Southwater suffer narrow loss at home to Stirlands

Southwater suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat at home to second bottom Stirlands in Division 4 on Saturday.
Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters WK takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095035008Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters WK takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095035008
Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters WK takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095035008

In a match highly dominated by the bowlers, Stirlands chased down Southwater’s total of 157 for the loss of eight wickets in the 42nd over.

With that they clinched a maximum-point victory to move up to seventh, one place and four points behind Johann Brouwer’s side.

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Southwater lost the toss and were asked to bat first and were quickly reduced to 11-2 with Matt Lacey (five) and Brouwer (four) both falling.

Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters Nick Baker takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095101008Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters Nick Baker takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095101008
Southwater CC V Stirlands - Southwaters Nick Baker takes a wicket (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150906-095101008

Opener Nick Baker, however, was to prove more stubborn and set about making 55 from 40 balls, before he was bowled by Charlie Stoop with the score on 78.

Greg Young took up the mantle and added an unbeaten 49, but Max Lee (13) was the only other player to make double figures.

In reply, William Gubbins (12) and George Coles (26) put on 28 for the opening wicket.

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The attack of Dan Skett (3-44), Baker (2-15) and Lee (2-36) saw Stirlands reduced to 61-5, needing 93 for victory.

But an accomplished showing by Stoop saw him hit 64, and although three more wickets fell around him, it was enough to see his side home with 158-8 in the 44nd over.

Brouwer said: “We did well to take the game that close. I do not know why, but for some reason within the past few weekends we have got into the mind set of trying to score the runs as quickly as possible.

“We went from the position of 80-3 to 90-7 so did well to get up to 157, but ultimately, another 30-odd runs would have won it.”

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