Tortworth Away Sunday 14th May 2000
Tortworth 158 for 6 in 40 overs. Werretts 66. M.Russell 2-26
Oldbury 143 all out in 27 overs. Adam Harris 53. Pete Barnett 46.
Torthworth won by 15 runs.
A welcome to Owen Gordon, Pete Solomon and Pete Barnett who were making their debuts. Good bowling by Adam Harris, Bob Gazzard and Mark Russell limited Tortworth to a score of 158. Mark Russell gained his first two wickets for the senior side. There was some energetic fielding, with two run outs, and a memorable catch by Malcolm Lynden.
Following the loss of three early wickets, Pete Barnett and Adam Harris put on an excellent partnership in very good time, Pete falling just short of his fifty. Nearing in on the Tortworth total, everything was looking comfortable until an unfortunate run out saw the end of Adam with skipper Ian 'one-run' Knapp accepting full responsibility in the Pear Tree afterwards. With a short tail, the innings crumbled leaving us 15 runs short with plenty of overs left.
Champagne moments, rewarded in the Pear Tree and Ship afterwards were:
Adam Harris's 50
Malcolm Lynden's catch, over his shoulder while looking into the sun
Mark Russell's first wickets, both bowled
Pete Solomon clapping while the ball twice landed near him
Pete Barnett's decision to demolish a fence instead of jumping over it, and also jug avoidance for failing to lift a shot over silly mid on that would have brought up his 50
Owen Gordon's green trousers following despairing dives
Adam Harris's failure to move when a ball landed 10 yards away from him on the boundary (editor's license Adam!)