Saturday XI vs Nationwide House
Nationwide 189-7 45 overs
Bears 112ao 36.2 overs
The Bears crashed to a 77 run defeat at home to relegation rivals Nationwide House on Saturday to leave their Division 1 status hanging in the balance.
Having inserted the visitors in bowler friendly conditions, the Bears were somewhat disappointed to be chasing as many as 190. Roger Pettifer’s innings of 79 was the bedrock of the Nationwide total as the home side’s efforts were rewarded with just the three bowling points as a result of only taking seven wickets: vice captain Jay Morris and spinner Shreyas Malhotra the pick of the attack with figures of 3-29 and 2-22 respectively.
Despite another outstanding teatime spread, skipper Mark Gunning once again saw wickets fall around him at an alarming rate as the Bears made another disastrous start, slumping to 20-4. Gunners and Rob Wilson looked to rebuild, adding 31 for the fifth wicket, but just as the shackles were being lifted Rob was unfortunate to pick out the fielder at long on to depart for a combative 18. Four overs later and the captain himself was returning to the pavilion having made 31; agonisingly run out just inches from his ground as a second run was attempted.
With the game looking up for the Bears, Sam Vesey, fresh from another excellent wicket keeping display, decided to take the attack to the visitors; a series of lusty blows taking the score into three figures. But with wickets continuing to fall around him, he was to be left stranded on 46 as the Bears crumbled to 112 all out with 52 balls remaining un-bowled. Morris and Suri, with seven wickets between them, the chief tormentors for Nationwide.
The result leaves Gunning’s men in the relegation zone, but with Nationwide only six points ahead in the standings and with the tougher run-in of the two teams, the Bears still have time to effect their great escape.
Our thanks as always to our sponsors, Chef de Party, The Devonshire Arms, RH Hayes Roofing and Josh Sutton Plumbing.
