HAC win a low-scoring game on a tricky pitch

The HAC game is normally known for being a batsmen’s paradise, thunderstorms in London in the build up, pitch covered for 2 days prior to the match made for a very different experience. Very hard on top, and somewhat damp perhaps a foot below made for tricky conditions.

Stand in Captain Cheyne Voss lost the toss and was inserted into bat, a timed declaration game (20 overs from 5:30pm) the format and a 30min delay to get the ground ready.

Left arm pace opening bowler Peter Boon opened up down wind, clearly, quite the cricketer, immediately finding swing in both directions.

He decimated the top order finishing his spell (9 overs, 3 maidens, 5 wickets, 22 runs), Ross Haines 4, Cheyne Voss 8, Jeremy Child 0, Henry Winchester 21, Scott Devine 1.

Boon was well supported at the other end by Luke Mitchell playing quite the supporting act from the other end finishing with (8 overs, 2 maidens, 1 wicket 23 runs) Mark Epps 0

Winchester, the only recognized batsmen to have troubled the scorers, fought very hard, only to be dismissed 5 balls before the end of the opening spell.

LNZ at that stage in all sorts of problems at 48/6.

Matt Knarston found the middle very quickly, but came unstuck for 8 himself.

Finally some respite from the swing and pace and the LNZ bowlers got a good chance at a dig, Ryan Allan, Leith Cowie and Vaughan Robertson smashed the ball to all ends of the ground with some beautiful cricket shots. The HAC would be forgiven for thinking we reversed the batting order.

Allan finished with 26, Cowie 28 and Robertson 32*.

Rana Pritesh made the third duck of the day to leave LNZ all out for 140.

A nice lunch and a bit of sole searching, Voss led the team out onto the field, his job made all the easier buy an all round brutal bowling attack, supporting by an exceptional fielding display.

Chances a plenty created, a number of balls beat the bat and a number of body blows led to the first wicket, a stunning delivery from Cowie, and professional slip catch from Pritesh.

Robertson joined the attack and proved an even bigger handful, bringing about the 2^(nd) wicket, snicked through to keeper Devine.

Allan joined suit with great pace and control, him too into the wickets with a exceptional yorked, clean bowled.

With Allan proving unplayable, Voss opted for spin at the other end, Pritieh into the action, unlucky not to get his first wicket with what looked like a clear caught behind, but his perseverance paid off, LBW followed soon after.

Opening batsmen and HAC stalwart Ed Haines, who had rode his luck all day, few dropped chances, numerous body blows, very close to being run out on numerous occasions pushed it close one too many time, a fine pick up from Voss, fired into to Devine who whipped the bails off in a professional manor.

40 extra runs would have made for a very interesting game, unfortunately that was not the case and HAC captain Luke Casey saw them through to a successful 5 wicket win.