10 men Whitehall chase huge total

As Whitehall's season seemed to be crashing and burning, they hosted early season pace settings who were also having a bad run of form. Something had to give. Things hadn't started brilliantly for Whitehall as they could only manage to field 10 men due to England playing Portugal in the World Cup, amongst other reasons. So from the debacle at Castlehill Whitehall were missing Anthony Petch, Phil White, and Aidan Dunne, who joined fellow absentees Martin Palmer, Richard Francis, Bob Finch, Matt Hullah, Tom Moore, James Mahoney and Ian Cox just to name 7. But in came the returning Paul Dockerty, and for the 2nd time in 2006 Phil Simpson made an appearance. So Whitehall line up as follows: S Haw, M Wright, P Dockerty, J Bainbridge, S Mace, M Wood, P SImpson, C Thompson, D Elsey and D Wright. Yet again Wood won the toss, and much to the derision in some quarters elected to field again. Another long hot hard day in the field was ahead of Whitehall. Regular openers Simon and Joe got proceedings underway. Things started well as Simon bowled a maiden, however Whitehall's bad run of luck seemed to be stretching onwards and upwards, in the 7th ball of Joe's first over, he let a delivery slip down the leg side, as Dean made a desperate dive to save 4 byes only for the ball to strike him on the knee and as Dean let out a girly scream, you knew his game was over. So Whitehall were now down to 9 men, it really was going to be a long day in the field. It took ten overs for Whitehall to make a breakthrough with Joe managing to find a way through captain John Lodge's defenses. 33-1. However this breakthrough was going to be Whitehall's only one for some time as Menom and Ali Jnr put on a stand of 90 to put Pudsey well and truly in command. The break through game, as so often has been the case this season when Chris Thompson managed to have Ali caught my Dockerty for 39. A few overs later and after interesting spell from Dock Steve Haw game on to bowl. In his 3rd over he managed to have Menom caught behind by the 3rd keeper of the day Wood. A very composed innings from the Pudsey opening had got them in control and Whitehall needed to strike back quickly. And they did when Chris had danger man Bash Ali bowled with out troubling the bowlers. From 123-1 to 140-4, a big effort from Whitehall's bowlers had got them back into the game. Things got better when Steve managed to get Bharjolias to nick a ball through to the keeper, Wood not really paying much attention just stuck out his right hand managed to some how cling on to a fortunate catch. 152-5. Whitehall were now well on top. However with still 15 overs of the game left Pudsey were still looking at a mamoth score. Steve took his 3rd wicket of the day when he bowled Sharma for 1 with the score at 169-6 Whitehall were now motoring. Joe then took a return catch to dismiss Rudman for 2 and then dismissed Duckett who'd been at the other end slowly amassing his 25. Joe then finished off the innings by bowling Hodgson for 5. Pudsey finished on 191 all out and gave 1 over to the Whitehall innings. An improvement in the field and Simon, Joe, Chris and Steve all bowled well, and Simon deserved more than his figures of 0-43 from 12 overs. However it was a big ask for Whitehall needing 192 to win. Whitehall got off to a sluggish start as Mick and Steve only scored 24 from the first nine overs. Then Steve had to retire hurt on 15. This brought Paul to the crease fresh from his 49 a fortnight only, him and Mick set about the Pudsey bowling before Paul got caught behind for 43 off the bowling of Ali Jnr. This brought Joe to the crease who's batting form had been very up and down. Luckily for Whitehall it was more up than down as he despatched Pudsey's bowlers to all parts of the ground, including a huge six into the woods. The pair helped themselves to plenty of runs before Mick was bowled by Hodgson 1 shy of his 50. But with the score at 171-2 Whitehall only needed 21 to win. This brought Simon to the crease, and with Joe in his 40's surely we'd see a Whitehall player get a 50. Alas it wasn't to be as Simon helped himself to 10 quick runs and Joe only managed to score 5 and was stranded on 49 as Simon scored the winning runs with a lovely pull for 4. Simon now has a reputation. But the important thing was Whitehall had sneaked home and recorded the win. And in the process the 10 men of Whitehall did something no other side in the 17 years Whitehall have played in the Dales Council and win when chasing 191. This chase was a Dales Council record for Whitehall Cricket Club. Unbeaten at home and record breakers. Oh and England lost on penalties, nothing unusual there and Sri Lanka were well on their way to whitewashing England in the 1 dayers. At least Whitehall kept sport in the country on track!!