Match Report - Dollar, 24th May 2009

StAUSCC (123 a.o., M. Ravishankar 30) lost to Dollar (124 for 3, A. Smith 2-42) by 7 wickets

To some extent the whole match report thing is a bit superfluous – not enough runs for the bowlers to defend on a good wicket. Better to concentrate on the light relief for the day as Stan contrived to fall in the river alongside the ground, stepping backwards into thin air whilst expostulating wisely on some aspect of cricketing wisdom.

Returning reluctantly to the cricket, we started slowly, restricted once again by accurate bowling and although Stan and Tom both got in and played some attractive shots, neither could press on past 16 nor hang around with Dom whose adhesive innings of 26 was only ended by a freakishly good reaction catch at short square leg. Manu came in at #6 to inject some much needed impetus to the innings but fell for a fine 30 to a good catch on the boundary. Around him the lower order wickets had subsided for scores sub 10 and with the third highest scorer being extras on 20 we were well short of par.

Our nemesis of old, Adam Buchanan-Smith opened the batting but was well shackled by Angus and couldn’t quite get his big blows away, falling to Prasanna for 11 giving some modest optimism to the fielders. Despite a couple of wickets for Alex which slowed the run rate, Dollar never looked too concerned nor did they take any unnecessary risks in closing out the match in the 28th over, bowled with extensive flight and guile by Tom.

As ever the surroundings, pleasant opposition and excellent local pub made it a reasonable Sunday out but we need to find substantial middle order runs and smarten up the out fielding if the rest of the season is going to prove fruitful.

- Patrick Jess