The 2s started their first game of the season by hosting Roebucks who are a strong side with a couple of ex internationals in the ranks.
Gus tossed the coin wrong and Roebucks chose to field which worked well with our intent to bat first. Cy and Pipes started us off well building a solid base and through some good shot making we were quickly at 60-0 off the first 10, shortly after Cy got bowled for 32 and JB joined Pipes at the crease. Piper was going well and reached 50 before he fell with the score at 94-2. The vineyard then lost some wickets in quick succession with Dawks, Banks and Finn all falling to single figure scores and the skipper joined JB at the crease with the score 160-5 and the hopes of consolidation while still pushing on to a total. JB then reverse swept his way to 50 before unfortunately dragging one on to his stumps to be dismissed on 51. Out came James White on his well-documented return to the side. He started with great intent and through some heated battles with their seamers he accelerated the score while Angus ticked over at the other end. The two of them worked well in tandem during the last 10 overs moving the score on to 239 when Willis found the man on the long boundary with a couple overs to go. White then past 50 and with Joshi supporting him at the other end he ended on a well played 61* and the Vinyard had set 263 in their innings.
The defence started well from one end with Banksy picking up 2 early wickets while Amjad Khan took a liking to the small boundary. Pearson replaced Carslaw at the top end and managed to reign in the run rate slightly. Amjad then passed 50 and Dawkins come into the attack to replace Pearson. With his second ball Amjad looked to smash him into the pavilion and it would have been a six had it not been for a one handed grab overhead by Willis on the boundary. The breakthrough we needed and with ball 5 of the over Dawkins struck again to take his second and really change the momentum back in favour of the vinyard. Roebucks now 79-4 and Yasir Arafat was at the crease. A slightly flat and frustrating period in the game with a lot of appeals turned down the oppo built to 140-4 before Karl Pearson would come back on in tandem with Joshi to take 2 quick wickets and mount the pressure back on Roebucks’ Arafat who was the key now to their chase. Bowden and Joshi were twirling away for little reward so back into the attack came Carslaw, hitting the deck hard their number 8 pulled a certain 6 towards deep mid wicket only for Dawkins to out do Willis’ catch and take a one handed grab above his headed running to his left around the boundary. The Vinyards hands were on fire today!! Bowden then finally got his reward as Yasir holed out to a safe pair of hands in Carslaw and the vinyard were on the brink of victory at 202-8. Carslaw then struck again after the number 9 put snow on one and was safely taken by Willis. Karl Pearson then replaced Cars to wrap up the innings and bag himself a 3fer and Roebucks were all out for 215 much to the delight of the fans and 1s & 3s who were back at the vine watching the game. A great victory by the boys to kick off our season!
Comments