Five-star Brice guides Woodlands to victory

5:14pm Sunday 29th June 2008

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Chris Brice turned in match-winning figures of five for five from 7.2 overs despite suffering from a side strain as Woodlands comprehensively defeated Pudsey Congs by 126 runs on a testing wicket at Albert Terrace.

But while recognising the accuracy, potency and stickability of their left-arm spinner, Woodlands’ league representative Phil Godfrey also praised the efforts of their opening batsmen and opening bowlers.

Scott Richardson and Sam Frankland had only scored nine runs off the first ten overs after Woodlands had been put in but they hung around until the 24th over in putting on 73 for the champions’ first wicket.

Richardson, playing a subdued role that was alien to him, made 27 and Frankland, who is having a fine season, went on to score 62 – easily the highest in the match.

Both rode their luck, Richardson being dropped off a difficult chance by wicketkeeper Andy Bairstow when the score was four, and again at 25 when third man Richard Jubb spilled another tester.

On other occasions, the ball did not quite go to hand for second-placed Congs, while the batsmen obviously decided that anything ‘in the slot’ would be given the treatment, Richardson hitting a six and Frankland two sixes.

“That partnership was instrumental in us winning the game,” said Godfrey after they had totalled 175, Brice later punishing anything short in his 27 and Adam Goldthorpe hitting a cameo 28. “Not only did the rest of our batsmen fail to take heed of what our openers did but so did the Congs players. However, conditions must have been difficult because Scott Richardson (27 in 81 minutes) likes to get on with it.”

Spinners Glenn Roberts (5-50) and Jeremy Batty (4-59) both bowled decent 15-over spells but things looked very different after the tea interval.

Godfrey added: “Roberts and Brice bowled 30 overs between them for 109 runs, and bowled very well but that was only par for the course in the innings at just over three runs an over.”

Adam Patel didn’t like his decision after being given out caught in the slips off Pieter Swanepoel, while Babar Butt was run out after a mix-up with Andrew Bourke, although Safraz Ahmed’s fielding in the gully was athletic and his off-balance throw accurate.

Bourke was caught behind off a devilish delivery that lifted and left him, and Bairstow – who had his nose broken while stumping – was bowled by one which kept a tad low, although he could have been further forward.

The procession continued, with Roberts caught in the slips, Matthew Doidge and Batty falling to sweeps square of the wicket, while Tom Glover was bowled.

Young Jubb hung around for a while but matters ended with Congs 49 all out off 20 overs.

Godfrey added: “Not only do we have the best pair of opening bowlers in the league, I think we have the best pair of opening bowlers in any league in this country.

“And Brice’s figures were all the more remarkable because, although he has now got over his cruciate ligament injury, he has picked up a side strain.”

Ahmed only conceded 14 runs off his 11 overs, while Swanepoel bagged three for 20 from ten.

Richard Spittlehouse didn’t take a wicket but regularly beat Doidge outside his off stump, while Brice’s figures of 7.2-5-5-5 speak for themselves.