The third team welcomed Royal Challengers Sports to Whitecliff looking to make up ground lost at the top of the table following last weeks cancelled away game, skipper Rochford once again lost the toss with the opposition then electing to bat first. Matty Williams and Joe Cornick were once again entrusted with the new ball and were quickly into their rythym, which catches being put down early it was up to Cornick to strike first, bowling Ranjith Ramasamy in the fourth over. Williams, with hungry eyes and keen to catch up in the wickets count soon added to his tally for the season, trapping Binoy Devasia in front of his stumps LBW before snaring the wicket of Adeel Ahmed in the same over, Chak Beagley assisting with a sharp catch at short cover. Cornick continued to run in from the car park end and Ben Pocknell gave him just the kind of lift the side needed with an absolute world class grab at mid off, it truly was Some Kind of Wonderful. Dan Griffiths picked up the wicket of Saeed Khan just before the drinks break, Aaron Power pouching a good catch at cover. With the score 67-5 at 18 overs, the message at drinks from the captain was clear, appearing almost afraid to lose control, we had to remain tight in bowling lines and in the field. The Royals added a quick twenty runs, before Dan Griffiths produced a sublime over, twice putting the ball past batsman's defences like wind through the trees, before the returning Sam Leaton dismissed the dangerous looking and big hitting Menon who thick edged one to Craig Rochford at gully. Williams and Cornick were brought back on to try and bring an early end the innings, with Matt Williams finally earning wicket reward for the last few weeks efforts mopping up the final two wickets to finish with figure of 4-21. A smiling Williams, the one thing we can't get enough of, lead the team off for an early tea.
With Matt Hobbs and Ben Pocknall sent out with instruction to give a stable start to the innings, the pair duly took on board the words given at the interval. Both looking assured in their shot selection and going quietly about their work with little fuss took the side to drinks without loss of a wicket with 66 of the required 102 chalked off the board. The post drinks tale however was slightly different, with Hobbs quickly back in the pavilion falling LBW for a solid 30. Dan Griffiths went out at three, and again looked to settle early before Ben Pocknell was caught on 28 bringing Chak Beagley to the crease before Griffiths chipped to cover trying to up the tempo, his captain couldnt seem to understand the urgency as he went to the middle to replace him, with the game then quickly wrapped up with Beagley hitting a four through the covers.
Royal Challenger Sports - 101 ao - 26.4 overs
Menon - 33
Williams - 4/21
Griffiths - 3/24
Cornick - 2/21
Poole Town 3's - 102/3 - 24.4
Hobbs - 30
Pocknell - 28
Hashim - 2/28
