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The scoresheet for this match makes stark reading. Locks Heath thrashed Purbrook. However, if the lights had failed after 7 overs of the Purbrook innings then the pools panel may well have awarded the match to Purbrook.
Locks Heath batted first and found scoring difficult thanks to some straight(ish) bowling and aggressive fielding. Ben Jones (3-23-0), Sam Pearce (3-20-1) and Sean Figgins (3-24-0) all turned in creditable figures aided by four good run-outs and an athletic catch by Ben Thomas. It was only Purbrook's failure to remove Gareth Ransley (47no) which allowed Locks Heath to reach 114 for 5.
Purbrook's reply started brightly but stuttered when Sam Pearce (4) lobbed a catch to square leg and Ben Thomas departed without troubling the scorer. Sean Figgins (17) and Tom Jones (15) steadied the innings and after five balls of the seventh over Purbrook had reached 55 for 2. At this stage the match was evenly balanced and the smart money may even have been on Purbrook.
5 balls later it was all over.
Tom Jones was caught flat-footed and run out. Sean Figgins was bowled having a horrible swipe across the line. Ben Jones left a ball which he correctly judged was missing off stump. (It hit middle.) Simon Bennett skied his second ball and was caught. Copeman had taken 3 for 9 and that was that. 56 all out.
Champagne Moment: Simon Bennett claiming a six for hitting the wall behind the wicket-keeper on the full. Needless to say, he was caught. I thought at least one Locks Heath player was offside.
The Nearly Men: Sean Figgins, Sam Pearce, Ben Jones, Tom Jones, Ben Thomas, Simon Bennett.
