Bray In Amazing Run Chase Victory!!

Posted on July 5, 2009

Bray were struggling to get a side out prior to this game. In the end, 10 players were assembled, with Joe Ruff the 4th oldest at 20. Senior players Manny Barker, Darren Kerins and captain Ian Jones knew a tough task was ahead of them.

Winning the toss and electing to field, Bray started tidy with Kerins and Ruff keeping it tight, but wicketless. With Manny having to keep wicket due to Kerins' inability to bend down due to keeping the day before, Bray were down a bowler. But captain Jones stepped up to the plate, in giving the youngsters a go and also with leading by example.

He got the first 5 wickets to fall, including the Wendover captain for his 1st ever golden duck, in an impressive 9 overs (yes somehow he bowled 9 despite the maximum being 8) but runs were always flowing despite some good bowling from youngsters Dillon Nawagamuwa, Richard Shilleto and Charlie Tickel. At 214 for 7, most were convinced it was at least 100 too many.

Kiki Churchyard and Ryan Shilleto, both aged only 14, again fielded impressively and the ever improving Jake Barker weighed in with a wicket and some inspiring comments.

Openers Manny Barker and Ruff set about a solid start, putting on 79 in 20 overs giving Bray hope. When Ruff fell for 17 (his personal best) shortly after in an opening stand of 84, Kerins & Barker took the attack to Wendover with some good hitting and some sharp running which was winding up the fielders in an annoying manner.

Barker fell for 58 with the score on 162, and when Kerins was 5th man out for 56, the score was 175 for 5 with only 6 overs remaining. Aussie Richard Shilleto, who got a golden duck in his 1st game for the club last week, then swung the bat to hit 2 of the biggest sixes ever seen at the ground. The first went soaring overs the cars and hedge into the lane. The next (which apparently he toed) went almost into the farmyard. When he was out lbw, 7 were needed from 2 overs, with only 2 wickets left.

Jake Barker hit 4 from that over, Jones sneaked a single off the first ball of the final over. 2 needed off 5 balls. Barker swings hard and hits his first ever boundary for the club and Bray have won!!!! The hug that took place between Jones and Barker mid wicket send shock waves through all surrounding villages.

The opening batsman for Wendover, John Stern, is editor of Wisden magazine - this game would have proved an excellent article for him, but being on the losing side we doubt it will figure. Well done the Bray.

-- Can't Bend Down

Scorecard

• Result: Eaton Bray CC - Friendly XI Won by 3 wickets
• Date: Sun 5th Jul 2009 @ 14:30
• Ground: The Rye Gardens
• Type: Friendly
• Scoring: Standard
• Toss: Friendly XI won the toss and decided to bowl

Source: Eaton Bray Cricket Club