Halverstown won by 6 wickets.
We have a good team but earlier in the season we found it difficult to press home an advantage. However this was the day that the Halverstown team of 2016 came of age. Whilst Ashbourne are good they were beaten by an all round effort that the Halverstown players can be justifiably proud of.
Captain, Mick Neville, is not yet fully fit. However, he selected the team and asked John Threadgold to deputise for him. John is used to captaincy and a shrewd tactician. He won the toss and conscious of the strength of his bowling unit he put Ashbourne into bat.
Neville Case, aka the 'Glen McGrath from the Glen of Imaal' has been short of wickets lately but today he got it back. 3 for 7 off 6 overs put a smile back on his face and that of the captain. Moon and Wasif inflicted the rest of the damage. Moon deadly accurate getting 2 wickets and Wasif with a 'fifer'. His name can be posted on the notional Halverstown honours board along with the other 'greats' of the club.
It wasn't all about the bowlers. Tim Ronaldson donned the keeper's gear and revisited his youth with the club when he and Paddy Boland bestrode the keeping/slip cordon like giants. Tim finished the match with 1 catch and should possibly have had another but club President Richard Greene snatched it from him. Tim realizing that President outranks Chairman deferred and stood politely aside. The catching was of the highest standard today and Ashan and Idrees joined the party by taking sizzlers. Ashbourne were dispatched for 69 off 23 overs.
We realized that Ashbourne would bring their 'A' game to defending this total and there was no room for complacency. Nobody could describe Richard or Barry as complacent as they defended their wickets against some lively bowling. The 'Boycott brothers' were the rock on which the innings was built. Richard occasionally demonstrated the square cut that he is so well known for but runs were difficult to come by, as the outfield was slow. Fours were as rare as hens' teeth.
Tea was taken during a shower as the thunder rolled around the ground. Everywhere in the vicinity was drowned except the Ashbourne pitch.
To say that the thunder did not hit the ground is inaccurate. With 3 wickets down it came in the guise of Moon who strode to the wicket. He smote 4 mighty sixes in a quickfire innings of 37 runs and whatever resistance Ashbourne had shown crumbled in the face of this onslaught. Halverstown won by 6 wickets.
Many thanks to Asbourne for a sporting match and tea. We look forward to seeing them at Halverstown later in the season.
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