Match Score Line:
Amwell Valley Cricket Club: 115/8 (25/25 overs)
Haverford College: 102/7 (25/25 overs)
Amwell Valley Cricket Club wins by 13 runs
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College cricket team fell just short of a third win in a thriller against the Amwell Valley Cricket Club. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon complete with bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures, Haverford cricket won the toss and elected to field first.
The Fords showed some of the greatest discipline displayed in the entire season as the bowling attack restricted Amwell Valley's high-powered batting line up to just 115 runs off 25 overs. As has become a common thread through the spring season, the new ball was shared by senior Ty Joplin and junior David White. Early wickets were hard to come by, but the opening spell was cheap as both White and Joplin maintained tight line and length to prevent Amwell's openers from scoring freely.
White was particularly noted as his opening spell gave away only seven runs to the opposition. The first wicket to fall went to Joplin's final over of his initial spell. A pulled short and fast ball from Joplin found its way into the hands of senior Ruben Aguilar, who held on to the firmly struck ball right on the boundary to complete the wicket. The second wicket to fall fell with the introduction of the first change bowler, sophomore Raghav Bali. Bali was pulled by Amwell's batsman for six of his second ball of the over, but immediately bounced back to have his man caught at backward square leg by junior Chris Hadad. In a brilliant display of athleticism and reflexes, Hadad toppled to his right to take a stunning catch of a bullet of a ball a few inches from the ground.
Aguilar was introduced to the bowling attack an over after and found immediate results. Maintaining a very accurate line and length, Aguilar forced a shot from the batsman on a mildly short-pitched delivery. However, the blow only got as far as Ty Joplin, who held on to the catch cleanly at mid-off. Bali found another breakthrough as his swinging ball located the edge of the bat of the next man in; the chance flew straight into diving sophomore Miguel Wise at short third man, who tumbled as he completed a spectacular, diving catch.
From here on out Amwell could not find any solid partnerships. Freshman Andrew Cornell produced his maiden wicket as he used his uncomfortable bounce to find the inside edge, with the catch smartly taken by freshman wicketkeeper Charlie Lynn. Bali followed this up by castling the next man in the next over, smashing the ball into middle stump to dismiss the batsman. Daniel Waranch produced a wicket to follow-up his three-wicket over from the previous match against the British Officers. This time it was Andrew Cornell who took a running, diving catch at mid-on to complete the dismissal.
Haverford's chase got off to a rough start with the loss of both openers cheaply to furiously fast and accurate pace bowling from Amwell Valley. Sophomore Raghav Bali and freshman Charlie Lynn set about rebuilding the innings and stabilizing the situation. Bali dropped anchor in a 34 ball stand that yielded 20 runs. Bali entered a most productive partnership with Ty Joplin before falling to fast in-swinger. Joplin found himself in good touch as he tore into Amwell Valley's slow bowling; he found the leg-side boundary for four twice off meaty pull shots in his 22 run off 28 ball innings.
The bulk of Haverford's runs came from the partnership between Joplin and junior David White, who top scored in Haverford's reply with 27 runs off 34 balls. White was fluid and elegant in his stroke play as he maneuvered the ball between fielders, but also displayed his immense power when he smashed a ball straight to the long-off boundary for four. However, quick wickets once again left Haverford's chase in peril. White combined with sophomore Isfar Munir in a last stand to save the match. Munir and White found themselves on the receiving end of both lightning fast quick bowlers and expertly deft spinners. Munir struck a four through the fine leg region off a leg glance, but in the end the duo brought Haverford close, but the finish line remained a little too far as Haverford fell short of the required total for a win.
Haverford now looks onto the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival beginning on Thursday, April 28. The annual tournament lasts through May 1, and has Haverford playing a diverse range of teams hailing from Pittsburg to Australia. Haverford cricket enters the tournament with a 2-2 record in the spring. The Fords will look to improve upon this with a good showing against some of the finest teams Haverford College cricket will face in the year.