Flatts 126

Bailey?s Bay 128-2

A typically torrid batting display by Glenn Blakeney spearheaded Bailey?s Bay to this commanding eight-wicket triumph over Eastern County rivals Flatts at Lord?s yesterday.

The batsman, who amassed a record number of centuries in the First Division a year ago while helping Social Club to promotion, on this occasion made amends for the mere five runs he scored in his first match against St. George?s two weeks? ago by lashing 104.

After teenage spinner Rodney Trott mesmerised Flatts? bats with a sensational spell of bowling that earned him five wickets for 38 runs off 6.5 overs, Bay wasted little time in racing after their winning target of 128 thanks to the heroics of Blakeney who rejoined their ranks in a surprise transfer during the winter.

The left-handed opener manhandled the Flatts attack, striking the ball ferociously to all parts of the field and finishing with 15 fours and five sixes while batting for approximately 100 minutes.

He lost opening partner Dennis Trott (1) with 23 runs on the board and with Cal Dill jr (13 not out) went on to put up 100 runs for the second wicket to take Bay just four runs short of their winning target.

Dill gracefully accepted the supporting role, enabling the hard-hitting Blakeney to unleash a relentless attack on the bowling.

Veteran Troy Dean was the top bowler for Flatts with one wicket for 13 runs off four overs while Rahji Edness claimed the wicket of Blakeney while giving up 27 runs off 3.3 overs.

Bay raced to victory in just 19.3 overs.

Earlier Flatts were troubled by the spin off Trott, but there was stability when skipper Derek Wright (25) and Justin Barritt (32) added 69 runs after losing opener Vernon Eve (4) with four runs to the total.

At 73 Flatts seemed to be heading to a competitive total but this was not to be because within the space of 10 runs Wright and Baritt were dismissed and with Edness (20) the only remaining batsman to make a significant contribution the innings soon folded.

Taking wickets in addition to Trott was another spinner, Irving Romaine, who snatched three for eight off five overs.