First-class victory for Crusaders…thanks to Hayward
Posted by Neville Smeda on April 6, 2009
Darrows & Arrows hosted the T&N Crusaders in a first-class league match. The home team chose to bat first on a green belter of a wicket. This suited Allan Blott perfectly as he was able to tear the middle-order apart with his swing and accuracy. Blott, who has not had the best of seasons thus far, showed great stability in his bowling which brought him figures of 3/37. Bonds held the innings together with an undefeated 114, but John Branson(3/47) and Chris Hayward(3/37) made sure that their opposition did not reach 200, bowling them out for 195.
Crusaders batted well under the conditions, especially with the amount of pace and bounce that Muller(3/71) was getting. Matt O’Shea made 120 off just 109 balls as he looked to dominate anything thrown at him. He hit 8 fours and 7 sixes in his innings. Graeme Jeremy(49) and John Simpson(38) were the only other contributors to the total of 284.
The 2nd innings for Darrows & Arrows did not go well as they were bowled out for a pitiful 109, leaving the visitors with an easy 22 to win. Bonds(53) was once again the sole contributor for the home side as Chris Hayward found some turn on the green stick and picked up 5/15. It was an emphatic bowling performance by the spinner as he was completely unplayable for most of the innings.
Prince and O’Shea knocked off the target in the 5th over of their 2nd innings, taking them to their 2nd first-class victory of the season. Man-of-the-match went to Chris Hayward for his spectacular bowling effort.
Hayward said after the match, “I couldn’t believe how the wicket played out on the 2nd day. I was having a tough time on day one being able to get some turn going, but the wicket gave me great assistance on the second afternoon. I feel good about my bowling this season and am grateful for the assistance I’ve received from the guys at the Academy to get me to be so successful so far.”
The team was: Prince, O’Shea(c), Jeremy, Moller, Lothrop, Simpson, Ahad(wk), Hayward, Blott, Branson, Ayres.
