Mids secure survival but dent Bank's promotion dreams (From Croydon Guardian)

Mids secure survival but dent Bank's promotion dreams

10:16am Monday 22nd August 2011 in Club Cricket

TRINITY MID-WHITGIFTIAN 247-7 M Brugnoli 100, D Ridgway 5-32

BANK OF ENGLAND 152 P Chapman 51

Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian won by 95 runs

Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian put a major dent in Bank of England’s promotion hopes as Mike Brugnoli’s maiden league century set up a 95-run win at Lime Meadow on Saturday.

Brugnoli was promoted to open the batting for the first time this season and repaid the faith shown in him with a superb performance.

He raced out of the blocks reaching his first 50 in just 57 balls as Mids built their first century opening stand of the season.

Richard Nowell, dropped expensively at slip in the early overs, provided good support, making 41 before he was bowled by Jack O’Brien.

Richard Piggin was then dropped at mid-wicket without scoring and also made Bank pay as he and Brugnoli took Mids comfortably past 200 with only Pranab Samanta (0 for 16 from 10 overs) able to achieve any degree of control over the batsmen.

It was a tired shot that finally accounted for Brugnoli’s wicket moments after reaching his landmark and the innings that had progressed so well produced a somewhat lame finish thereafter.

From 213 for 2 Mids were well on course to post a total close to 280 but some rather unintelligent shot selection from the remaining batsmen enabled part-time spinner Damon Ridgway to help himself to 5 for 32 as they eventually closed on 247 for 7.

It did appear that Mids might regret their profligacy in the final overs of their innings as Bank opener Philip Chapman raced to 50 in just 16 overs to his side the flying start they needed.

Chapman (51) and Steve Smith (41) added 98 for the first wicket before the chaotic run out of Chapman at the non-striker’s end prompted an astonishing collapse which saw Bank lose all ten wickets for the addition of just 54 runs.

Christian Bond took a brilliant diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss dangerous left-hander Ridgway before Lawrence was caught in the deep by Piggin.

Raj Chatwal then had Bank captain Tom Dickson caught at slip first ball before bowling Charlie O-Brien round his legs two balls later.

Mids could smell victory when Smith was well caught by Piggin on the boundary and Brugnoli then took his second catch of the day at slip to dismiss Jack O’Brien.

Wickets continue to tumble as Brandon, who had looked totally ill at ease at the crease, was bowled by a straight delivery from Bond.

The Bank tail threw their wickets away apologetically as Samanta dollied a delivery from Nowell straight back to him before Bond wrapped up the points as Stockton presented the Mids captain with another easy catch at short mid-off.

Bond finished with his best bowling figures of 4 for 24 while Chatwal claimed 4 for 41.

The result guarantees Mids another season at this level while handing neighbours Addiscombe a crucial advantage in the promotion race ahead of their meeting with Bank this weekend.

Mids travel to newly-crowned champions Horsley and Send on Saturday looking to extend their winning sequence to three matches.