Hares in tie drama on emotional day
HALVERGATE’S cricket was put into perspective during an emotional afternoon after the tragic death of influential player and club stalwart Pat Hill.
Halvergate were keen to get the game on against Great Melton A and achieve a positive result, playing with the enthusiasm and energy that a very popular Hill had always shown.
Having lost the toss and being asked to bat, after a minute’s silence, Halvergate began their innings in overcast conditions.
Openers Clarke and J Howley began slowly and the Hares found themselves 20-0 from the first 10 overs. This set the trend for the afternoon as the batsmen struggled in bowler-friendly conditions.
Simon Brister and Kelvin London had a partnership of 46 for the fourth wicket until London was caught in the deep for 22, trying to push the score along in the 34th over.
William Gilder had an instant impact, batting through the last 12 overs for an unbeaten 34. Brister had again batted well for 45 until he perished late in the innings. Halvergate finished on 148-6 from their 46 overs but knew that if they bowled well and took their chances a result could be achieved.
Great Melton started patiently with Halvergate opening bowlers Fox and Crane maintaining a tidy line and length. The breakthrough did not come until the 11th over with Fox clean bowling G Bunn for 10 with the score on 25.
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Halvergate skipper Crane turned to London’s leg spin. With the help of Alan Booth and then Shaun Howley, pressure built and wickets came, London bowled superbly removing five batsman in a 12-over spell, finishing with figures of 12-3-39-5.
However, Melton were closing in on the total. Their skipper, Lee Whiddett 38no, had held the innings together well with good support from S Woods 13, but when Crane caught Woods superbly off the bowling of Fox in the 43rd over the game was in the balance.
With Great Melton needing five from the last over, Booth was given the bowling responsibility. There was a dot ball to start, then D Bunn was clean bowled. The third ball was edged for two, the fourth produced a quick single, the fifth ball was a dot.
Two were required from the final ball, L Whiddett facing.
He clipped to the square-leg boundary where W Gilder produced a good, flat throw and wicketkeeper Clarke removed the bails to prevent the second run. The game was tied.
“All the players commented after the game that Pat would have relished the game and thoroughly enjoyed its finish and final outcome. Thoughts and prayers at this time are with Pat’s young family,” said Halvergate captain Tim Crane.
