High Scoring Game at Witham

The Cavaliers Saturday XI played at Witham today.

Having lost the toss, the Cavaliers fielded first with opening bowlers K Hemstedt (5-1-24-0) and M Wall (4-0-30-0) finding some swing, but the Witham openers found the boundary regularly. Change bowlers Z Ahmed and N Hussain then helped to reduce the run rate before the introduction of S Pillalamarri reaped dividends as he broke the opening stand of 101. Pillalamarri continued to chip away at the Witham batting line up despite some attacking shots, as N Hussian (13-1-67-0) continued at the other end. Captain Pillalamarri went on to complete his maiden 5-fer for the Cavaliers, ending with figures of 12-0-62-5, as the returning Z Ahmed (11-2-36-1) also claimed a wicket via a very well judged catch by Hussain on the midwicket boundary. With Young and Pillalamarri combining to effect a run out on the last ball of the innings, Witham ended their 45 overs on 230/7.

The Cavs reply didn't get off to the best of starts, with P Trevedi (0) departing in the second over but a second wicket partnership of 59 between D Dellar and S Pillalamarri got the Cavaliers up to 65/1 before Dellar (34) and Pillalamarri (24) were dismissed just before the first drinks break of the innings. Regular wickets then pegged the Cavaliers back as S Annaldas (0), Z Ahmed (13) and M Rasheed (6) were all dismissed. A partnership of 22 between N Hussain and P Johnson then saw the Cavs pass 100 before the run out of Hussain (22) saw the Cavs slip to 119/7 after 26.4 overs. With the Cavs under pressure, P Johnson and K Hemstedt the unfurled some attacking strokes in an eighth wicket partnership of 73 before Hemstedt (36) was dismissed. Johnson and M Wall (8) then saw the Cavs past 200 to guarantee full batting points, but the last wicket pair of Johnson and Young (3*) were unable to see the Cavs home as Johnson (30) was dismissed with the Cavs finishing on 212 all out, losing by 18 runs with 9 balls remaining.