Casuals are defeated (From Evesham Journal)

Casuals are defeated

3:40pm Friday 12th February 2010

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Harvington Academy 134-5, Evesham Casuals 115-4.

OPENING for Harvington, Adam Lee and Chris Ayliffe took 20 runs off the first over from Kevin Wilkins in this WCB Indoor League clash.

But Mark Smith used his guile to put on the brakes and his accuracy induced Ayliffe to attempt a risky single once too often.

Pete Smith joined in the fray and added a further 25 before Lee was well stumped by Rich Steeds off Mark Smith and James Towey lost his off-stump just three balls later.

With Harvington rocking on 48-3, veteran Steve Shepherd came in to stop the rot and, with Smith, added 40 in the next four overs before Shepherd was run-out.

Last man Sam Cross gave Smith great support and got the score to 117 before Smith too was dismissed.

Cross then showed what a determined last man can do and took 17 off the last over to post 134-5.

Nick Powell and Steeds gave Evesham a splendid start, taking 40 off the first three overs, and they had 60 on the board after only five overs before a good piece of fielding trapped Powell.

Then, only seven runs later, Kevin Wilkins perished in the same way as Powell.

But Mark Smith and Steeds kept the scoreboard ticking over until Cross came on to bowl an immaculate length and Evesham were soon way behind the required run rate.

Steeds then retired and inexperience and frustration led to another run out.

When Cross had Liam Charlton stumped the writing was on the wall.

Although Steeds returned, Evesham needed 40 off the last two overs and Cross and Shepherd kept their cool to take Harvington to a 19-run victory.

Temple Grafton 96-1, Great Alne 97-1.

TEMPLE Grafton were asked to take first knock and Darren Morris and Mark Selby acquired 34 off the first four overs.

Then Morris was run-out and Selby was joined by Howard Benjamin, adding another 20 before Selby fell to a catch by skipper Steve Temple.

But runs continued to be in short supply and David Davies and Craig Millard were bowling too well to take chances.

Frustration set in and, as ever, run- outs followed in quick succession as The Grafters strived to accumulate runs which were just not available.

Although Rich James scored a quick-fire 17 in two overs, Temple Grafton were dismissed in the penultimate over for 96.

Dave Coll and Matt Waters went serenely along at the requisite eight-an-over before Coll lost his leg peg to James.

But Temple were in no mood to lose this one and, with Waters, took the score to 65 when Waters had to retire.

Millard joined his skipper and together smashed a further 20 before Temple retired, leaving Millard with David Davies to knock off the runs with two overs to spare.

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