Plucky PPA Cricketers Narrowly Beaten
Sadly handicapped by the non appearance of one of the team, the 10 men of the PPA cricket team put up a brave fight last evening in the annual challenge fixture with the SPA, eventually losing by just 9 runs.
The fixture was held as ever at Fareham & Crofton CC at Bath Lane, Fareham and the weather was very kind this year, presenting a lovely sunny summers evening for the cricket and barbeque that followed.
The SPA won the toss and batted first and made 153-3 in their allotted 20 overs. PPA skipper Mike Marchant with 2-26 and the very economical David Greetham 1-9 were the wicket takers, but all of the bowlers performed with great credit, backed up by some enthusiastic and at times brave fielding. The ultra keen Paul Collins and Ed Baker certainly wore a few for the team and will doubtless be nursing bruises this morning!
Paul Woolf got the PPA reply off to a great start with a rapid 25 and with Man of the Match Greetham making 33 in double quick time a PPA victory looked a possibility. Matthew Sedgeley had made a rapid 15 and looked likely to reinforce the PPA’s position until disaster struck and he was involved in an “unfortunate” run out, when his partner Ron Wain mistook him for Usain Bolt and the PPA innings looked doomed.
However Cliff Moore and Mike Marchant weren’t finished and added a rapid 30 for the 6th wicket but with both dismissed in the penultimate over, the finishing line proved to be just out of reach as the PPA closed on 144-8.
Some photo’s are attached of what was a very enjoyable evening. A big thank you to our hosts at Fareham & Crofton, especially scorer Sue Tucker and umpire Jeff Wylde. A big thank you also to both of the PPA supporters who came along, Ian Sedgeley and Neil Hawkins, for cheering the team on. Their Mexican wave really was something to behold!
Sadly the cup has been relinquished to the SPA. The team are already away at a secret training camp, preparing to win it back in 2016 – hopefully with a full team of 11.
