Match Report

Old Eastcotians 184-5 dec (50 overs), Corinthians 124-8 (41 overs)

Played at Cavendish Sports Ground, Eastcote, on Saturday 29 June 2002 (Ref. 200214)

Old Eastcotians held the upper hand for much of this match after winning the toss, but were unable to force victory against a determined Corinthians lower order.

Rod Stone and Stan Russell built a useful foundation with an opening stand of 93 before Russell was bowled by Cundy in the 24th over. Unlike Pat Howley, who had scored a century in his previous match, Chris Clark repeated his form of the previous weekend and had Howley caught behind for 8 in a probing 9-over spell. Martin Beasley was eventually rewarded for his economical spell by bowling Stone and Neal in the same over, and later helped run out Reddick with a throw to John Wakeling, who threw the stumps down. Wakeling was unlucky not to pick up a late wicket, as was Morley, when catches went down at short extra cover and slip respectively.

For the fourth time this season the Corinthians top order was dismissed cheaply and after 12 overs their score stood at 31-6 (still, a one-wicket improvement on the previous home match, which had been won from a position of 31-7). The disappointing feature was that there was a huge difference in the quality of the bowling attack, with many players effecting their own downfall. Like Howley, Malcolm Horwill was out for 8 after his fine century in Yorkshire, and after a promising stand of 17 in 5 overs Naylor hit a full toss to cover to be caught for 8. Having scored 112 without being dismissed against this opposition last season, 8 had rather spookily proved unlucky for him as well. Matthews followed in the same fashion, and the slide continued when Reddick dismissed Patel, Wakeling and Shah in the same over.

Instead of pressing for victory the in-form Phil Cundy had to settle for adding respectability to the score, and went a long way to securing the draw with the help of Noel Kenning. Both hit their highest score of the season, with Cundy's excellent 49 containing 7 fours. The pair added 70 in 23 overs (before both being given out lbw), the second highest 7th wicket partnership in Corinthians history and the highest at Cavendish. Martin Beasley (15*) and Geoff Morley (4*) added a touch of excitement to proceedings at the end, as Corinthians proved yet again they are not an easy side to bowl out in "proper" cricket.