Hales’ cricket season is going from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. Their see-saw form continued at Wellington where they picked up their finest victory thus far.
Pete Dignum continued his early season bowling form by removing opposite captain Martin Fears for 11.
With Dignum senior bowling tidily and Dignum junior improving his line, Hales hoped for more of the same.
But openers R Benting (68) and I Preston (70) had other ideas. They found boundaries easy to come by as both the bowlers and fielders of Hales lost their discipline.
The pair added 115 for the second wicket before Benting was bowled.
Preston continued on his merry way as partners came and went until Wellington had reached 201-6 off 40 overs, at which point they declared, much to the surprise of a battered and bruised Hales who, from the jaws of defeat, now sat up and sniffed the chance of an unlikely victory.
Pete Dignum took 1-31 and Gavin Brookes picked up 2-61 but Lee Swinnerton was the best of the bowlers with 3-39.
Hales started their innings knowing that 202 was achievable and that they had the five extra overs.
Experienced Phil Harrington and captain Gavin Brookes got Hales off to the start they required.
It was not easy as the nature of the match turned a little competitive but it did not distract the pair from building a 79 run opening stand before Harrington departed for a well crafted 35.
Brookes was joined by the young and ebullient Declan Challinor who batted sensibly, mixing solid defence with power. This second wicket stand yielded a further 84 runs in 12 overs and put Hales in control.
With the score on 163, Brookes departed for 67. Challinor was dismissed one run later for a league best 43 and with another wicket falling just runs later, wobbles were on the cards.
However, Phil Davies’ determined 16 not out eased Hales nerves as he and Jim Ward (14) took them to within sight of victory.
James Hegarty went on to score the winning runs ensuring 20 points for Hales.
Martin Fears took 2-26 and promising youngster, Sam Lloyd 2-50 with some deliveries Shane Warne would have been proud of. Matchball sponsors were Mr and Mrs J Harrington.
