High Roding 1^st XI 217 - 9

Pegasus & Corringham 1^st XI 139 - 10

Pegasus and Corringham visited last years Premiership champions and current league leaders High Roding on Saturday with high hopes, for although they are struggling at the wrong end of the table they defeated High Roding twice last year. But history failed to repeat itself as High Roding inflicted a convincing 78 run defeat and extended their lead at the top of the league.

For the countless time this season it was the batsmen who have to hold their hands up and admit this defeat was down to them. That is with one exception though, Keith Hawkes who struck a courageous 40 against a twin South African pace attack. You would be hard pushed to find an equally fast bowling attack in any local league this year. Saying that, Pegasus and Corringham did find themselves 93 for 2 at one stage but the introduction of a spin attack from both ends after the earlier pace undid the middle and lower order as P & C then lost 8 wickets for 46 runs, Lay and Panzswani claimed four wickets a piece.

Another person exempt from criticism was Matt Cairns who bowled a fine spell of controlled swing bowling to hold the opening batsmen in check and finish with the fine figures of 2 for 36 from his 12 overs. Neil King cashed in with 4 wickets as the High Roding latter batsmen tried to up the tempo towards the end of their innings. P & C felt they let High Roding get 25 runs too many after they had initially kept the run rate subdued, however this became irrelevant after their inept batting display.