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Ashling v Arundel Estates

24th July 2005

Arundel Estates 124 all out, Ashling 122 all out

Craig Mason 2-14, Ian King 30, Craig Mason 24 not out

There's something about this fixture! Lat year we managed to lose by one run after needing only four from the last over with three wickets standing. The year before was a tie. It was a miracle in itself that this game was played at all, twelve hours of continuous rain ended at midday and a combination of fast drainage and a drying breeze meant that the decision was taken to play-the right one as it happened as the rain stayed off for the rest of the day.

Ashling's team had a 2004 look about it as Matt Sleep, Chris Judd, Nick Jones and Bob Traylen were all unavailable for this game and only Nick Loubser of the new crop of players took the field.

Arundel won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat on a very damp but drying wicket. James Ford (7-3-28-2) and Craig Mason (7-4-14-2) made it look like a foolish decision as they quickly got in amongst the Arundel top end, reducing them to 45 for 4. As ever Ashling tried a number of bowlers, none of whom let the side down, but from 79 for 8 Arundel recovered to 124 all out with R. Beels top-scoring with 32 and an impressive 17 not out for number eleven batsman Budd.

The seeds of later problems were sown early as it took the opening pair of Colley and Holden eight overs to put ten runs on the board before Dick Holden departed caught behind for an eventual 12. Paul Colley went on to make 8. Nick Loubser missed out after his 124 last week, bowled around his legs yet again for 17 runs. Mark Crundwell (4), James Ford (1), Rob Lawrence (5) and Dean Holden (7) came and went with depressing speed, and it appeared that the game was up at 61 for 7. Ian King (30) and Craig Mason (24 not out) were having none of it, and started to build an excellent eighth wicket partnership taking the score to 108 before Ian snicked one to the wicket keeper. Some deperate running between the wickets between Mason and Steve Harvey kept the score ticking along at close to the required rate until Harvey (4) tried for one quick single too many and was run out. One over left, Mason on strike, the last man Stuart Edwards at the other end and eight required to win. Craig hit the second ball of the over for four and the third for an ill-advised single, exposing Stuart Edwards to the bowling. With the whole Ashling side willing Stuart to get something on the ball he tried to sweep a straight ball to square leg and was adjudged lbw. Although we hate to lose, this was a game in which sportsmanship was the winner, and a highly entertaining game was enjoyed by all. Roll on next year...at the Castle please!