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Ashling v Westbourne Sunday 22nd June 2008 Westbourne 141-9 (Ballingal 3-18), Ashling 138 (Shaul 46) Westbourne won by 3 wickets On a glorious day Ashling fell three agonising runs short of the Wesbourne total. Paul Colley who was finally getting the hang of this winning the toss lark – mainly because the oppo has to call, put Westbourne in to bat on the advice of two of his senior players; Messrs Loubser and Sleep. The bowling was steady with new boy Tom Ballingal stepping into the considerable shoes of Maclehose who had failed to communicate that he would be in Scotland rather than on the Ashlings hallowed turf. Tom stepped up to the plate with a fiery opening spell, which once he found his radar kept the Bourne batsmen on their toes – including clean bowling the West's skipper for 0. Shaul at the other end was gun barrel straight, giving little to hit, but slowly Westbourne gathered momentum with Ashling having to toil way in the hot conditions. The bowlers were having the odd success as the first three wickets feel in fairly quick succession – then came Patel to the wicket. He chanced his arm with a few streaky shots but once he had his eye in Westbourne looked set for a decent score – in fact his 61 was to underpin a solid 141 total. Special mention must go to 10 yr old Charlie Colley who fielded for 26 overs in the outfield with some throws into the stumps which put most of the adults to shame. Ashlings felt the score of 141 was achievable but had to reconsider as the two top batsman fell with little on board, added to the retirement of opener Andy Turner through injury, and suddenly 141 looked a long way away. Colley and Mason began to repair the damage pulling the score into the 70s in fairly quick time before a ball that jagged back removing Colley for 14, Mason drove on with Shaul before he also perished from a mistimed pull shot for 25 on the stroke of drinks. Shaul marshalled the tail excently and slowly the winning line came into view, but with wickets falling around him Ashling were forced to send out the injured Tuner, grimacing in pain everytime he played any shot. Shaul scampered with runner Cranna for another few vital runs and with 8 balls left and sitting on 46 Shaul went for the big shot to finish it off. Alas he picked the wrong ball and the Westbourne team ran in to celebrate a close but excellently fought victory. |