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Match Report
Date	10-06-07
Home Team	Penn Street
Home Runs	209	Home Wickets	4
Away Team	Old Manorians
Away Runs	162	Away Wickets	10
Result	Won
Batting of Note		Bowling of Note
Player	Runs	Players	Wickets
Peter Jupp	84	Matt Bannister	4-25
Matt Reavey	66	Cliff Culbert	2-31
George Culbert	33	Jack Mendy	1-28
Comments
Always a welcome sight on the fixture list, Old Manorians made the trek down the M40 for the return game to follow the thriller in Wembley back in late April. Batting first, Penn Street knew a score in excess of 200 was a must. Games against Old Manorians are always close encounters and they have fast become probably one of our favourite 2 or 3 clubs on the circuit through their good sportsmanship, great characters and general way they play their cricket in a similar vein to ourselves. Our start on this occasion was steady. Old Minorians were more than aware of the importance of getting Juppy early. He had single-handedly setup our victory in the previous fixture and was clearly eager to prove his point a second time. Together with Matt Reavey, the foundation for the innings was laid. 130 was put on by the openers in 30 overs. At times the going was tough. Old Manorians bowled well but couldn't quite contain Juppy's attacking urges later on. He eventually fell for a superb 84 after taking the innings on to the next level much needed after a tricky start. After cautious beginnings, the emphasis was now on Matt to pick up the rate. This was made much easier by a thrilling cameo by George Culbert of 33 in just 21 balls. The perfect knock at this stage of the innings. Matt then came out of his shell to smash three successive fours to bring up a patient 50 and continued to pick off runs until eventually bowled for 66 just before the end trying to hit over the top to the opposition skipper "Tino" , who'd just brought himself back on. The innings finished on 209. Some felt the score to be 20 or 30 too light, but we knew if we bowled well early on this would prove a challenging target for any team. As it happens, the team responded with a superb display of bowling and fielding. A mix of youth and experience took us to our deserved victory in a run chase that threatened at one point to rival the April fixture. The young Jack Mendy was given his first taste of the new ball as a senior player after impressing in junior training and ran in with real purpose to set us on our way. Jack bowled like the opening spot should be his for years to come as he returned figures that didn't do him full justice with 1-28. This featured a textbook outswinger late on to pick up a wicket and close us in on victory. Cliff Culbert pitched in with a vital 2 for 31 at the key mid stage of the innings. Perhaps he was spurred on by Juppy's regular taunt of "There's life in the old dog yet!!" after each impressive ball!! However, the main plaudits must go to Matt Bannister for a superb attacking spell of spin bowling that turned the match in our favour as Old Manorians eyed a possible chase going into the final 10 overs. Matt finished with 4 for 25 and Old Manorians were bowled out for 162, giving us a well deserved victory in another superb game between the 2 clubs!! We look forward to the second visit of Old Manorians to Penn Street on August 4th for the Twenty20 Day and evening celebrations.