Last updated 09:49, Friday, 15 August 2008

Riding Mill travelled the short distance to Clara Vale to play Ovingham despite the heavy rainfall on Saturday.

Winning the toss, skipper Marley elected to bat first, and despite the damp wicket and outfield, the home side got off to a steady start.

Nick Reid bowled an excellent line and length and was unlucky to not take a wicket in his six overs, with only nine runs being taken off him.

The first wicket fell in the eighth over when Dan Graham bowled Lee for 19 with the score on 26.

Law and Cairns then put the brakes on the Ovingham innings with only 14 runs coming off 11 overs, with Cairns finally taking the wicket of Parkes for a well made 33.

Cairns finished with figures of 1-5 from five overs.

.However, Wallbank, with 34 not out, together with Malpas and Stewart, helped push the innings along with some 70 runs scored off the last 10 overs to help Ovingham to 136-4.

The late onslaught left the Millers chasing a few more than had been expected in the damp conditions and the chase was to prove anything but an easy ride.

Scott and Wallis opened the batting, and the Millers soon found themselves in trouble, losing both openers in consecutive overs.

When Walker was bowled by Stewart, they had lost three wickets for three runs in four overs, with the score barely into double figures.

Parkes bowled an excellent spell to finish with figures of 1-17 from six overs.

However, Cairns and Ian Greener began to build a partnership, and with the help of some short pitched bowling, were able to push the score along at a good rate.

Cairns passed 50 with some excellent shots and quick running between the wickets.

They saw the Millers home with three overs to spare, with Cairns 76 and Greener 39 not out respectively in a fourth wicket partnership of 122.

This was an excellent game given the conditions and ensured that the good run of form continued.

Ovingham 136-4 (Parkes 33, Wallbank 34*. Graham 2-25 Cairns 1-5 RIDING MILL 138 for 3 (Cairns 79* Greener 39*. Parkes 1-17 Stewart 2-27)