BULLS FINISH NEPL PREMIER DIVISION RUNNERS UP AFTER DEFEAT OF FELLING
24th September 2024
19th May 2019
Matfen had missed most of the rain that fell on Saturday morning. Play started 15 minutes late but there was no reduction in overs.
The 1864s lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Richard Clifford fell early but Owen Hollins and Tristan Meears-White batted sensibly and took the score to 51 before T M-W was out for 21. Wickets then fell regularly. Well done to Guy Johnson for a well crafted 20. Owen Hollins top scored with 33. 144 for 8 was possibly slightly below par.
Rain began to fall early in the Matfen innings. Bowling with an increasingly damp ball did not help the 1864s. At 77 for 0 in the 17th over Matfen looked in total control. Then 2 wickets in 2 overs gave the 1864s some hope. 77 for 0 became 96 for 5 and Matfen began to look uneasy. When the 39th over (of 40) started Matfen required 10 runs to win and the 1864s needed 3 wickets. The over produced 4 runs and 1 wicket. So 6 to win for Matfen. Richard Clifford bowled the last over. Singles from the first 2 balls reduced the target to 4. Then a wicket to an excellent catch by Guy Johnson. Three balls left. Four runs needed or 2 wickets. In a frantic finish Matfen scored 3 runs to tie the match. Good bowling from Richard Clifford with 4 for 30 and Jack Patterson with 2 for 19 nearly won the match but in truth a tie was probably the right result in increasingly difficult conditions. Trudy Johnson bowled well again finishing with 1 for 17 in 5 overs.
12 points to both sides.
The 1864s are next in action on 25 May away to Newton.