Game three of the tour and game two of the tournament see Newington taking on St. Peters from South Australia who are 8 games into their tour. With 7 year 12 boys they are fielding a quality first 11 side.
Batting first they amass 288 from their 50 overs. Aaron again disappointed with his bowling. His figures being 2-42 off 6 overs. The problem being that he wasn’t completing his action which is a combination of a lack of match bowling and his bowling action still being a work in progress. Bowling leg spin can be an unforgiving endeavour, but he did start to look better later in his spell which is a positive.
A quick 39 from opening bat Lauchie Bird gave Newington a good start but thereafter the Newington boys struggled to make an impression against some solid bowling. When Aaron came to the crease at 5-78 Newington had it all to do. A third ball pull shot between mid wicket and mid on announced his intentions and he was away again.
Where his last inning features some good drives through the on and off side, todays scoring shots were mainly off the back foot. Pull shots and cuts being the most productive, sprinkled with the occasional drive.
A 52 run partnership with fellow leg spin bowler Curtis, their second in two days, developed nicely as they hit the spin bowlers out of the attack.
A drive through cover for 4 reminding the bowlers not to over pitch.
Glides through point on a fast outfield kept the score ticking over.
Aaron and Curtis sharing a moment between overs. One of the great things about cricket is the comradery that develops during a partnership.
With the opening bowlers back into the attack Curtis in particular was subjected to a spell of sustained short pitch bowling, eventually gliding a short one to point. To Aaron though they mainly stuck to line and length, attempting restrict his scoring. Bowling full and straight curbed Aaron for a spell, but he soon adjusted and began to score again. Needing a new approach, it was only a matter of time before the quicks would again challenge with more short pitched bowling.
Waiting for a short one he took on the challange, unfortunately picking out the man at deep square leg to end his innings on 41. The Newington innings finished up shortly thereafter for 150 and a 138 run defeat.
In the other game, Kent St having accounted for St Peters in the first game, bowled Felsted out for 220 and chased the runs down in 30 something overs without losing a wicket. The Newington boys will need to be on their game tomorrow.