Ripley succumb to Fraser power
The season is reaching the business end and the KMCC challenge is yet to fade although those cavalier care-free days of early season are now a distant memory and in a gruelling season the hardened warhorses are beginning to show their mettle. Yet another week of rain made batting second an inevitable conclusion to the winning of the toss and Richard 'General Ranatunga' Hinchliffe was rewarded with the new ball - wearing his heart on his sleave and his Iron lung close at hand he broke through immediately and sent KM on their way. Ripley lost wickets steadily after the prize scalp of the prolific (both in phrase and runs) Emmanuel was claimed by a rejuvenated Goldsmith who found bounce and spite in the Ripley pitch all afternoon. All bowlers contributed although yet again the cotton wool wrapped Hooks' influence (4-24) proved decisive in knocking Ripley over for 144.
This however was not a total to be trifled with and on a slow pitch and with slower bowlers steadily Ripley hauled themselves into the game showing the reason for their lofty league position runs were scarce and wickets fell steadily. Amid the havoc and panic however one man stood tall, he'd seen it all before and clocked up run after run, season after season with his dogmatic hunger for the game. As fainter hearts faltered and the run rate ticked towards 6 an over Iain Fraser stuck in there. Successive mini partnerships with Duncan and DT eased KM back into the driving seat and with 3 overs to go 18 runs were required with four wickets in hand. Then Ripley played their final trump card and Fraser looked on as 2 wickets fell for no runs at the other end. To the crease however came the ideal partner for Fraser, fast as a cheetah, strong as an ox and lithe as a gazelle came Richard Hinchliffe. It was this over that turned the game back in KM's favour as 12 runs were scrambled bludgeoned and gifted to the KMCC duo. With Fraser on strike 6 runs were required from 6 balls - it was soon to be concluded however, the force was with Fraser and he struck the first ball high over long on to see Kirkbyhome himself unbeaten and unbowed on 72 not out. KMCC clearing the line with a mere 2 wickets and 5 balls to spare.