Jan du Preez
Hasn't set the world on fire with AX-W, and decides to block his way back into form. His 12 attack skill was not fully utilised, to say the least, as he scored 44* (111) with only one boundary. After the other designated batters threw their wickets away, the tail decided to stand up. In a 14-over partnership which was torturous for both teams, the experienced SA journeymen, Goliath and du Preez, scored 24 runs. The tail did eventually relent, to leave the only boundaries in the innings to be three Harry Todd strokes in the second over (just before he got out), and, over 30 overs later, a time where JdP's push with bad timing went to the fence and a Brock Ritchie edge.
Charminster went at just over 4 an over and got to the target in 25 overs. Akal Keerat Bhambra got to his half-century with the winning boundary. Yes, a boundary! Would you believe it! CCC hit 15 boundaries, 10 more than AX-W. Man of the Match was Abrar Muradi for his 4-37 (10), opening the bowling as an offie. The home crowd were notably unenthralled by this six-less game.
AXI went better, Branning making the most of the Winton CC pitch keeping low. He hit 84 (65), but the middle and lower order didn't capitalise upon the platform that the top 4 left, meaning the total was only 268. It was enough, with the home team falling to 198 all out. Michael Winton had a quietly solid game despite being not handed the ball vs, er, Winton. A nice and quick 41 (46), and running out a couple of bats for starts.
AXI looking pretty confident at the top of the table after the doubleheader AX vs JO. But the cows will be looking to upset that balance next week. Thankfully, AX-W are well clear of the bot. It still doesn't look good though for them, not winning, aside from against the bot, since the first two games. The third game, the loss against the bot, really upset their rhythm.