Game 5 v Bold Dragoon

St Michael's Cricket Club

Opponent	:	Bold Dragoon (Garnett Cup Quarter final)
Date	:	Saturday 31 May 2003
Venue	:	Weston Favell
Result	:	St Michael's won by 8 runs

Innings of: St Michael's

1	D Harrison	ct Davies	Welsh	3	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	M Collier	ct Handford	Welsh	25	D O'Dell	8	1	23	0
3	W Kingston jr	ct J Teckman	Handford	13	R Sparling	5	2	6	1
4	D Allen	LBW	Handford	9	G Welsh	8	1	24	4
5	D Tebbutt	ct Davies	Welsh	2	P Handford	6	0	19	3
6	A Tate	st J Teckman	Welsh	1	N Page	7	0	18	2
7	B Ahearn	b	Page	7
8	W Kingston sr	ct Welsh	Page	4
9	J Phillips	ct Davies	Handford	2
10	T Marlow	b	Sparling	8
11	S Cannell		not out	1
	Overs	34	Extras	15
	Wickets	10	Total	94

Innings of: Bold Dragoon

1	R Sparling	ct Ahearn	Allen	18	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	G Welsh	LBW	Allen	0	T Marlow	8	0	31	3
3	N Briggs	ct Tebbutt	Cannell	1	D Allen	6.2	1	9	4
4	P Handford	ct Allen	Marlow	37	S Cannell	8	4	35	3
5	A Davies	ct Cannell	Allen	4	D Tebbutt	3	1	2	0
6	N Page	ct Tebbutt	Marlow	4
7	J Teckman	ct Phillips	Cannell	0
8	T Bunting	ct Marlow	Cannell	0
9	C Davies	ct Harrison	Allen	1
10	R Davies	ct Collier	Allen	4
11	D O'Dell		not out	0
	Overs	25.2	Extras	17
	Wickets	5	Total	86

Match report

St Michael's won a tense and thrilling Garnett Cup clash at a sun drenched Weston Favell on Saturday to book a semi final place against last year's cup winners Prims XLCR.

St Michael's batted first. A hostile opening spell from Danny O'Dell and Rob Sparling restricted the runs, but wickets were hard to find. After Dale Harrison had been dismissed for 3, in form Matt Collier and Will Kingston both looked in good form. Collier had been given a life in the first over of the day when Andy Davies fumbled a simple chance at point. He was eventually dismissed for 25, looking to push the score on, and was caught off Geoff Welsh's teasing spinners. Kingston was out for 13, and after that, it was a pitiful batting display, as the rest of the St Michael's players failed to apply themselves to the task in hand. The bowlers just had to put it on the spot, and the home batters duly lay down their arms. The final score of 94 looked low, and should certainly have been higher in view of the fact that 6 overs went unused.

In reply, the Bold started solidly. With their 3 first choice bowlers missing, it was up to Tom Marlow and young Dave Allen to open the attack. Marlow was removed after 2 costly owners, but Allen had other ideas, claiming 3 for 9 in a devastating opening spell.

Pete Handford took a liking to the St Michael's attack, hitting numerous boundaries. But he swung once too often and was out for a quickfire 37, leaving the score at 71 for 5. But Bold were still in the driving seat, needing on 24 to win with 5 wickets in hand with overs no consideration. But the wickets continued to fall, Marlow and Simon Cannell bagging 3 a piece, before Dave Allen came on to claim his fourth to wrap up the game.

A excellent game of cricket, exciting to the end, but one that won't be remembered for the quality of the batting.

The sides meet again next Saturday in the league, with the match being played at the Old Northamptonians ground in Billing Road.