After last week's thrashing we all needed things to go right, but the arrival of a fairly powerful Girton side at Fitzwilliam wasn't what the doctor had ordered. Their bowling was generally fairly hostile, at least from one end, and, of the top order, only Jim Schwabe (27) had much success. Wickets fell regularly, although a couple seemed to be down to dubious decisions, and it seemed unlikely that we'd get to the century. In the end we made it to 126 -- more than a run a ball -- thanks to an invaluable 7th wicket partnership between Tony Malik (50) and Phil Marshall (11*). Nonetheless, the general consensus was that it wasn't enough -- 150 or even 170 was needed . . .
. . . but no-one figured on Remnants' unheralded (and largely untried) spin attack. Paul Jordan (1/18) was the only bowler to bowl at full pace all the time, although most of the bowlers used at least one faster ball an over. With Daniel Mortlock (2/10), Jim Schwabe (1/11) and Mark Burrows (1/15) all keeping runs to a minimum, Girton found themselves at 39/4 at the half-way mark -- already needing nearly 9 an over. There was some sort of acceleration in their scoring, but all this was ended neatly by star-of-the-match Tony Malik, who nabbed figures of 3/14 to go with his half-century. The icing on a great victory would have been Phil Watson getting the final wicket (with even slower bowling than the rest of us) but a few near chances just eluded the fielders. At any rate it was an immensely satisfying win, and we feel well-prepared to take on the touring Pakistanis.