Cricket- County Division Six (East)

Menheniot II v Gorran II

On a very hot summer's day, Menheniot won the toss and elected to open the batting. At 36-4 in the 11th over, the home team's Captain must have been starting to query his choice of batting first. However, a stand of 71 between Jim 'Cinders' Harrison and Daniel Lee took the score to 120-6 before Harrison was bowled for 21. Lee soon followed on an accomplished 46, but enterprising knocks by Andrew Keeble (17) and Alan Walker (19) took the Menheniot total of 172 all out in the 41st over.

Menheniot's club president, Dave Clue, made his annual appearance and showed that he still has an array of shots by dispatching a beautiful cover driver to the boundary. Bowling for Gorran, M Atkins managed some sharp figures, returning five wickets for the loss of just 35 runs, aided by D Pill with 4-37.

With an experienced bowling attack of Ian Goldsmith, Graham Fagg and Lee, it looked on paper that Gorran's batsmen would struggle for runs. Indeed, at 122-8 in the 33rd over, Menheniot were in pole position with Fagg and Lee taking four wickets each. Unfortunately, Gorran's young later batsmen stuck to their task and guided their team to victory in the 47th over to win by one wicket. Fagg finished with 4-44 and Lee 4-69; the former has nine maidens in his allotted 16 overs on what may well be his last game for Menheniot before moving to Cheltenham. The club wish him and his wife, Allison, the very best. Graham's unassuming manner both on and off the pitch has been fantastic, and he will be missed after a number of years at the club.

Scores - Menheniot 172 (D Lee 46, J Harrison 21, A Walker 19, A Keeble 17, Atkins 5-35, D Pill 4-37). Gorran 176-9 (M O'Brien 37 n.o., D Pill 36, O Evans 24, G Fagg 4-44, D Lee 4-69).

Menheniot (eight pts) lost to Gorran (18) by one wicket.