By Grockle
June 18 2003

Heroics by Keith Dutch and Peter Bowler are just not enough as a margin of 4 runs is the difference between defeat and victory over the Zims...

v Zimbabwe Taunton 18 June 2003

SCORECARD

The first tourist game and we welcome the troubled Zims. It's not a full side but Streak, Blignaut, Flower, Taibu and Carlisle are there.

We also run out some newies, more in terms of positions rather than faces.  Carl Gazzard gets the keeper's gloves, no Cox, Bryant is back, Wood and Bowler are both given a shot and the bowling attack of Francis, Jones, Durston ad Andrew is not our most common.

Zimbabwe bat first and the damage is done by Carlisle with a stonking 119 off 10 more balls.  Supported by low order Matsikenyeri with 66, they reach 285 off their 50.

Good bowling from Jonah with 2 for 40 suggests that he's getting it back.  The rest went for a few but took wickets, especially Francis who took 2.

The reply started in the usual way with Gazzard giving the early wicket at 12 but Bryant and Bowler were solid, Bowler taking the lion's share.  They added 73 before Bryant went with another slowish high 20's score.

But Dutchy is getting into the one day stuff and Peter Bowler is anchoring one end.  Together, they put on 134 before the 'old man' goes 7 short off another ton - 219 for 3 and we are up for it. Dutch and Blackwell keep it up but there seem to have been some bizarre run outs!   First Dutch for 93 off 82 balls with 11 fours and on big one. 262 for 4 becomes 270 for 5 when Burns is caught by Price off Brent.

275 and Woody becomes run out number 2.  It's getting tight and when Blackwell becomes run out 3 it becomes too much.   Andrew and Durston can't get there and we fail by 4 runs.  282 for 7 defeat from the jaws again...

Run outs and mini-collapses and us on the losing side again.   Ho hum!