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Tangmere v Ashling

3rd July 2005
Ashling 114 all out, Tangmere 74 all out

Paul Colley 37, Matt Sleep 5 for 18

The dry, hard, flat track at Tangmere looked full of runs, and it was something of a surprise that upon winning the toss Tangmere asked us to bat. It soon became obvious that the pitch was livelier than it looked and the normally reliable Nick Loubser (0), Dick Holden (5) and James Ford (5) were soon back in the pavilion, to be followed soon after by Ian King (15), Matt Sleep (17) and Nick Jones (6). At 49 for 6 it was looking like a rout. By this time however Paul Colley was starting to put together his first real innings of the season, and he was ably supported by an anchoring effort by Bob Traylen whose 8 run contribution over 12 overs steadied the side . Paul Colley eventually made 37, and with Rob Lawrence (11), and odds and ends from the tail, Ashling's eventual total of 114 from their 40 overs represented something of a recovery, if not a formidable total.

With strike bowler Chris Judd unavailable due to work commitments, Ashling started out with fiery spell from James Ford and a naggingly accurate session from Craig Mason. Opener Bilkha went early with Paul Colley taking the first of three catches off the bowling of Ford. It was when Matt Sleep was thrown the ball after ten overs that the match started to swing Ashling's way with Matt finishing with figures of 7.3-2-18-5, the best bowling performance of the season so far. In truth, Ashling's fielding was superb, and not a chance was missed - the highlight being Nick Loubser's catching in the gully of a hard-hit drive from Tangmere danger man Charlesworth. The only batsman to withstand the onslaught was Justin Murray (31) who was there for most of the innings and eventually played on to a ball from Matt Sleep when chasing a lost cause having run out of credible partners.