Game 6 v Northampton Saints IV

St Michael's Cricket Club

Opponent	:	Northampton Saints IV
Date	:	3 June 2006
Venue	:	Harpole
Result	:	Won by 6 wickets

Innings of: Northampton Saints IV

1	J Denny	ct Tinnant	b Baker	10	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	U Iqbal	LBW	b Baker	11	M Baker	8	2	23	2
3	J Charles		run out	27	M Swann	9	0	32	1
4	A Tait	ct York	b Geddes	26	T Marlow	10	4	21	0
5	A George		b Swann	28	I Geddes	8	1	16	1
6	J Turner	ct York	b Cannell	3	S Cannell	11	3	29	4
7	J Delport		b Cannell	1	S Tinnant	3	0	14	0
8	M Allen		not out	15
9	T Law	st Ahearn	b Cannell	0
10	J Kelly		b Cannell	4
	Overs	45	Extras	15
	Wickets	8	Total	140

Innings of: St Michael's

1	D York	ct	b Iqbal	19	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	W Kingston sr	LBW	b Iqbal	8	J Delport	10	5	20	0
3	M Swann		not out	43	J Denny	10	2	42	1
4	S Tinnant	ct & b	b Allen	14	U Iqbal	5	1	12	2
5	B Ahearn	LBW	b Denny	5	A Tait	7.3	1	25	0
6	I Geddes		not out	40	M Allen	12	1	36	1
	Overs	44.3	Extras	12
	Wickets	4	Total	141

Match report to follow

An unbeaten stand of 67 between the evergreen Malcolm Swann and the ever ginger Ian Geddes saw St Michael's to a 6 wicket victory of Northampton Saints IV, gaining revenge for the reversal 3 weeks ago. But it was a close run thing.

Saints batted first, and on a sound batting track made a steady start. Opener Martin Baker made a double breakthrough to remove both Saints openers with the score on 23. Andy Tait was next out, mis-timing a pull off Ian Geddes for Danny York to take a spectacular dive at mid wicket. Jermain Charles looked set for a big score until he was run out for 26. He chanced a third run when an over throw went to Ian Geddes. Giving the impression of being half asleep, he lulled Charles into a third, whereupon he burst into life by retrieving the ball and throwing it over the stumps for keeper Brian Ahearn to do the rest.

The Saints innings slowed from that point, with only Adam George (28) and a late cameo by the evergreen Mick Allen (15) getting into double figures. The final total of 140 would prove a challenging one, especially so considering the lamentable St Michael's batting collapse in the first fixture 3 weeks ago, and the absence of several top order batters from the visitor's line up.

The reply started in sedate fashion, with both Bill Kingston and Danny York tied down by tight opening spells by Josh Delport and John Denny. Kingston was first to go, LBW to Iqbal for 8, and was soon followed by York after he mis-judged a delivery from Iqbal, and was caught at mid on.

Malc Swann dug in to restore order, and with Simeon Tinnant, they added 38 for the third wicket before Tinnant was caught and bowled by Mick Allen for a patient 14. A brief appearance from Brian Ahearn (5) left the reply at 74-4 after 31 overs.

Ian Geddes then joined Swann at the crease. The score after 35 overs had moved on to 79-4, leaving another 62 runs to win off only 11 overs. Could they do it?

Swann and Geddes, realising the lack of runs was a cause of concern, suddenly burst into life. Denny's ninth over was plundered for 13 runs, and Andy Tait, whose first 5 overs only went for 7 runs, had 14 taken off him when he returned the attack. Both batters hit sixes to reduce the target, and runs started to flow more freely. After 42 overs, the target was down to single figures. However only 3 runs came off the next 2 overs, leaving the score at 138 going into the final over. Two runs off the first ball from Geddes tied the scores, before a single was scrambled of the third ball of the over to win the game, and a moral boosting one at that.