Revenues 2013
Nevertheless the early signs were good for the Bar. Ed Brown and Alex Rankin opened the bowling and skittled through the Revenues top order leaving their innings close to collapse at around 20ish for 5. Revenues strength however clearly lay in their middle order as a partnership developed which restored some pride to their innings. Steady bowling from Patrick Reade and Matty maintained pressure on the Revenues. The game having been extended to 22 overs, and with only Power and Armstrong left to bowl against in form batsmen, there was a fear that the end of the innings might prove painful. Such fears were misplaced however as Armstrong and Power bowled steadily and Revenues were bowled out for 113 in the final over, a total which looked very gettable. As the Revenues batsmen threw the bat in the closing stages there was the unusual feature of 3 ‘father and son’ stumpings with Power snr bowling and Power jnr keeping wicket. Whilst the trio of stumpings led some to call for Power jnr to be instated as 1st choice keeper, the captain, remembering a dropped catch earlier in the innings, remained guarded on the subject. Power snr (twice) and Harthan took catches and Armstrong took a blistering catch one handed off his own bowling, restoring some pride for the Atlantic contingent with Chester and Gorton having earlier put chances down.
Sinker and Chester opened for the Bar. A young bowler with genuine pace bowled the second over and pitched the ball short leading Sinker to take evasive action. Unfortunately on the third ball Sinker was not so lucky, and got a taste of leather, leaving the field with blood pouring from his facial wounds. A desperate search for protective helmets found just one in an adult size which Chester took off the incoming batsman Armstrong. The next over Chester was dismissed, I think bowled, but as this correspondent was in the dressing room with the injured Sinker at the time that may not be correct. Harthan and Armstrong then set about restoring the Bar innings. Harthan played the steady anchor man role with Armstrong playing in his more flamboyant style. The fast bowler started pitching the ball up but could find no way through, whilst runs came freely from the lesser bowling at the other end. With the score at 50odd for 1 (plus Sinker retired hurt and gone home), and the decent bowler seen off, after 10 overs the Bar appeared to be cruising for victory. Unfortunately however Armstrong top edged and was caught. Still Gorton and Harthan appeared in little trouble until what spectator Kevin Reade was later to call the turning point of the innings. Gorton cut the ball and immediately set off running calling Harthan through. Second slip however made a good stop making the run suicidal. In a decision he would later regret, rather than send Gorton back to face jeopardy, Harthan took the brave decision to chance the fielder’s arm and run to the danger end. Unfortunately the throw was good and Harthan was dismissed in disappointing style. Still the Bar looked well placed and for a while Patrick Reade and Gorton kept up a steady run rate. However both were dismissed at a crucial stage with around 30 runs required leaving the youngsters and Nigel Power to chase down the final runs. Despite some good batting from the tail end, particularly from Alex Rankin, the Bar fell just short.
MoM; Alex Rankin, produced with both bat and ball, closely followed by Michael Power for his 3 stumpings