Evesham storm to a win over Great Alne (From Evesham Journal)

Evesham storm to a win over Great Alne

9:50am Friday 26th February 2010

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Evesham 113-3, Great Alne 79-6.

EVESHAM had an unexpected victory in the WCB Indoor League when they overcame an undefeated Great Alne side with some fine team-work.

Turning up with only four players, Evesham brought their coach, Peter Birch, into action and Rich Steeds and Andy Stanley then gave them a splendid start.

Stanley raced to his 25 in only four overs and then Mark Smith joined Steeds to get the score to 65 at the halfway stage.

But when Steeds also had to retire, the run-rate dropped and uncertainty saw three quick run- outs.

Skipper Steve Temple started the rot with a superb throw to catch Smith well short of the crease. Les Griffiths and Birch departed in the same manner.

But Steeds and Stanley returned to add 25 off the last two overs of their side’s innings to post a competitive score of 113-3.

Great Alne were quietly confident that, with a fielder short, they could manage eight-an-over and Dave Coll and Matt Waters took eight off the first.

But, off the first ball of the second over, Waters lost his wicket attempting a quick run and, three balls later, Temple misjudged Griffiths’ slower ball and was well caught by the bowler.

With their two best batsmen out, Great Alne tried to consolidate matters, but another attempt at a quick single came to grief when David Davies perished to have Alne on 32-3 after five overs.

Then Smith joined the party and, with his first ball, bowled Craig Millard. Occasional bowler Steeds was a bit expensive but Smith was on top form.

After trapping James Cawthorn lbw in his next over, he caught Coll off his own bowling to wrap things up and finish with impressive figures of 3-21.

Temple Grafton 81-6, Ashton-under-Hill 85-0.

MARK Selby and Howard Benjamin opened for Temple Grafton and took paceman Tom Archer for 13 off the first over.

But then Ashton introduced their new secret weapon in the form of debutant Elliot Seal who took a wicket with his first-ever ball when he had Benjamin lbw.

With wickets in each of his three overs, Seal had an evening to remember and reduced the Grafters to 37-3 at the halfway stage.

Newcomer Dan Gould and Tom Benjamin had an enterprising stand of 25 before Mike Banks clean bowled Gould. Then Rich James joined Benjamin to add another 20 in good time.

But some super fielding from Ashton saw them both run-out off successive balls to leave Ashton needing only 82 to win.

Mahesh Patel and Richard Cooper opened for Ashton and had no problems taking the score along at more than 10-an-over.

Patel was in great form and smashed his way to a quick-fire 25 after only three overs.

Seal then showed his class, adding another 40 with Cooper and, when the latter retired, Archer joined Seal to secure the victory with four overs to spare.

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