Gordonians 2nds lose out to an on form Methlick
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Given that Counteswells had a reputation for high scoring matches with scores having twice exceeded 300 runs this season, it was with some trepidation that MCC visited Gordonians on Saturday writes Mark Woodhouse.
The artificial strip is a batting dream and a very dry outfield meant that the ball should fly to what was a very short boundary.
Gordos batted first and it didn’t take long for Tim Duffy to get into his stride bowling P. Gollakota for a duck.
At the other end Adam Veersema was bowling with great pace but was finding it difficult to control the swing on such a windy day.
Anything edged or defended into space was flying to the boundary and pace was clearly not the answer.
Only excellent fielding kept the run-rate down to a miserly 3-an-over.
It was obviously going to be a tough afternoon bowling but the accuracy of Mike Hordley and Colin Addison, with the assistance of Grant Cordiner’s looping pies, kept everything under control and a par score of 250 started to seem unlikely as opener S. Gallokota approached his half century.
Unfortunately Hordley denied him this milestone bowling him for 46 with the score on 68; a decent 67 run partnership alongside junior Seenivasan.
It was Seenivasan, living a charmed life, dropped three times and lofting the ball to everywhere there was no fielder, that finally made his 50.
Methlick could not buy a wicket as Hounsome and Seenivasan took the score past 150, but not at a run-rate that should be expected on such a dry, flat pitch.
Duffy then introduced Lewis Crutchfield, an output of the MCC junior factory, and once into the action his left arm swing started to take effect.
A hundred run-partnership was broken as Seenivasan was caught off Crutchfield by Brian Anderson for 69 and then Mir went without scoring, bowled by the young left-armer.
He then struck again, Veersema taking an easy catch to remove Morgan for 1.
Hounsome was left stranded on 58 as Duffy completed the innings with 2 maidens in the final overs and the wicket of Gubbala for 0 caught behind by Woodhouse.
A decent score of 189 for 6 on the scoreboard but, given the conditions, was this enough?
From the start of the Methlick reply it was obvious that the conditions suited the batting with Woodhouse and Smith punishing anything short and were progressing at over 7 an over.
Woodhouse was the first wicket to fall on 19 pulling a short one that stayed low but the score was already on 57 after only 8 overs.
Veersema and Smith took it up to 70 when Smith was caught on 35 but a strong batting line up was never going to miss out.
Hordley continued to score freely after a relatively quiet start and there was a glimmer of hope as he fell victim to Seenivasan for 30 and the score on 122.
Addison came out to join Veersema and then victory was never in doubt.
The Aussie reached his 50 and this allowed Addison to open up with his trademark big-hitting.
The target of 190 was reached with 12 overs still left to play, Veersema not out on 57 and Addison on 31 to give Methlick victory by 7 wickets.
So at the halfway point of the season Methlick remain unbeaten and sit at the top of Grade 3.
Next week’s fixture against Siyapa, their nearest challenger, has been postponed until later in the season which allows focus to fall on the 2nd team who play this week’s first team victims, Gordonians, at Lairds who are still reeling from defeat.
