Halverstown won by 67 runs on a damp pitch with overcast skies.
Three more of Halverstowns favourite sons emerged from winter hibernation to take the field today. Neville Case, JP Ruste and George Beaumont. Neville bounded in having fought his way through the snow drifts in the Glen of Imaal and announced that he had thought about giving up cricket this winter. This would be remarkable but for the fact that this happens every season. JP returns from a sabbatical and George, a product of our youth academy, from England.
Pembroke were a mixture of young and old. They brought with them 2 scorers who used different coloured pens for each event. We were very impressed except for JT who is colour blind. The scorebook for this match looks like a work of art instead of the usual collegiate effort that we are used to.
John Threadgold was captain for the day, a job that he is well used to. If Mick Neville is a ruthless tactician, John is his brother. He won the toss and elected to field knowing that he had length and depth in the bowling department. When you open with Neville and John you get economy and wickets. Obviously the ‘winter of discontent’ has sharpened Neville up because he struck early and then mopped up the tail getting 5 for 8. Neville doesn’t have a lot of variation he just bowls the one ball perfectly every time which is a batsman’s nightmare. John gave them nothing at a run an over and his wicket came from an excellent catch by Rehan which Richard Greene would have been equally proud of.
We were soon in control of the game although a solid middle order performance from James Creswell (25) looked dangerous until Ahsan dispatched him. Moon bowled immaculate line and length to secure figures of 2 for 17 and Rehan’s 1 for 12 was very respectable.
JP fielded like a titan and his throwing was so accurate that Halverstown’s aging wicket keeper hardly had to move. At tea they were all out for 87.
The thunderclouds started to look threatening and our captain who was sitting in his car googling the weather forecast was determined to get the match finished.
Sandwiches eaten and tea drunk our openers, Moon and JP, strode to the crease with orders to wrap it up quickly. Pembroke, however, were not going to run up the white flag without a fight and the openers were soon back in the pavilion. George (26) and Richard (13) steadied the ship. There was an interesting moment when Pembroke decided that a number of consummate forward defensives meant that Richard was unsure of himself. Clearly they didn’t know their man. They brought the field in around the bat, hovering like expectant spaniels and he then dispatched the next ball for 6 and one shortly after for 4.
Ultimately it was up to Gunter (12*) and Rehan (27*) to get us safely home. They closed out the game with 6 wickets in hand and a job well done. The team has a balanced feel about it this season and though we were missing some of our regulars we weren’t threatened. This is a luxury that we didn’t have last season and hopefully we can keep the forward momentum.
It is a busy week for the club. Wednesday we have a 20:20 against Adamstown. Thursday a table quiz in O’Connell’s pub in Kilcullen. A vital fundraiser and all are welcome. On Saturday we face Bagenalstown, away.
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