Blackheath are so professional

12:23pm Thursday 3rd July 2003

Blackheath turned in a thoroughly professional performance as they outclassed HSBC at Lennard Road on Saturday.

For the third week on the trot, the weather was set fair and Blackheath won the toss. Skipper Paul Frith chose to chase after two weeks of unkind fates had seen his team beaten by two and one wicket respectively when Blackheath had batted first.

Simon Gane (1-26) and Rupert Staple (2-38) bowled an aggressive opening spell, and despite finding the edge on several occasions, the batsmen rode their luck.

As the skipper took the pace off the ball, spin twins Hands (1-38) and Richard Jerman (4-30) put the home side firmly in trouble as they tried to post a testing target. Griffith, who fell for 61, was the only player from HSBC to demonstrate any authority.

As Frith and Mel Ragnauth set about chasing the 162 needed for victory it was apparent that the main danger was going to be Scott Flewellen, the HSBC skipper, who bowled with good pace.

The experienced opening pair were soon dispatching the ball to all parts as Flewellen and then the rest of the HSBC bowlers went to the boundary on numerous occasions.

Frith (85) fell frustratingly short of a hundred but the partnership of 147 with Ragnauth (57) was good enough to win the match for Blackheath.

Explore News Shopper