Ashbourne HOME – 6th June 2010

GARGOYLES’ CHARITY HANDOUTS WELL RECEIVED

In a nail biting last over finish, Ashbourne just edged past the Gargoyles’ total of 135, thanks to a record breaking eleven dropped catches.

Batting first on a wicket offering bounce and movement, the Gargoyles started solidly, with Andy Siddons and Neil Shotton both getting into double figures, but a mini collapse saw the score at an under par 50 for 4 approaching the halfway point. Will Siddons and Ian McKay then put on 72 runs in rapid time, with some clean driving, before Siddons was out for 31, with McKay undefeated at the end with 41. 135 for 5 wickets at 4.5 an over was a respectable total, given the slow start.

There then followed an extraordinary display of kindergarten fielding by the Gargoyles, who contrived to spill more catches in one innings than in the whole of last season. All the Gargoyles’ bowlers were accurate, with man of the match Richard Allen leading the way with an opening spell of 1 for 26 off 6 overs. As the chances went begging, Gibson and Shaw, steadily built the reply. When Gibson was out, amazingly caught by Neil Shotton, Ashbourne still needed 58 runs off the remaining 8 overs. Skipper Shaw was joined by Andy Hill and three dropped catches later, these two had blasted their way to within 5 runs of victory when the last over began. Fittingly Hill finished the game with a boundary and Ashbourne had won with 3 balls to spare. Catches win matches is the adage. The reverse is also true.