Wellington Midweek XI 85 – Sunil Gavaskar Cricket Foundation XI 88-5
The only fly in the ointment for Wellington’s senior section over the weekend just passed was Friday afternoon’s five wicket defeat to a Sunil Gavaskar Cricket Foundation XI when the Red and Blacks batting did not function.
David Derrick opted to bat first on winning the toss and Phil Nicholls and Rob Moysey kept a hungry Foundation XI at bay by adding 29 runs for Wellington’s first wicket.
The persistent drizzle and damp underfoot conditions did not do either team any favours, but once the Foundation XI had got a way into the Wellington batting line-up they set about things.
Nicholls was bowled by a creeper for 11 and Moysey was caught behind for 14 and this broke up a burgeoning stand.
Alex Sparks made a stylish 24, but helped a full toss to the mid-wicket fielder as he was looking set for a long innings. Richard Short used his feet well to the spinner and launched two great lofted shots to the boundary, but was out trying to do the same thing for a third time.
David Derrick slammed a boundary, but was out embarrassingly just a few balls later as he totally misjudged the length of the ball was bowled.
He was out at 85-8 and this was the final score for Wellington as the Foundation XI got through the tail with more than ten overs left.
Wellington had aided the Foundation XI in their downfall with the bat.
But the game was only just about to start as the Foundation XI dipped to 22-5 as Julian Smit ran in like a man possessed to rip their top order apart to the tune of 4-15 in 8 overs. He bowled fast, straight and with much variety was too much for the Indian tourists.
Charlie Last proved to be a perfect foil for Smit as his accurate medium pacers kept the Foundation XI tied down throughout his five over spell.
Had a Grant Davey catch behind not been called for a no-ball transgression and made the Foundation XI six down for less than thirty then Wellington would surely have won, but Sureka and Basu saved the Foundation XI’s blushes and saw them home with a 66 run stand.
Tom Baycock bowled a better line and length as his spell wore on.
Special mention to Under 11 team member Sam Baycock who fielded very well during the Foundation XI innings as a replacement for Chris Nicholls.
