3’s extend lead at the top thanks to another all round team performance to beat Shaftesbury
After 3 games on the bounce at home the 3’s finally had an away trip, this time a trip to Shaftesbury to take on their 2nd team. Losing the toss the 3’s were put into bat on a questionable deck, having scored 200+ this season every time batting first this gave confidence to the team ahead of their innings.
Pilley and Hobbs opening the batting and hit the ball all over the ground, attacking the opening bowling and playing shots with freedom as they put on a 45 run partnership in quick time. The 3’s looked in charge at this point until Shaftesbury took 4 wickets getting rid of Hobbs, Pilley, Pocknell and Winwood, this left Hall and Hellawell at the crease to rebuild. Once Hellawell was bowled, Beagley joined Hall and got the innings back into shape helping the 3’s up to 175 to get all 5 batting points. Hall went on to hit his maiden 50 for the 3’s this season and Beagley’s positive innings continued his form with the bat. Abel and Wrigley came in at the end to push the 3’s pass 200 to set a competitive total.
Brindley and Allen opened the bowling for the 3’s, they both bowled their 8 overs straight through however they unfortunately didn’t take any wickets. They had made it very hard to score runs though with some tight bowling keeping Shaftesbury below 50 runs off the first 16 overs. Wrigley and Abel were brought on just before drinks and Wrigley removed both openers thanks to some top catches by Winwood. After 27 overs bowled and only 2 wickets down Pocknell turned to his spinners of Winwood and Hobbs to try get some wickets, taking the pace off the work was the plan to try get the remaining 8 wickets. With the required run rate well above 10 an over the win was never in doubt, with this in mind the 3’s positive fielding approach put to much pressure on the Shaftesbury batsmen, Winwood and Hobbs tore through the middle order, both taking 3 wickets in their first overs! This left Shaftesbury’s innings is tatters as the 3’s closed in on victory, after some resistance from Shaftesbury’s number 10 the 3’s bowled them out for 117 as Winwood and Hobbs took one more each.
A fantastic 94 run win gave the 3’s another 20 point win and with results going their way, this allowed the 3’s to extend their lead at the top of the lead by a few points.
Next week the 3’s return home to face former league leaders Portland, a huge game in the race for the league title!
Poole Town 3’s 211-8 (40)
Hall 56
Beagley 33
Wrigley 27*
Shaftesbury’s 2’s 117 ao (34.4)
Winwood 4/16
Hobbs 4/16
Wrigley 2/24