On the day that Beckham finally popped a free-kick into the net against Ecuador, Grace’s overcame a difficult pitch for a resounding win. Batting first, it has to be said that the pitch was definitely helpful to the bowlers. Uneven bounce reminded us of days at Mill Hill.
Scott, captaining Grace’s for the first time won the toss and batted. He opened with Hope, who scored 4 before having a ball leap up at him and he was caught at third slip (!). Stockinger came in and batted ferociously. Scott was dogged at the other end. Stockinger rode his luck a few times, being dropped twice, and seeing a few other shots go into the air and land safely, but he deserved his innings, scoring his fifty off only 33 balls. His first seven scoring shots were fours. They put on 103 before Stockinger called Scott (20) for a sharp run. Unfortunately the captain just did not make it and was run out. He was immediately followed by Stockinger, who was trapped lbw by a ball that did not bounce on 75. Pat, umpiring, had no choice. Henderson was joined by Shofiq. After one glorious drive through mid-on, Henderson (6) had a ball pop up sharply and was caught at short cover. Camberwell was back five balls later, caught at cover for 0. Shofiq was sreadily building his score and reached his 50 off 34 deliveries. Hardisty came out and attacked, but after three fours was out for 17, bowled.
Akhter joined Shofiq who was now thumping the ball. In one spell he hit 28 off six deliveries, and passed a century, his second fifty coming off only 18 deliveries. Akhter was out last ball of the game, caught at cover for 10, leaving Shofiq 107 not out. 264-7 on that pitch was a fantastic score. Lonnen for them bowled well for 2-35, and Britto 3-24, both off eight overs each. But even they would admit that on the day they bowled a little short, on a slow pitch.
Shofiq and Curtis left the game effectively over as a contest after only ten overs. Shofiq, in particular, bowled a great line. Stockinger behind the stumps took a good catch, when their opener clipped a ball going across from left-arm Shofiq, and he was followed swiftly by their number three with Hope taking the catch at cover. Curtis (2-17), finally finding his length then got a ball to cut in and take their number four’s middle stump, before releasing a cracking yorker on their number five, the ball hitting right at the base of middle stump. It was soon 24-5 when man of the match Shofiq (3-3 off five overs) trapped their other opener lbw on 10.
Rashid bowled steadily for 0-14 off his five overs) and Akhter at the other end got the ball to spin, their players playing and missing on numerous occasions, and Stockinger desperately seeking a stumping. Lonnen was caught by Henderson in a sort of short fly slip position, the ball looping up nicely off Akhter’s bowling. Shiel, with his first ball (a slow long-hop), saw a catch go to Hope at cover, and then Akhtar (2-11 off 8 overs) saw Stockinger take a catch behind the stumps. Finally Camberwell (2-4 off 3 overs) took the last two wickets, bowled, and a third catch from Hope.