Match Report
Back on the road again after our great home win against Eastnor the team travelled to Burghill in Herefordshire.
The all important toss was won by the home team who invited Avoncroft to bat first on a visibly damp pitch. The decision to bowl first quickly paid dividends. The two-faced nature of the track soon saw Brunt depart early with the score for 18. Whitehead followed shortly afterwards and this was further compounded when Pitt fell leaving Croft 44 for 3. The signs not looking great for the visiting team!
Wood and Prudhoe then came together and began to steady the ship. Playing with patience and dispatching the bad ball the pair built a 50 run partnership before unfortunately coming to a premature end when, after drinks, Wood directed a full toss straight to deepish mid wicket. What promised much ended in a frustrating dismissal!
Prudhoe remained and was playing the anchor role in the difficult batting conditions, accumulating the runs and at 141 for 4 things were looking on the up for Croft. However, a series of quick wickets were to fall. Huxley fell for 14 which was quickly followed by the tail succumbing to a combination of good bowling and some rash shots. Prudhoe himself was the last wicket to fall for a very valuable 43 leaving Avoncroft’s innings closing on 168 in the 41st over.
Burghill’s reply started in good fashion with the openers playing carefully and punishing the bad ball. It was Cound who broke the deadlock on 33 removing the opener Powell LBW for 12. The second wicket soon followed with the introduction of Whitehead who removed Darke, caught by Cound without scoring.
Wood now joined the attack bowling in tandem with Whitehead and started to apply pressure on the home team innings. Firstly, the dangerous Garrard was removed for 42 leaving the home team on 57-3. Further wickets soon followed and at 87 for 6 Croft were on top.
A partnership then developed for the 7th wicket putting on 43 and looked to be taking the game away from Croft. It was however the reintroduction of Wilkes into the attack which proved to be the turning point as he removed the key wicket of J. Darke for 28.
Some late hitting from the Burghill skipper briefly rekindled their hopes of victory however these were finally lay to rest by Prudhoe and Wilkes who wrapped up the tail taking two wickets apiece. Burghill were bowled out for 151 resulting in an Avoncroft 17 run victory.
Some notable performance from Wood and Prudhoe with the bat and wickets from Whitehead, Wood, Wilkes and Prudhoe highlighted a good and disciplined team performance. This was especially pleasing as Avoncroft had by far the worse batting conditions during their innings.
Next game is at home to Five Ways on 9th June
Match Report by Mark Wood, 2/06/2018
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