywel Peglar (39) set off at a reasonable pace reaching 44-0 after 11 overs. The introduction of spin
slowed the scoring rate, but Taj and Peglar both looked untroubled by the Falkland bowling attack. A mix-up
between the two batsmen gave Falkland their first wicket when Peglar was run out on the stroke of lunch with 106
on the board.

Taj and Alan Duncan (54) continued the good work after lunch with a second wicket stand of 121. The Cross lost
four wickets in the last three overs as they attempted a shot a ball. Taj was eventually out off the penultimate ball of the innings for a magnificent 129, which came off 190 balls and included 12 fours and 3 sixes. The Cross posted a
decent score of 240-5.

Falkland’s innings started at a rate of six runs per over, but was soon brought to a grinding halt. Harry Packer (1-
19) induced Jon Challoner into an edge and he was caught by Johnny Hughes in the slips. In the next over, Alan
Duncan (3-26) trapped Neil Gunter and Tom Heath leg before in the space of two balls. Falkland had lost three
wickets for no runs in four balls.

Falkland continued to play their shots in an attempt to keep up with the scoring rate. Duncan claimed the fourth
wicket when Will Challoner top-edge an attempted pull to mid-wicket and Falkland were now 45-4.

Jon Newell was then brought into the attack and he ripped through the Falkland middle order taking 5-32 in a high class spell of spin bowling. With Falkland now nine wickets down for 134, it was only a matter of time before the
Cross wrapped victory and skipper Steve Rimmer delivered the final blow when he bowled Rob Furness for five.

The Cross have now moved into second place and are four points behind league leaders Aston Rowan who
thrashed Basingstoke. With two games remaining, the title race will go down to the wire.

The Cross host relegation candidates Thame Town next week.