For the second season in a row the YG’s dug deep to salvage a draw with the prospect of a heavy defeat on the cards.
The Hawks with several players still missing at midday opted to bat first. Conditions were never easy with the odd ball misbehaving. The YG’s bowled well. AJ. Clarke 1-15 off ten overs was exceptional, as was Pankaj Saini 5-43 off 12.5 overs. Richard Exley also bowled well with 1-30 off 9 . Charlie Parker was the pick of their batsmen with a classy 61 in a total of 164-9 dec.
In response the YG’s got off to a terrible start and in the 15 minutes before tea were reduced to 6-3. Things did not improve much after refreshments and at 34-7 with 19 overs left in the days play the writing was on the wall. What followed was a superb rear guard action. Firstly with a mature knock by Daniel Toone (16), then A j Clarke 29 and some masterly defensive play by Matt Tolson 6 not out and Neil Dale 1 not out we held on to be 86-9 at close of play.
As always an enjoyable days cricket with the Hawks and we look forward to putting them on the back foot next time. So we were second best today but a draw is a draw and we move on to St Peter’s in the week undefeated for the season.