Young Men's Social

Club 358/ 9

St. George's CC 158 all out

Young Men's Social Club skipper Kevin Hurdle and bowler Kani Darrell led by example as the two guided their side to a convincing victory over St. George's by 200 runs at Devonshire Rec.

"It was a good turn around after having a hard loss last week," said Hurdle, referring to the Rangers loss. "We came out today and really played a team game and asserted ourselves well when we needed to."

Hurdle played a captain's role in the victory, particularly with the willow as a quick fire 66 runs rescued his side from a slippery slope, with Social Club struggling at ten for two after two early wickets by Herbie Bascome.

Darrell produced amazing bowling spells, taking seven scalps for 63 runs.

"It was a batsman's paradise out there in the middle," continued Hurdle. "For me, I can't contribute with the bowling aspect due to my injury, so I want to try and apply what I know out when I bat.

"I am concentrating on this more now so when I can bowl I will be more into playing the complete all-round game."

Were it not for Hurdle's early order discipline, the middle order of the home side would have been exposed at an early stage in the match.

A third-wicket partnership of 42 runs with Detroy Smith took the score to 52 for three before Smith departed on 16.

A fourth-wicket partnership with Charlie Marshall followed, with Hurdle bringing up his half-century off just 35 balls in 42 minutes with six fours and five sixes in an aerial assualt.

Hurdle was not the only Social Club player expressing himself with the bat; Jeffrey Tyrell, Dennis Pilgrim and Charlie Marshall all having a go at the St. Georges bowlers.

Batting number nine, Tryell made 61 not out, number eight Pilgrim making 62 which included 10 fours, with Marshall and Jaymo Durham contributing 32 and 34 respectively.

The aggressive from top to bottom saw Social Club put up a sweltering total of 358 for nine, with Kyle Hodsoll the only St. George's bowler to have any impact, claiming three wickets for four runs from six overs.

St. George's, who looked a jaded side coming off the field for tea, got off to a flying start with their opening pair of Ajaun Lambe and Oronde Bascome putting on 58 runs in only five overs before Bascome was controversially given leg before.

A thick inside edge seemed to be heard before he was wrapped on the pads. However, he was given his marching orders and the pressure was on St. George's now to stem the tide.

Lambe soon met up with his opening partner in the pavilion with the score on 64 for one. And without the scoring changing it was quickly 64 for three, skipper Ryan Steede was caught by wicket keeper Winston Simmons off Kenny Philips for five.

Herbie Bascome gave visiting fans something to cheer about with a knock of 32, which included some massive sixes.

Yet he couldn't stem the tide of Social and in particular bowler Darrell, who removed the two openers, Hodsoll and swept up the tailenders for his seven wickets off 8.2 overs.

And with the wind knocked out of the sails of the east enders, their last four wickets fell for a mere 14 runs.

The defending champions picked their first points in their quest to repeat this year, and skipper Hurdle knows that his side must be focused throughout the game.

"Once set out our total, I spoke to the boys and just let them know that we must keep it tight in both fielding and batting."

"350 runs is a lot to play around with and defend without getting careless at some point, but we don't want the opposition to think they are still in any game due to our lack of concentration."

"We will enjoy this today but tomorrow we look towards our next match and refocus."