Cirencester Cricket Club > News > January 2004 > Cirencester's promotion hopes suffer setback

Cirencester's promotion hopes suffer setback
Tuesday 20 January 2004

Cirencester (83 all out) lost to Nationwide (102 all out) by 19 runs
[Scorecard]

Two of the leading candidates for promotion to Division 3 of the Swindon Indoor Cricket Association came head-to-head for the second time on Sunday and took part in another spirited encounter. Nationwide captain A Quadir won the toss and chose to bat first hoping his team would put a big score on the board.

The hard-hitting Vincent and fellow opening batsman R Quadir got off to an assured start and were looking dangerous before the latter hit a Dan Hudson delivery straight up on to the roof to be dismissed. Vincent retired at 25 for the second consecutive match against Cirencester to leave A Quadir and Rumbold at the crease.

Matt Carter took his second stumping of the competition off A Quadir to give Dan Hudson his 10th wicket of the SICA Division 4 season. Shortly afterwards Rich Hudson swooped from point to run out Rumbold at the non-striker's end and then Dan Robbins took aim at one stump from square leg to dismiss Close.

Number six batsman Yates teed off at a Hudson delivery but like R Quadir before him, he only managed to hit the roof. On the last ball of the over Vincent holed out to Andy Cooper at mid-off as Nationwide were bowled out for 102.

Cirencester's strength lies in their batting and they felt confident as they began the task of chasing down the 103 runs for victory. They got a boost as opening bowler Yates found himself unable to control the swinging ball and bowled a number of wides in the opening over. After Dan Hudson launched into R Quadir's first over, Cirencester had the perfect start they had wanted, being placed at 36 without loss after 2 overs.

However, they managed to press the self-destruct button as in the next four overs the team lost 4 wickets for just 14 runs. Rich Hudson, unsettled by the pace of Close, edged a drive off the side wall to the wicket-keeper Vincent, Dan Hudson and Andy Cooper were both dismissed hitting the roof before Tom Burgess was the victim of a brilliant low catch at backward point by A Quadir.

Matt Carter was unable to make his ground soon after and was run out and this meant Dan Robbins was solely responsible for guiding Cirencester to victory with the side needing 40 runs from the last 3 overs. He gave it a gallant effort, striking R Quadir for 6 and A Quadir for 4, but became the fifth batsman in the match to be dismissed hit roof in the final over.