Riaz takes five wickets as Ifield clinch thrilling victory

A half century from Jack Groves and five wickets for Aamer Riaz helped Ifield clinched a thrilling victory by four wickets after chasing down 230 against Worthing with just four balls to spare.
WH 100514 Cricket. Goring v Ifield. Clayton Caltsounis. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141205-103922002WH 100514 Cricket. Goring v Ifield. Clayton Caltsounis. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141205-103922002
WH 100514 Cricket. Goring v Ifield. Clayton Caltsounis. Photo by Derek Martin SUS-141205-103922002

Aamer Riaz came on as first change and in his second over had Green caught by Delray Rawlings for 42 with the Worthing total on 82.

Reid continued to score freely but when he had reached 60 he became Riaz’s second wicket when he was clean bowled but at 107 for 2 Worthing still looked set for a decent score.

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Ben Challen was caught and bowled by Riaz for just two and things got even better when Carter was out LBW without scoring to leave Worthing at 115 for 4.

With Russ Jacob not playing skipper Clayton Caltsounis turned to Graeme Dean for spin and he bowled Alex Harris for 13 and when four runs later Riaz picked up his fifth wicket of the innings thanks to a superb slip catch by Raza Ali to get rid of Gareth Challen Ifield were very much in the boxseat with Worthing at 131 for 6.

Worthing keeper Ian Gooding and overseas player Corey Altis, after an initial watchful period took the attack back to Ifield with Altis in particular playing some big shots and in the space of just a few overs the balance of the game shifted again with the visitors back in the ascendancy.

Ifield were unable to break the partnership and a further 99 runs were added for the seventh before Worthing skipper Luke Vintner declared the innings on 230 for 6 after 50 overs with Gooding on 42 and Altis on 57 which included five sixes.

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Riaz finished with bowling figures of 5 for 63 off 14 overs.

Ifield’s reply began cautiously with Paul Clifford and Sam Dorrington watchful against the pace of Altis and the accuracy of Vinter and runs were hard earned but as they got more confident the rate increased.

Jamie Piper was introduced to the bowling attack and when the score had reached 49 he induced an edge from Dorrington and Gooding took the catch behind.

Dorrington hadn’t look as fluent as the previous week but his 27 had helped Ifield make a solid start.

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Jack Groves joined Clifford and they continued the good early work with both batsmen playing sensibly but punishing anything short or wide.

They took the score to 90 before Clifford departed for a patient 33 after being bowled by a good ball from Altis. Raza Ali, dropping down the order was next in and looked reasonably comfortable until he was trapped LBW by spinner Ben Challen for just 10.

Groves, now joined by Rawlins, continued to play fluently and with growing confidence and reached

an impressive 50 off 65 balls which included 8 fours and a big straight six off Challen.

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Rawlins was also playing very well and together they put on 48 runs for the fourth drive and was caught by Challen off Vinter for 54 to leave Ifield at 155 for 4.

Ifield still needing a further 76 off the final 12 overs but Worthing now bowling at two new batsmen.

Skipper Caltsounis and Greg Barton, playing his first game of the season knew they had to try and keep up with the run-rate but not lose wickets but as the overs ticked by the rate started creeping up thanks to some tight bowling and good fielding.

With four overs to go Ifield still needed 31 but they then lost Caltsounis, bowled by Piper for 28 which brought Joe Smith to the wicket.

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Ifield hit 18 off Piper in the 49th over and suddenly just four was needed from the final over and when Smith hit the second ball through extra-cover for four Ifield had sealed a great win they had looked highly unlikely earlier in the afternoon.

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