Skipper PG won the toss and
inserted R.V on a damp, cracked Waltham pitch. The R.V openers batted comfortably through
the opening overs before Rasheed took the breakthrough
wicket. For the next 15 overs Waltham took control of the innings
with Jacko and Rasheed picking up the next three wickets cheaply,
supported by some solid catching.
Soon PG was bowling and after an
indifferent first over he picked up three wickets with balls that ranged
from long hop to beauty. R.V were staring down the barrel at
60-8 but the last two wickets managed to bring their total up to 100
with Andy Van Zyl picking up the last wicket. Having seen the pitch perform
variably Waltham knew that the target was still a tricky one.
Naveed and
Andy Van Zyl opened up and started solidly with Naveed playing with his
typical flair before one shot too many brought about his downfall. Van Zyl soon fell LBW and in
strode Faisal Shah who cracked the ball around until
the tea interval. After tea Waltham suffered
a mini-collapse with Shah and Johnson out.
Thankfully some crisp, punchy
shots from Jackson began to take the game away from R.V and he was ably
supported by Ziggy Kiani in a match turning partnership.
A brief
Dan Owen cameo didn't quite come off and it was left to Jacko and PG to see
Waltham home for a hard fought and much needed win. |
