Result - Won by 1 wkt

Top Performers

Hemsworth 153 a.o., C. Beaumont 48, Chris Hall (3-24), Phil Campbell (3-31), Ged McInerny (3-34)

Stainborough 155 - 9, Richard Grange 52, M. Webster (5-34)

Match Report

Stainborough finally overcame Hemsworth in a game that they had dominated throughout but again almost threw away.

Dave Kershaws decision to ask Hemsworth to bat looked the correct call when they were left reeling at 24-4. Phil Campbells accurate bowling restricting the home side. However, as the heat began to impact on the fielding side a good partnership between C. Beaumont (48) and P. Crapper (34) brought Hemsworth back into the match. Once the partnership had been broken the wickets were taken at regular intervals by Ged McInerny (3-34) and Chris Hall (3-24) which saw Hemsworth all out in the penultimate over for a total of 153.

Richard Grange (52) was put back into the opening spot, and duly came up with the shots in and excellent return to form. The result looked beyond doubt at 88-2 and with the Hemsworth heads low anything other than a comfortable win was expected. However, a couple of cheap wickets changed the levels of confidence. Having been in a similar position two weeks previously at Thorpe Audlin and thrown the game away, doubts were starting to appear.

With several umpiring decisions going in favour of the home side Stainborough were wobbling at 124-7. However, a quickfire 20 from John Hall swung the game back in favour of Stainborough. When he was unfortunately given "Run-out" with still 9 runs needed for victory, the pressure was back on. This was not helped when two overs later the ninth wicket fell with still 6 runs required. Steve Hargreaves joined Dean Coupland at the crease where he had been witnessing at firsthand the demise of the Stainborough batsmen. Dean Coupland had actually been batting for 17 overs and had accumulated a mere 5 runs. With plenty of overs in hand it was a case of survival and patience waiting for the bad ball. After six nail-biting overs the bad ball was duly dispatched to the boundary by Mr. Coupland to complete his 23 over innings and match winning 11 not out.

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