Ashes Series for Deaf Cricketers...
Second one-day international match report
Tuesday 22nd July
Worcestershire CCC, County Ground, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4QQ.
Australia won the second ODI at Worcester but the result was in doubt up to the final ball. ECAD won the toss and asked Australia to bat first in the idyllic setting of New Road, Worcester. Mark Woodman gained an early success trapping Nick Watkins in front but Justin Bergin hit a rapid half century to put Australia in a strong position after 20 overs. After his dismissal for 63 wickets fell at regular intervals and the momentum of the innings faltered. Andrew Watkins reached exactly 50 before falling to a catch at the wicket. Nigel Davenport was in the middle of an accurate spell of left arm spin and proved difficult to score from as his final figures of 4-23 show. Australia would have been disappointed with their final all out total of 235 as they failed to bat out their overs.
ECAD started briskly with Chris Hughes hitting Kym Daley for two early boundaries. However, his dismissal and the loss of Mike O’Mahony lead to a period of reconstruction lead by skipper Valjee. He was caught for 60 with the score at 124 and the rate around 8 an over required. Nigel Davenport and Andy Wood started to pepper the boundary as an exciting finish loomed. The Australian bowlers kept their cool and Davenport was bowled for 51 and Wood caught for 33. Paul Welch who had earlier dismissed Valjee bowled the last over with 9 required for victory with three wickets in hand. Three runs were scrambled from the first two deliveries but James Dixon was caught from the third. Stephen George holed out on the long on boundary trying to hit the winning six and Mark Woodman bowled from the final ball to give Paul Welch 3 wickets in the over and Australia a five run victory.