Cam 184-3 beat Kingsholm 181-9 by seven wickets
PETE Hall played a captain’s innings and led Cam to victory against Kingsholm last weekend by hitting a superb 107 from 75 deliveries and then taking 3-41 with the ball in a rain affected game.
After winning the toss, Hall put Kingsholm into bat and, in the third over, his decision was rewarded as George Dolling took a reaction caught and bowled to dismiss opener John Veits for six.
Opening partner Joe Page fell six overs later as Dolling got one to nip back and hit the top of the middle stump.
Ryan Western’s opening spell of five overs for 10 runs went with no reward in the wickets column but it put the pressure on the Kingsholm top order.
The introduction of Ben Holloway saw Lewis Oliver bowled for 18 with his third ball, but immediately following the wicket, the players left the field due to the weather.
After a break, Kingsholm came out on the front foot with Ben Harris and Matthew Emmett managing to pick holes in the Cam field.
Gareth Udal managed to make the breakthrough as he bowled Emmett for 21.
Another partnership between Harris and Kingsholm captain James Boon began and again Cam were sent ball-chasing as Harris took a liking to the bowling of Hall.
Another rain break, which was followed by an early tea, swung the game into Cam’s favour.
The opening ball after tea saw Hall have Harris caught behind for 55 and Boon followed for 27.
With the overs reduced to 36-a-side, Kingsholm went on the attack but Hall claimed a third wicket and Holloway his second.
With the the overs going down, Mike Glover ran out Sam Wheeler with a direct hit from the third man boundary and Kingsholm finished on 181-9.
In response, Hall and Adam Holloway started positively with boundaries piercing the infield.
Although Holloway was bowled by Wheeler for 13, it brought Udal to the crease to partner Hall.
Both men took a liking to the pace on the ball and shots being played all around the ground.
Hall passed 50 from 42 deliveries in the 14th over with the score 89-1.
Udal was also able to manipulate the field with some elegant stroke play. Hall then went on a scoring spree which saw the clubhouse take a battering.
Eventually, the captaiin reached his hundred 100 from 70 balls with a cover drive, his second 50 coming off just 28.
Four balls later, he was stumped and, with Cam on 149-2, most of the damage done.
Stu Newman supported Udal but was caught for four but Udal got Cam across the line hitting the winning runs with a six across square leg and finishing on 49 not out, with Tom Deakin on an unbeaten six, leaving Cam to win by seven wickets with seven overs to spare.