Ninth wicket stand is crucial for Dominies

6:25pm Sunday 11th May 2008

WORCESTER Dominies travelled to Herefordshire to open up their Crusader Worcestershire League Division Four South campaign at the picturesque setting of Burghill and Tillington CC.

Dominies won the toss and chose to bat on a green wicket which offered seam movement. As a result, Dominies never got going and Chris Miles departed for a duck in the fifth over.

First team debutant Craig Weston and opener Matt Loynes (15) got Dominies back into the game. Weston hit a fluent 32 but missed a straight one to DeSouza and was out lbw. Loynes soon followed, bowled by DeSouza after a patient knock.

Steve Miles and Jabba Riaz then started to build a partnership with Miles looking in good touch. After putting on 30, Miles was caught off the bowling of K Morris.

Dominies were reeling at 97-5, but Billy Doyle joined Riaz and again another small partnership was built before Riaz was caught behind for 25.

At 128 for eight off 40 overs, Dominies were struggling, but the evergreen Doyle and Saj Ali carved into the tiring bowling attack as the humidity looked to have worn Burghill down.

Doyle and Ali hit the ball all over the ground as they mustered a 79-run partnership.

Doyle scored his first half-century in six years with a classy 55 not out, while Ali remained unbeaten on 46 to take Dominies to 221 for eight.

In reply, Dominies got off to the best possible start as Neil Trigg bowled danger man K Morris for a duck in the first over.

Dominies kept probing without much luck until Ali had Hedges, who averaged 110 in the Herefordshire league last season, caught by Doyle for 26.

Craig Weston (4-52) was the pick of the Dominies bowlers with a great display of line and length and Jamie Williams also took two quick wickets as Dominies closed the game down.

Burghill were all out for 179 as Dominies took 24 points.

The Worcester side's captain Matt Williams said: "We hung in there and, thanks to Saj Ali and Billy Doyle, we got a decent total on the board.

"The commitment in the field was second to none and Saj, Neil Trigg and Craig Weston all bowled brilliantly.

"It was a great result because Burghill will be there or there abouts at the end of the season."