There was high drama in the Lord’s Taverners John Bright Trophy with property consultants GVA Grimley achieving a sensational last-ball win against Mills & Reeve
Batting first, Mills & Reeve assembled a formidable 179/4 in their 16 overs with John Tickle, Robbie Turner and Mike Griffiths all scoring 35 retired.
The total would have been far higher but for the fact Alasdair Lowe in the final eight-ball over of the innings remarkably took two wickets in two balls and conceded just two runs.
Jay Mistry with his accurate bowling soon had Grimleys in trouble with a double wicket over. But Liam McKenna (44*) and Tom Price (42*) proved the eventual matchwinners.
After retiring having reached 35 earlier, the fall of the ninth wicket meant they were both batting together again when 12 were needed off the final over bowled by Mike Griffiths.
An edge through the vacant slips area off the seventh ball brought a lucky four and then McKenna scored the two needed for victory with a drive to deep mid-off off the game’s final ball.
Meanwhile, Worcester-based Mainstay Group looked in impressive form with a nine wicket win against Wragge & Co, who were limited to a 140/9 total with guest player Chris Lloyd-Smith hitting a powerfully struck 36 rtd and Michael Twining continuing his good tournament form with 32 runs.
Two fine innings by veteran opener Charles Lucas and No 3 Whaid Hussain, both 35 retired, ensured a comfortable victory for the property managers.
The main shock of the game was a disappointingly uneventful display by Mainstay’s maverick cricketer Dan Faizey, master of the unexpected.
Forsaking his helter skelter run-up of last summer for a more measured approach, he produced an awkward low ball that found its way to the stumps earning him a first ball wicket. But he ended a two-over spell with the respectable analysis of 1-17.
Week 6 Results
Tuesday May 31 – Wragge & Co 140/9 in 16 overs (C Lloyd-Smith 36 rtd, M Twining 32, D Horne 2-14, C Manton 1-11, D Faizey 1-17) Mainstay Group 142/1 in 14.2 overs (C Lucas 35 rtd, W Hussain 35 rtd) Mainstay won by 9 wkts
Thursday June 2 – Mills & Reeve 179/4 in 16 overs (J Tickle 35 rtd, R Turner 35 rtd, M Griffiths 35 rtd, A Lowe 2-2, T Rigg 1-18) GVA Grimley 180/9 in 16 overs (L McKenna 46*, T Price 44*, J Mistry 2-10, M Griffiths 1-17) GVA Grimley won by 1 wkt
