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Ashling v XII Men

25th September 2005

Ashling 135-7 (35 overs), XII Men 139-4 (33.1 overs)

Nick Jones 45

It was a shame to end Ashling's best season in many years with a defeat, but if you're going to get beaten let it be to a side like the XII men who as ever played the match in a good-humoured and sporting fashion ensuring an enjoyable afternoon all round for both teams.

With Nick Loubser mistaking the start time, Mark Crundwell stood in as captain for the Ashling team who at the start of play had eight players (Nick and Paul Colley eventually arrived and local man Julian Morgan was persuaded to join as eleventh man.) Mark won the toss and bought Ashling some time by electing to bat. Craig Mason and Bob Traylen opened and made a steady start before Bob played across a straight ball and was out for 3 with the score on 17. Nick Loubser, who by now had finished his lunch strolled to the crease. His last two innings had yielded nearly 200 runs and needing only a few for 700 runs for the season he viewed the decidedly tame XII Men attack with relish. Four balls later he was back in the pavilion caught behind off the bowling of Foster who went on to take 3 for 21. Mason stuck around to make 22, and Crundwell (29) and Jones (45) took Ashling towards a tidy total. Colley contributed 10, but the turning point of the game arrived with Jones on 45 and looking to push on in the last few overs. He was given out lbw in circumstances he felt were unfortunate, and although Warr (4), Bleach (5), Harvey (3), and Edwards (6) all made contributions, the feeling over tea was that we hadn't made quite enough.

Lacking Judd (in South Africa) and Ford (in London), Ashling lacked pace with only Stuart Edwards any quicker than slow-medium. Stuart's eventual figures of 7-1-16-0 reflected a fine effort on his part, and while Mason (1-25), Harvey (1-35), Loubser (1-24) and Jones (1-31) all chipped away, XII men closed determinedly in on Ashling's total. Opener Garland was still at the crease to hit the winning runs in the 34th over having made 39 of X!! Men's 139 for 4.

The end of the last game of the season is always a melancholy moment, nut Ashling can reflect on a season which has seen them recruit a number of fine players, turn their fortunes around and create a team spirit not seen for many years. A full review of the season will appear on this site in the near future, along with the averages for the season.