PHC 132

St.David's 134-6

St. David's remain in the thick of the race for the league title, but they were made to sweat it out against cellar dwellers PHC at White Hill Field yesterday.

Forced to make changes to their squad due to the absence of several key players, including player/coach Clay Smith, St.David's dismissed PHC for 132 in 30.2 overs before surpassing their hosts' meagre total at the expense of six wickets.

More renowned for his exploits with the blade, Glenn Blakeney proved that he's also no slouch with the ball in his hands. The part-time spinner snared five wickets for 42 runs off nine overs of work to spearhead the Islander's attack against a PHC team, which after posting 20 without loss, succumbed to a batting collapse from which they would never recover.

Apart from skipper Cal Waldron, Arthur Richards and Ellsworth Bean, no other PHC batsman was able to reach double figures or withstand the spin of Blakeney who carried on where opening duo Mackie Crane and young Arthur Pitcher left off earlier.

Waldron and Richards both weighed in with 12 runs, while Bean top scored with a brave 31 runs before he was finally out, caught by the returning Phillip (Billy Joe) Pitcher off the bowling of Blakeney.

Crane finished with figures of one for 41, Pitcher two for 28, while Sammy Robinson and the returning Lionel Cann each grabbed a wicket apiece - the latter after tossing down only two deliveries.

In reply to PHC's total, which always looked inadequate, Blakeney (14) wasted little time tearing into the opposition attack.

However, just when the elegant left-handed batsman appeared to be shifting into top gear, Jeremy Fray executed a superb running catch at mid-wicket after Blakeney went for another big hit.

Blakeney's dismissal would spark a minor batting collapse as St.David's lost the wickets of Robinson (five) and Ajuan Lamb (nought) in quick succession to be poised at 27 for three with PHC beginning to sense another upset in the making.

However, OJ Pitcher (22) and J.Macullan (27 not out) were able to halt the rot and swing the tide back in the Islander's favour. The pair put on 31 runs for the fourth wicket before Shoron Hunt struck another blow by bowling Pitcher to keep the match interestingly poised.

The home team were then celebrating again after Phillip Pitcher (ten) was caught by Malcolm Woodley off the bowling of Bean. However, the joy would only be short lived as Cann made his way out to the crease.

After all was said and done, and the dust had settled, Cann had blasted three sixes and one four during another whirlwind knock that took St.David's to the verge of victory when he was finally out, caught by Kenny Mills off Hunt.

Macullan and Jeff Pitcher finally saw the Islanders through to victory in 38 overs with four wickets in hand.

Kevin Tucker proved to be the pick of the PHC bowlers by grabbing three wickets for 26 runs off ten overs, two of which were maidens, while Hunt took two for 22 and Bean a costly one for 41 off six overs of spin.