Captains Paul Gearing and James
Woolford led their teams from the front with superb
batting performances to make it a double winning weekend
for WSLCC against Warfield. Paul’s commanding 85n.o.
steered the 1st XI to victory and James’s
debut ton, 112 n.o. secured an unreachable total as
the 2nd XI cruised to victory.
In the home fixture, having
won the toss, skipper Gearing elected wisely to bowl
on a damp, green track. Despite the miserable conditions
and having only ten men, Waltham’s opening
attack of England and Gearing
kept a tight rein on the Warfield openers, who had declared
their intent to go for their shots from the outset.
In the third over England had
Fuller caught by the reliable Matt Trudgill at mid-wicket
and then followed up by bowling Gehan. This brought
the accomplished Maujoon to the crease, who went on
to be the backbone of the Warfield innings. Opener Dhinsa
and Maujoon developed a steady partnership of seventy
for the next wicket when the former skied a ball from
Johnson to England in the covers.
Feeling the pressure of needing to improve their scoring
rate, the remainder of the Warfield batsmen batted in
a cavalier fashion and wickets steadily tumbled to run
outs and rash shots. Johnson, Arif and the returning
Sha Rasool all chipped in with valuable wickets. Warfield
were finally skittled out for 137, Maujood 65 n.o.
In reply, Waltham
openers Ashton and Helmore didn’t find it easy to come
to terms with the challenging track and tight bowling.
Helmore went cheaply which brought the reliable Johnson
to the crease. Ashton was just finding his form when
he was dismissed caught behind. The key partnership
of Gearing and Johnson was now at the wicket and steadily
pushed the score into the forties when the latter player
a rare loose shot and was caught at backward square-leg.
Waltham’s middle order now began to wobble
with Trudgill attributed out to a generous lbw and England
caught fending a rising ball. Rasool came in with his
usual swagger and provided excellent support to his
skipper who was now beginning to open up with some impressive
boundaries. They took the score on to 110 when Rasool
was skilfully stumped by the Warfield keeper. Gearing
now took complete command, attacking the bowling with
increasing confidence and with the help of Thompson,
4n.o., steered his side home to victory. His excellent
batting display of 85n.o. was quite simply a match winning performance.
WSL ran out winners by 4wickets to remain unbeaten in
three league outings. |