Laois Cricket Club

Strong batting performance secures victory for Laois

Laois first team beat Railway Union on Saturday in Togher in their penultimate game of the 2009 season. Batting first, for probably the first time this year, Laois looked comfortable and in control at the crease as they scored 288 runs from their 50 overs. Laois lost only 6 wickets in the innings, with every batsmen contributing to this impressive total. John Ozenbrook started well as usual scoring 25, and Jonny Yasin and Ramsdan scored quickly in the middle of the innings, both scoring a quick 43 runs each. After 25 overs, Laois were 150 for 5, but they lost only one more wicket in the second half of the innings. It was Clint Wilkie who did the real damage coming in at number 8 with 20 overs to go and hitting a blistering 62 not out, including 2 straight drives for six in the last over of the innings.

Laois got off to a great start in the field, with Clint Auret taking two wickets in his first over, including a stunning one-handed diving catch off his own bowling. However, it was Asif who really put Railway Union to the sword, taking 4 wickets for 41 runs from his 10 overs on the way to bowling Railway all out for 158 in the 31 over. Full credit must also be given to Railway’s number 4 batsman, T. Townsend, who batted superbly to personally score 102 runs. It wasn’t enough to however to stop Laois taking a comfortable victory by 130 runs.

Laois play their final League match of the season away to Pembroke next Sunday, and at this stage look safe to finish mid-table.