HQ CRICKET TEAM THROUGH TO THE LAST 16
The HQ Cricket Club progressed to the third round of the CSSC's Curtis Bennett national knock-out trophy after two wins of contrasting nature. The first round saw a National Audit Office XI thumped by 152 runs, the second round saw the Portsmouth Naval Base XI edged out by the slight margin of 15 runs.
At Chiswick in the first round the HQ team, put into bat, amassed an very impressive 243-3. This was based largely on the efforts of skipper Nick Reeve (DSS) who made a splendid unbeaten 131. He received able support from new-boy Matt Briggs (DSS) who made 49, and John McGirr (DSS) who weighed-in with a very well built 28. The NAO team was unable to make any significant challenge to this total and they limped to 91 all out. The HQ bowling featured significant contributions from veteran Paul Lees (DH) with 4-18 and debutant Gary Rodgers (DSS) who took an impressive 3-29. Nick Clark (DH) and Matt Briggs polished off the tail.
The second round match, played a Imber Court, Esher, was a much more competitive affair. The HQ team once again batted first, but this time was unable to force the pace - the innings eventually scraped its way to 134-7 off 40 overs. Nick Reeves was, once again, the most productive batsman with a forceful 34. Useful contributions were also made by John Newton (DH) with 19 and Matt Briggs 17. However, a mid-innings crisis saw the HQ team struggle as 3 wickets were lost for the addition of only one run. Fortunately, the final overs saw crucial runs eked out by Nick Clark with 17 and John McGirr an unbeaten 20. In reply, the powerful south coast sailors set off confidently and despite breakthroughs by John Newton, Paul Lees and Gary Rodgers their innings looked very well placed at 71-3. However, a crucial bowling change saw Matt Briggs rip the heart out of the middle order with a burst of 3 wickets for one run. The Portsmouth innings then stalled, tottered and collapsed to 119 all out amid some frantic late order thrashing.
John McGirr