After last weeks disappointing defeat at the hands of Symene, the 3’s were looking to bounce back with their crunch game against Marnhull 2’s. On one of the best decks ever seen at Whitecliff, Captain Pocknell won the toss and decided to bat first with Pocknell and Beagley striding out to open the batting. Pocknell fell cheaply along with Dykes and Hall as Poole were in early trouble at 29-3 as Dan Winwood joined Beagley at the crease and rebuilt the innings, putting on a 59 run partnership until Beagley got stumped. A fantastic knock from the all rounder who always seems to come up with something when his team need it the most. Winwood played smartly picking the gaps until he missed a straight one, this brought the finishers of Hellawell and Abel to the crease. Another 50+ partnership from them helped the 3’s to 173 - 6 with 12 overs left. The tail kept the scoring going however wickets kept tumbling with the the 3’s being bowled out for 228.
Special mention to Perry who got stumped off a wide ball, apparently he didn’t know the rule.
Some say that the tea put on was one of Pocknell’s finest this season, thanks must be said to his mother that sorted them out, the scones went down rather well!
It was then Marnhull’s turn to bat and they got off to a flyer, runs flowing off Perry’s bowling however Brindley at the other end bowled tightly to keep the pressure on. This paid off as Perry got one of the Marnhull openers, an excellent catch by Hall at square leg had got the 3’s back in the game! Pocknell then turned to Winwood and Abel with spin and pace to attack, both stuck in their 2nd overs with 5 wickets falling during a period affected by the coastguards helicopter. With Marnhull’s dangerous opener still in the game was still in the balance, step up Edwards who took a great catch a cover then celebrated by performing an airplane across the pitch. Reed and Edwards were brought on to finish the game, with 83 runs needed off the last 9 overs they took the remaining 4 wickets to win the game. An excellent double wicket maiden from Reed finishing the game is style due to a smart catch from Dykes, Marnhull being bowled out for 167 giving the 3’s a much needed 62 run win!
With results going their way this 20 point win helped the 3’s go back to the top of division 5, a fantastic achievement at the start of the 2nd half of the season! With Shaftesbury next week can the 3’s continue their promotion push?
Poole Town 3’s - 228 ao (37.1)
Hellawell 44
Beagley 42
Abel 38
Winwood 32
Edwards 27
Marnhull 2’s - 167 ao (36.4)
Reed 3/18
Winwood 3/32
Abel 2/29