Colossal Cam gain breathtaking win (From Gazette Series)

Colossal Cam gain breathtaking win

Cam v Walls Crescent

CAM strained every last sinew to snatch an absolutely thrilling win against Walls Crescent at Everlands.

Set 181 to win, the home side required nine runs from the last of their 45 overs and they got them with just one ball to spare.

Captain Pete Hall was ecstatic with the victory.

"That was a real bum-twitcher," he said, "but we kept our nerve and got what we deserved.

"We have had some good wins this season but this was the first time we have been pushed all the way.

"All the lads were brilliant today."

Batting first in the baking sunshine, Walls made a very competitive 180-9.

Eddie Rendall made an early breakthrough, Kholwadia being caught for three, but then Patel (29) and Battiwala (23) gave the visitors' innings solid foundations. Top-scoring Bhayat (34) and Mushi (30*) made hay further down the order, while the last three batsmen added another 29 between them.

Matt Tipper took three wickets for the home side, while Guy Hutchinson and skipper Hall claimed two apiece.

Cam made an excellent start in reply with openers Hall and Scott Kalus in good touch.

The target looked within easy reach initially but then Walls began the fightback.

Hall was bowled by Bhayat for 40 and then Adam Holloway, batting with an injured wrist, fell victim to Kholwadia for 23.

Kalus, though, was batting with a maturity that only the confidence of winning can bring.

Too often the victim of his own expansive play, Kalus made 66 in 40 overs before eventually being caught.

Cam still looked favourites for victory but they then lost Graeme Brown (19), Tipper (4) and Hutchinson (1) in quick succession.

In the end, Rog Hall and Tom Deakin were tasked with hitting nine runs from the last six deliveries.

Deakin drove a single at the start of the over and then Hall struck the killer blow with a four through mid off.

Hall then took a single and Deakin two, which meant that a quickly run leg-by off the penultimate ball gave Cam a deserved victory.

Cam: P Hall (capt, 40 runs & 12-1-2-43), S Kalus (66), A Holloway (23), G Brown (19), R Hall (9*), M Tipper (4 & 12-2-3-40), G Hutchinson (1 & 9-1-2-38), T Deakin (3*), E Rendall (12-3-1-41), J Pitt (wk), A Philp.