Cock n Bull University/Ellerslie vs Cornwall
I won my second successive toss in the Hedley Howarth Comp, and we were pretty happy to bat on what looked a flat wicket which would do a little early and then provide good batting conditions plus a lightning fast outfield.
Konrad Kurta and new opener Stephen Venville got us off to solid start and we were 47 when Stephen got out to the Cornwall offie Saunders. That wicket led to a classic batting collapse with us all out for 109, Konrad looked in fluent form compiling 35 before being adjudged LBW sweeping Saunders. Cornwall then batted and pulled in our total 6 wickets down largely due to a gutsy 61 by Guptill-Bunce, Dean Bartlett continued his outstanding bowling form taking 6 wickets before Cornwall declared on 178/8.
Batting second and behind by 60, we lost wickets early and then fairly consistently in our top order. Shaun Smith and ACES player Richard Sherlocke were our most enterprising batsmen and both looked promising scoring 38 and 37 before we were bowled out for 181, leaving Cornwall a tricky chase of 119 in 25 overs for outright points. The team upped its intensity to defend our total, snaring two good run outs by Venville and Thareeb. Dean and Konrad bowled very well in tandem as they always do, Dean picking up 3 more wickets taking his match tally to 9. In the end it was the Cornwall English pro Dave Brown who saw them home in the end with 2 wickets in hand.
This week we return to the Ave to face Howick Pakuranga and I know the guys will be trying hard to get our first wining points from the Top 6.
James Boyle
ellersliecricket.co.nz
