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| Tremendous views of Eastbourne College's main ground |
The 1st XI game saw College win their first match in three attempts against Eastbourne College. The margin was a mere 4 runs. College won the toss (a rarity) and batted first on a NZ-looking wicket. Williamson and Heselwood continued their good form and positiveness by slaying the opening Eastbourne attack. After 3 overs it was 20/0, but by the end of the 5th it was 26/2 with both openers dismissed. Chamberlain struggled at the start of his innings and was beaten on a number of occasions, but Thatcher (34) was striking at a run per ball. Suddenly Chamberlain (45) hit 16 off an over and a 6 in the next and both were dominating. Thatcher was lost to a leading edge (99/3) in the 17th over after a 74 run partnership in 12 overs. More runs came freely but then Chamberlain was stumped from a part-time spinner (136/4) in the 24th over. Lunch came at the 30th and College had now slowed to 150/4. Beckett (27) and J Bird (18) were about to increase the scoring after lunch but were both dismissed in the exact same manner within two balls of each other (164/6). Our great start had been lost. Freeman-Greene (16) and Kerr (29) then batted with real understanding and skill to add a further 51 in only 8 overs as they almost took a single every ball by hitting into gaps. Their half-century partnership had College 215/6 with 6 overs remaining. With two set batsman in a score of well in excess of 250 was certainly on the cards. The innings had been resurrected. Eight balls later we were dismissed ... for 220 and just under 5 overs remained in the innings. All were very disappointed as it felt as if our chance for victory had been taken from us (again). Eastbourne started slowly but were gaining some ascendency as they reached tea at 80/2 after 20 overs. Chamberlain (2/45) had dismissed both openers. Immediately after tea Kerr (3/44) enticed an edge (85/3) and in combination with Freeman-Greene (2/35) were able to restrict and continue to pick up wickets. Eastbourne, through this bowling pair slumped to 113/6 and later 141/7 after 35 overs. College was on top and in the box seat. A fight back, although initially slow, saw Eastbourne start to launch their comeback and the pressure was mounting on the College fielders and bowlers. A couple of missed catches, an over throw, wides and no-balls, and suddenly Eastboure were in the box seat requiring 28 from 24 balls. Then a wicket to Macfarlane, caught by Beckett, calmed the nerves. Chamberlain and Kerr were left with the job of securing victory in the final three overs. 24 were required from 18 balls, 19 from 12 and 12 from 6. First ball - wide and a bye, now 10 required. Then a two. 8 from 5. A swing and miss. 8 from 4. A single next ball. 7 from 3. A slog to the boundary ... the throw from Heselwood bet the player back for his second. 9 down, 6 required from 2. Then a single ... last ball ... four required for a tie, a six for victory. Kerr bowls a full toss on leg stump, the batsman swings ... and misses. Game over ... a 4 run victory. It was a great game!
Scorecard
Heselwood 8
Williamson 13
Chamberlain 45
Thatcher 34
Beckett 27
J Bird 18
Freeman-Greene 16
Kerr 29
Thomson 3
Leggat 0no
Macfarlane 0
Macfarlane 7-1-29-1
Thomson 4-0-19-0
Chamberlain 10-0-45-2
McKellar 10-0-41-0
Freeman-Greene 10-2-35-2
Kerr 9-0-44-3
Catches: Thatcher, Leggat (2), Heselwood, Beckett, Kerr
The Development XI had a 100+ run win in their 35 over match with Eastbourne 2nd XI. After the initial loss of Blake, Mafarlane and Weeks batted outstandingly in disptaching any loose ball. Weeks was especially aggressive and took advantage of a superb batting surface. He struck 18 boundaries and 5 sixes as he scored 138. He reached his century while Macfarlane was still in the low 40s; such was his domination. Macfarlane then took the initiative and did the same. He brought up his century and continued batting on to carry his bat for the innings in scoring 136no. Dickie (12) and Murray (15no) helped take the total to 319/3. The batting performance was superb and the Macfarane/Weeks partnership of 239 will go down in College's history as one of the higher partnerships! The Eastbourne reply of 200 in itself was very sound but it still led to a heavy defeat. Most were able to have a bowl. Macfarlane was able to cap off his day as he took two wickets in his over.
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| Weeks' Century |
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| Weeks and Macfarlane celebrate Weeks' century |
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| Macfarlane's Century |
Scorecard:
Macfarlane 136no
Blake 0
Weeks 138
Dickie 12
Murray 15no
Thatcher 6-1-27-1
Simpson 3-0-15-0
Tempero 5-0-27-0
Raymond 3-0-13-0
Murray 7-1-19-1
Jones 7-0-39-2
Bird 1-0-12-0
Aitken 2-0-23-0
Macfarlane 1-0-10-2
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