I Zingari - 275 off 52 overs
BB - 276 off 37 overs
With BB's unbeaten run for the season at stake against one of our strongest opposition teams, the pressure was on as a fine collection of Brethren gathered at Torry Hill on a glorious August morning to take on I Zingari.
On winning the toss, the skipper had no hesitation in inserting IZ, confident that, despite the excellent batting wicket and quick outfield, his battery of bowlers would be able make inroads and a strong batting line up would be able to chase down any IZ total. The innings got off to a good start for BB with a wicket for Finn Hulbert in his first over, Pedro Whyte snaffling a thin edge down the legside. Thereafter the IZ batsmen proceeded slowly but surely through to the lunch interval, showing due respect to some excellent, probing bowling from Finn, Alex Cornwallis (under the watchful eye of his father at first slip), Ben Regan and Alex Hill. Honours were even at lunch with IZ on 140-2.
Energised by some excellent crumble during the break, BB then launched into an irresistible wave of attacking cricket leading to the fall of 6 wickets for the addition of only 80 odd runs, leaving IZ precariously positioned at 226-8 with only ten men. Destroyer in chief was Finn Hulbert with some unplayable, fast yorkers and clever changes of pace which proved too much for the IZ middle order and resulted in a very well deserved five wicket haul. He then added to this with an outrageous grab at close mid-wicket, holding on to a full-blooded pull shot off the bowling of Alex Cornwallis after the ball had gone past him! The last two IZ batsmen then battled well to add a good partnership of 50 runs to set a challenging target of 275, scored from 52 overs.
In spite of the limited time left, BB set about the chase in confident fashion with 50 on the board at tea for the loss of only one wicket, Tim Kimber falling early to some extra bounce causing him to sky an attempted pull shot. The skipper and guest Matt Simpson were able to repel the challenging open attack with a mixture of luck and well-timed attacking shots.
The BB innings then creaked worryingly after tea as the skipper was bowled to the first ball of the final session and Will Bruce and Finn Hulbert fell to well-taken catches in the ring. With the top order back in the hutch for 118-4 and BB well into their allotted final 20 overs, prospects did not look good and there was talk on the boundary of shutting up shop to preserve the unbeaten run. Such tactics did not make it as far as the middle though as Alex Hill turned the game with a merciless attack, carving the IZ bowling to all corners of Torry Hill, ably supported by Matt Simpson, so that BB then found itself in the midst of another nail-biting run chase. Matt and Alex were both superb in keeping cool heads as they put on a hugely entertaining 150 partnership so that the chase was completed with an over to spare, Matt deservedly reaching his century and Alex falling just short of seeing BB home, top edging an attempted sweep for 66.
It had been a fantastic day's cricket, enjoyed by both sides with all three results possible at one stage. And so the BB juggernaut rolls on...!
