 PG's go down in difficult conditions against Wests
Summary of Gordon Poidevin-Gray (PG's U21) match V Wests at Pratten Park on Sat 5th Jan 2008.
Gordon skipper Brad Rasool won the toss at Pratten Park against a strong Wests side consisting of 6 current 1st graders.
(Chris Archer at Pratten)
Increasing showers were predicted and Wests were put in on a good cricket wicket that contained some moisture. Wests attacked from the start and in a bold move, spinner Chris Archer was introduced after only 6 overs. It reaped immediate dividends with a wicket in his first over. He bowled his 10 overs straight and finished with the excellent figures of 4 for 38 and again showed why this left arm orthodox spinner is pushing for 1st grade selection.
He was ably supported by Matt Jones, with 2 for 38 off his 10 and James Campbell bowling left arm in dippers chimed in late for 2 for 43 off 10.
 Wests were bowled out for 161 off only 41 overs and the Gordon team were most content with their efforts of containing Wests to 3.2 runs per over. Would the rain stay away, was the concern.
(James Campbell in action against Wests)
The Gordon openers Blair Lindsay and Jack Ritchie played carefully and sensibly against an all 1st grade attack of very useful quicks. They moved the score to 28 before Ritchie went for 7.
Matt Jones joined Lindsay and quickly moved the score to 65 before the rains intervened.
Jones unfortunately went in pouring rain for a well compiled 19 with 1 six and 2 fours with the score at 2 for 65. Two more rain breaks, two more wickets fell and then another heavy downpour occured, with the score at 4 for 97 off 35 overs. We were on track providing we could get the full 50 overs.
Unfortunately a new target of 143 was set off now 44 overs. We needed 46 off 9 overs, which was a huge ask at 4 wickets down against a basically 1st grade attack on a dampish pitch.
 Chasing the 143 target, we were bowled out for 129 with an over to spare.
(Blair Lindsay hits one through the mud at Pratten)
The stop start game was not helpful to bats and bowlers alike and yet Blair Lindsay remained unperturbed throughout. His 46 in 142 minutes with 4 fours was a classic in concentration, mixed with delightful strokeplay, under extreme conditions. He is a player of the future.
Gordon lost a match that they were on top until the rains came. That's cricket.
Tony Wilson. | 
