PHC 184

St.George's 183

PHC recorded a stunning one-run upset win over St.George's at White Hill Field yesterday.

And the Premier Division newcomers did it the hard way, snatching the east enders' last two wickets without any addition to the score to seal what some believe was their first-ever win over their more illustrious opponents.

In a match that had more twists and turns than a pretzel, St. George's must have felt hard done by as they faltered at the final hurdle.

With Troy Hall (45) in solid form at the crease, St.George's continued to chip away at PHC's modest total - made all the more difficult by a notoriously jumpy batting surface.

Hall was joined by number nine batsman Travis Smith (eight) and together they put on 23 runs for an eighth wicket partnership that inched St.George's to 174 and to within ten runs of victory before Smith was bowled by Arthur Richards.

Hall and number ten batsman Keevan Foggo then added a further nine runs before Hall was the ninth wicket to fall, leaving Foggo and final bat Wilbur Burt the task of polishing off the final two runs for the win. Hall managed three fours and a six.

Foggo batted on bravely and denied a PHC attack, buoyed by Richards and Gerald Simons, for three overs but still struggled to pierce the gaps. And in the end the youngster would finally fall victim to Richards who had him gloved by wicketkeeper Matthew Lee for three runs to signal a memorable PHC win.

St.George's skipper Charlie Marshall earlier rescued his team from 75 for four by featuring in a fruitful 52-run fourth wicket stand with young Oronde Bascome (18) that saw the east enders get back on track after losing their first three wickets for only 23 runs. Marshall cracked seven fours before he was the fifth wicket to fall when Sharon Hunt had the veteran caught by substitute fielder Gordon Anglin. Herbie Bascome weighed in with 16 runs.

Simons was the pick of PHC's bowling with three for 26 with one maiden off seven overs while Hunt also grabbed three wickets for 45 from ten overs of seam.

Richards finished with two for four runs off only 3.3 overs while skipper Cal Waldron and player/coach Andre (Doc) Manders each seized a wicket apiece.

Earlier, PHC endured more then their fare share of bumps and bruises batting on a pitch that reportedly wasn't rolled the previous day.

Kevin Dill (19) and Richards managed to put on 39 runs for the first wicket before Dill, struck on the helmet by a rising Herbie Bascome delivery, was out caught by Gregg Foggo off the bowling of Burt. Simons and Richards then added a further 27 runs for the second before the latter was out caught behind by Keevan Foggo.

PHC then lost their next six batsmen for a meagre 21 runs as St.George's moved in for the kill. However, the east enders found PHC's lower order to be a stubborn bunch after Lee was struck in the nose by a Gregg Foggo delivery that jumped up off a good length at the northern end of the pitch.

Lee apparently didn't take a liking to that blow as he returned later on to smash four towering sixes out of the ground off Travis and Detroy Smith in a crucial 54-run tenth wicket partnership along with Hunt (13) that in the end ultimately proved to be the determining factor in PHC's win.

Lee remained undefeated on 37 and also managed a four during his aggressive 23-ball knock while Hunt's decision to wear a helmet spared him the anguish his team-mate suffered when another Bascome delivery rose up off a good length and smacked him on the helmet. PHC also had Jeremy Fray limp off the pitch after pulling up attempting to cut off a Marshall drive through the covers.

Gregg Foggo seized five wickets in a losing cause to lead the St.George's' attack. Foggo had five for 39 including three maidens from ten overs and was almost unplayable on the jumpy surface. Burt weighed in with two for 22 with two maidens from ten overs while veteran Eugene (Calabash) Foggo and Travis Smith each grabbed a wicket apiece.