ABBERTON LIFT PDQ CUP IN STYLE [29/09/08 21:13:27]

A disappointing league defeat on the 'Pud' was avenged with plenty in hand in the PDQ Cup Final at the Castle Park. Abberton skipper Kemlsey Robb won the toss and, with a bit of early dew still around, elected to field on again what looked another good batting track. Initially, the decision looked a poor choice as the Mersea openers Rutter (20) and Mills (31) got off to a excellent start with 42 runs off the first six overs. When the partnership was broken this then resulted in a steady trickle of wickets with only Ian Young (20) being the only other player to reach double figures. All of the Abberton bowlers took wickets Matt Gilray (2-34), Craig Scott (3-37), Ryan Savill (1-1), Dan Stumbles (2-15) and 'allrounder' Calladine (2-1) as the West Mersea innings stuttered to 116 all out in 38 overs.

The Abberton reply got off to a bad start when Mark Copson was dismissed with his first delivery and this got the Mersea tails up but this ultimately proved to be the only wicket they took. As on the previous day, Shaun Calladine (73) and Richard Moxon (42) joined forces and the pair both displayed confidence as they eased their side to victory in the 24th over.

Abberton deserved to win the cup as they were by far the strongest side but they benefited in a couple of areas one being that all eleven players played in the semi and final on consecutive days and that Mersea were missing a couple of key players, but neither would have stopped the side from winning.

On the previous day, Abberton comofrtably accounted for Eight Ash Green in the semi final. Again Robb won the toss and decided that he would bat first on what looked a reasonable batting track. The Abberton openers Mark Copson (22) with Shaun Calladine (85) then got the team off to a flying start with a 57 run partnership within eight overs. It was at this stage that Richard Moxon (33) joined his good friend Calladine at the crease and the pair had more than doubled the score when they were split with the total on 117.

The momentum of the innings was kept up by little cameos from Snell (13) and Robb (25) but the real impetus came when Dan Stumbles came to the crease as he hit a rapid 57 not out (4x6s) off only 35 balls. After this onslaught the Abberton innings finished on 266-7 at the end of their allotted 40 overs.

EAG in reality needed a couple of major innings if they were going to get anywhere near the required total and one of the hopes was the consistent Keith Hammond but he departed without troubling the scorers after he was trapped in front of the stumps by Matt Gilray (2-13). Fellow opening bowler Craig Scott (5-22) then proceeded to cause mayhem for the home side's batting as, aided by some good catching along with Ryan Savill (2-13) bowling tightly, the hosts capitulated to 70 all out.

Cup Final photographs courtesy of Paul Johnson