A brilliant 162 run partnership between Alan Sommer and Ian Crossley was enough to win this match, played on a glorious sunny day in June.  The Huncote skipper won the toss, and once again Eddie Stratford elected to bowl, knowing that a strong batting line up may be the key to victory.  This proved to be the case as the two experienced pros, Crossley and Sommer, dispatched the ball to all parts in a successful run chase.

Earlier, John Smith and James Brewin had opened the bowling, and with the two Ivanhoe openers at the crease, Yeow and Louis, the going looked good.  Brewin, ended the partnership, with the score on 48, some cracking fielding running out the taller opener for 21.  Stratford replaced Smith and produced an excellent 12 overs, yielding 3 for 37.  Good catches from Swann, Jamie Smith, and couple from Brewin, restricted the middle order of Ivanhoe.

Imran always looked dangerous however, and some big hits over midwicket off Carl Sommer accelerated the score over the 120 mark.  Swann replaced Sommer and pegged back Imran's off stump, before some interesting crab like batting from the home team skipper saw the score reach 174-8, with Brewin and Smith picking up late wickets. 

Tea was taken with the game firmly in the balance.  Brewin and Jamie Smith opened the batting, and Brewin appeared in no mood to hang about, nailing 3 fours off the first 4 balls.  Unfortunately the fifth sealed his fate, with the off stumped knocked back by Imran.  One soon became two as Smith succumbed, bowled by Irfan Khan, and Strafford followed in similar fashion, again Imran the benefactor.  With the score at 16-3 off 3 overs, things looked bleak.

Crossley came in number 5, joining Alan Sommer at the crease.  Although things seemed slow at first, the two clever players merely played themselves in.  The change in scoring rates came when the home side changed to spin, with Sommer helping himself to boundaries all round the park.  This seemed to spark Crossley into life, as the two now raced for their respective 50's.  

Ivanhoe had one last throw of the dice, bringing back the pacier bowlers, but this brought no joy, as all was smashed before them.  Crossley won the race to 50, but Sommer soon accelerated past the land mark and his team mate, punching the arm in delight as he reached yet another mile stone.  Sommer knew the game was won, with over 12 overs to spare, and the 150 partnership soon followed.  Fittingly, the old pro and former skipper Sommer had the joy of hitting the winning runs all the way to the boundary and the away side rejoiced.

A great win at a cracking venue, and a smashing day.  Excellent keeping from Huncote's Frazer Hubbard also helped, only conceding four byes.

MOM: - No doubt, Alan Sommer, excellent batting once again by this now legend of the game.

Man of the Match- Alan Sommer

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