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Last updated 20-May-2009.
Match Report
A match played in tremendous spirit between two competitive sides saw Sarisbury beat Portsmouth Community by 31 runs.
Sarisbury were inserted in the sunshine at Turnpike Way but it was not until the 5th over that a run came off the bat. Stuart Raddon (7) hit one good four before being dismissed but Mark Hansford and David Mitchard judged the playing conditions well, taking few chances in a long partnership before David was caught for 24. Richard Azar miscued back to the bowler for 4 before Mark was out for a very patient 43. With Sarisbury's score at 115 and hoping for 150-160, three players fell for ducks to the spinner (4-26) and only 15 runs off the last over, the last three balls each swished for four by Graham Saunders (18 not out), took us to 136-8, a total that included 40 extras.
With myriad Fantasy Cricket managers licking their lips in anticipation of Mike Edwards having a bowl on what was clearly a difficult pitch, Dr Mike didn't disappoint and clean bowled the top four batsmen in his first six overs amidst much gnashing of teeth that promised more custom for the bowler in his day job. Martin Lander bowled accurately with as much luck as a squirrel with a nut allergy but a fifty partnership for the 5th wicket gave Portsmouth Community half a chance. Will Jacobs (4 overs for 4 runs) and Richard Azar (10 overs for 17 runs) really turned the screw on the scoring but it was Mike Brogan who came on to break the partnership with the score nearing the 100 mark. With around three and a half an over needed, it still looked possible for the visitors as long as the key batsman remained but after a needless run out, Brogan bowled the top scorer for 34 and was deceiving all the batsmen with his change of pace and spin. Two more wickets fell to the maestro to bring the last two together. It was now merely a question as to which of the Mikes would nab their 5th wicket, and the dashing dentist drilled through to the back pad of the last man. Eight of the wickets had been clean bowled and one lbw, surely a sign as to the accuracy of the attack. Dr Mike 5-22 and Sir Mike 4-24: absolute quality to leave the Community all out for 105.
A final note. The Community side had a number of players whom some might have termed 'difficult' - ADHD and learning difficulties - but what a credit they were to their club, being both exceptionally sporting and humorous, even applauding off umpire Mike Garner who had to leave early. Good luck to them for the rest of the season.
