Gerrards Cross stumble at the last

9/5/2009

Beaconsfield 224-10 (60 overs)
Gerrards Cross 146-10 (43.2 overs)
Beaconsfield won by 78 runs

Gerrards Cross’ challenge for the HCPCL Division 2 West title crashed and burned in the home straight on Saturday following a 78 run defeat to local rivals Beaconsfield.

The Cross bowlers, led by Alan Duncan (3-37), reduced Beaconsfield to 106-5 and everything was looking rosy. But James Cousins (44) and Shakil Ahmed (33) fought back.

An excellent spell of spin bowling from Jon Newell (3-58 off 26 overs) kept the run rate under control, but after further contributions from Beccy lower order, they were all out for 224.

The Cross were disappointed to have allowed Beccy to score so many, but were confident of chasing it down and were in a good position at 40-1 after 12 overs.

It was at this point that the wheels came off. Usman Arif (4-30) claimed four wickets in as many overs with a destructive spell of fast bowling. The Cross were in disarray at 62-5 and were in need of a miracle.

During the tea-break, news filtered through of Reading’s victory over Falkland. The Cross had to win, no other result would now be good enough.

Matt Bowden responded with the typical Aussie, never-say-die attitude, hitting a 66 ball 61. But with time running out, it was never going to be enough and the Cross were all out 146.