Following the frustration of a washout in their first ever league match the week before, Grace’s returned to play on Sunday 20th May away against St. John’s Wood. On a typical early summer’s day of sunshine and cloud, Grace’s won the toss and elected to bat. With all the recent rain the pitch looked like it might play a few tricks and it didn’t disappoint! Intermittent and mainly low bounce saw Grace’s struggle to score only 29 runs off the first 10 overs but at least they didn’t lose a wicket. Then Grace’s began to find their faster gears with Stockinger weighing in with a very useful 57 before being found LBW. Slowly but surely Grace’s began to build, scoring runs without losing too many wickets and with the ever dependable Mendis holding the innings together with a super 70 not out. Despite a late collapse with 3 wickets falling for 8 runs mainly at the hands of the St John’s Wood skipper, Dornan, Grace’s finally reached 188, thanks in part to a quick fire 18 from Mappin.
With the pitch now playing more sedately, the St. John’s Wood innings got off briskly with 45 runs coming from the first 10 overs but at a cost of 2 wickets. Throughout their innings St John’s Wood kept up with the required run rate whilst Grace’s continued to take wickets. 3 good catches were taken by Hope and Fitzharris to keep the visitors in with a chance. St John’s Wood, though batted well with Blunt (39), Gardener (31) and McNee (27) all chipping in. So it came down to the final over with 8 runs needed by St John’s Wood with only 2 wickets left. Unfortunately for Grace’s the first ball was smashed over mid wicket for 6 and the second through point for 4. Overall, though, it was a great game between two evenly matched sides that went to the ‘death’ with the players finally leaving the field at 7.40pm!
Scores:
Grace’s 188 for 6 (40 overs), Mendis 70 not out, Stockinger 57
St John’s Wood 191 for 8 (39.2 overs), Bielby 3 for 43, Akhter 2 for 19.