Gaieties 8 August 2018

Manager Alex Wildman

Won by 5 Wickets

Gaieties 261 for 6 dec (A Ling 2-17)

SOA 263 for 5 (A Ling 123*, Kilpatrick 83)

The University College ground is a fairly new addition to the SOA venue list and it proved to be a very welcome addition, hosting an excellent and high scoring match against the Gaieties.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Gaieties compiled 261 in 43 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Shomit Dutta and Rufus Thurston both making fine half-centuries. SOA's bowlers stuck to their task well and Ed Owens, opening from the Pavillion End, claimed the wicket of former Kiwi test captain Jeremy Coney, LBW for 40. Sam Herbert and Ed WIldman took a wicket each, Ed breaking a dominating partnership and Sam's bowling of the other opener came a third of the way through his excellent 13 over spell. Alex Ling's leg spin took two late wickets and Joe Jenkins mid-innings seam engineered a real slowing of the Gaieties run rate. Some notable SOA members watching were also treated to a few overs of spin from Colin Bedford, and a wicket keeping masterclass from Frankie Crouch.

261 looked to be about par, although if the match was to run its full duration. light would become a challenge to SOA. A second wicket partnership of 192 between Conor Kilpatrick (83) and Alex Ling (123 not out) took the game away from Gaieties well before Conor was out in the 27th over with the score on 220. Alex Ling scored his first ever century and batted imperiously, timing the ball sweetly with an array of text book drives, complimented with a few reverse sweeps. Despite a clutter of wickets to a fine late spell by Hugo Thurston, SOA won the match with 5 wickets in hand.

The Gaieties were as always excellent, as opposition on the pitch and as company in the bar, and both teams are looking forward to regrouping next season. Our thanks to Robbie Eason for looking after us all so well at Univ.