|
PRT continued their rotten start to the season with a fourth defeat in a row and are beginning to take root at the bottom of the Division 1 table.
A much-improved batting display saw Triangle pass the century mark for the first time this season. An opening stand of 45 from returning Andy Randell and the remodelled, pinch-hitting Grant Neven, got Triangle off to a good start. Andy Fulton brought himself into the attack and soon saw off Stumpy, with a vicious swinging, seaming delivery, that had our man beaten first in the air and then off the pitch.
Skipper Dave Price led the way adding 56 with Randell, before running himself out on 49 trying to turn an easy single into a difficult two. Randell soon followed with a gritty 17 runs to his name and a quick cameo from Simon Barrett and Elliott Sawyer helped set a target of 109.
Tony Morris took the wicket of the free-swining opener Slack, but after 6 overs he and fellow opening bowler Michael Males - unlucky to be withdrawn after only yielding 14 runs - were replaced by Randell and Neven. PRT looked to be on top as the golden arm of Andy Randell took a wicket with his first delivery and in his next over had the chance of a hattrick after first snaffling a caught and bowled to remove Smith and clean bowled Laidlow. Alas the rusty arm of Grant Neven swung the game in New Look's favour as his 2 overs of short, legside deliveries proved all too tempting for Fulton and he went for 26 costly runs.
Two overs remaining and only 8 runs needed when Price trapped Fulton lbw on 46, playing a strange pull shot, almost ducking under the ball, taking a wild swipe at it and was hit on the thigh. Richie Samuel (umpiring as it was assumed he wasn't coming, then ended up being 12th man) raised the finger, saying it would have hit leg stump, which gloveman Laurie West agreed with. Fulton was livid, first refusing to walk, then when he finally marched off, turned round to repeatedly question young Samuel's integrity. This set up a thrilling final over with just 3 needed and New Look scrambled home with 2 balls to spare.
|