BAHRAIN’S Awali Camels kept alive their unbeaten record on their annual summer tour of the UK with a draw against the much-fancied Romsey CC of Hampshire.
With two strong wins under their saddles, the Camels knew match three would offer their toughest challenge to date in the form of the top-flight Hampshire League side
The summer weather continues to follow the Camels on this tour and the home side’s batting line-up looked to take full advantage as they set about destroying the Camels attack from the very first overs.
Medium pacers Doug Perrins (2-32) and Charlie Viles (1-27) though stuck to their guns and eventually removed three of the top four of the order.
The problem however was in the shape of Romsey opener Elliot Lee, the Hampshire County academy star who was mercilessly efficient in dispatching the bowling to all corners of this attractive park.
Reaching his century with a crowd-pleasing reverse-swept six, he retired to watch the rest of the fireworks from the pavilion, provided in no small part by Simon Tuck’s 19-ball 54-not-out.
Wiles
That Romsey did not reach 300 was down to the wiles of Steve Turner, who, bowling the last over, achieved a double-wicket maiden.
Facing such a steep target, Camels lost opener Dan Viles in the first over, chasing a wide, before Guy Parker urgently smashed his first ball for six and Sanjay Rathod plundered three fours from one over.
Parker fell for 17, bringing Ishtiaq to the crease and his partnership with Sanjay Rathod produced a steady century that set the Camels up for an impressive victory but both fell in the 70s.
Teenage sensation Sahil Rathod, Graham Hoar, Perrins, Dave Mason and Charlie Viles batted bravely but it wasn’t enough as the Camels fell tantalisingly short.
However, as the match was played under ‘old-fashioned village rules’, whereby the team batting second did not exceed the target but still had wickets in hand and so it was called a draw.
Romsey CC 289-8 in 40 overs drew with Bahrain Awali Camels 280-6 in 40 overs.