Two draws for rain-hit Fossils

2:27pm Friday 5th September 2008

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THE wet weather has hit the Fossils’ programme recently in several draws.

Against Penkridge, Paul Jones (40) and Tim Morris (63) put on 102 runs for the first wicket which was followed by a bright 33 from Dave Morley.

The American guests for Fossils, Doshi Shim (2-31) and Suri Sumla (3-24), were the star bowlers as Penkridge racked up 210-7 in 40 overs.

But Fossils’ new opener Chris Taylor took the Penkridge bowlers on with a great knock of 93 not out.

Dick Brown (18) and Martin Woodward (29) both got after the bowling.

At one stage, it looked as if Fossils may win but Gerald Starr then took three quick wickets.

Wicketkeeper Roger Price (10) helped Taylor keep the runs coming but the overs started to run out.

It was a matter of Taylor getting the strike as he hit out to try and reach a ton.

Penkridge bowled well and gave nothing away in the field as time ran out and Fossils closed on 175-4 to earn a draw.

The Fossils had a fight on their hands to claw their way back from a terrible 42-5 against Kevin Gilbert’s invitation XI on his 50th birthday.

At West Malvern in a 40-over game, Gilbert’s XI did well to reach 148-6, thanks to a 59-run partnership between Derek Ebbage (39no) and Jeff Barnes (29no).

Glen Collins (20) and Graham Woodbridge (22) laid the base on a difficult wet wicket before Cliff Rawlings clubbed a useful 17. Liz Dean (2-24) and Graham Thorne (2-17) were the pick of the Fossils bowlers.

Fossils made hard work of batting as they lost their top five batsmen for 42 in 20 overs.

Tony Williams and Peter Tudge bowled 16 overs between them for 32 runs.

But Woodward (27no) and Simon Hudson (34) were in determined mood.

They put on 58 runs to more than double the Fossils score and earn their team a draw on 100-5.