Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 11-May-2009.
Match Report
The Athletic went into their Premier League debut full of confidence despite some wobbly pre season. Fred done the first thing right, winning the toss and deciding to bat.
Back to last year's pair of Colin and Squidge opening up. They responded by posting a 50 opening partnership. Facing 3 bowlers, 2 of which looked as if they had stacks of experience, not giving anything loose. However both tucked into the erratic opener including Si hitting 3 consecutive 4s. Wides were helping in a big way, plenty of them ment that there was very little pressure on both openers. Both fell in pretty quick succesion. Si lbw and Colin caught at slip. Colin's innings was impressive, he acctually cleared mid on when hitting over the top!!!
Pete and Matty came in in the perfect situation. They had to play sensibly initially to see off the 2 bowlers who had bowled 10 straight through. Then they were able to get stuck into the change bowlers. They put on nearly 100 in around 15 overs. Some super shots were played, along with some hard running to the 'slower' fielders. Again both fell in a cluster, Matty lbw, Pete stumped. They were closely followed by myself, ct behind and Sammy Free lbw. Fred and Tom restored some order, with Fred hitting a few lusty blows. Fred fell ct and the chairman run out, Jewelly and Tom saw us to 232-9.
Teas were excellent, a really good spread. We all got stuck in before fielding. We started excellently, Tom drawing an edge for Si to take in over no.3. This only resulted in Gosport's overseas coming in. We bowled well, they batted sensibly. Keith grabbed a wicket before drinks, getting their skipper for 34. It was a rank full toss that he somehow hit straight into the air, Squidge running around for the catch. At drinks they were 103-2, nicely placed you'd think. Fred got a breakthrough, bowling no.4. Wickets started to fall regularly, with Keith, Jewelly, Tom and Pete all getting amongst the wickets. At 8 down with 50 to go, the overseas started to take charge of the batting. When Jewelly finally got to have a go at no.10, he bowled him to leave us 1 wicket to get for the win with around 10 for them to get. A very close run out chance got us all excited before the overseas hit Tom's last over (the 49th) for the required runs and guide them to victory. He finished on an unbeaten 134, only giving a couple of 1/2 chances.
A disappointing day overall. They rely on thier overseas to get them runs. If we had got him, we'd have won easily. Lots of positives for us to take, we posted a good competitive total, bowled and fielded superbly. We almost beat a team who finished 6th last season. Plenty of hope still exsists for the season.
