2nd Metropolitan Cup - La Dehesa vs. Santiago

La Dehesa continued its winning ways last Sunday, beating Santiago by 6 wickets in their Metropolitan Cup limited-overs match played at the Craighouse cricket ground (CCG).

Santiago captain Jay Anglin won the toss and decided to bat. Openers Chris Langley and Mike Brown looked to be getting on top of La Dehesa's bowlers Dowling and McGovern early on, But McGovern bowled Brown on 9, which brought the ever-dangerous Simon Shalders to the crease.

Shalders immediately started to score, stroking a well-timed off drive through the covers for 4. But Shalders showed the same lack of restraint that characterized the Santiago innings all day. He was out for 9 to a mistimed hook shot that was a comfortable catch for square-leg fieldsman, Guy Hooper.

After Langley edged a ball from Dowling to keeper Clint Larson in the 9th over, Blair Douglas and Chris Dumas showed some poise in seeing off Dowling and McGovern, but Dumas was caught and bowled by La Dehesa captain Bruce Phillips.

That brought danger man Anglin to the crease with Santiago struggling at 39 for 4. Anglin showed disdain for the La Dehesa bowling attack, scoring a quick 47 in an entertaining innings that included six fours and three sixes.

But sadly for Santiago, Anglin could not keep up the fireworks. He was clean bowled by Phillips in the 16th over, and Douglas joined him in the pavilion moments later, bowled by Peter Brink with Santiago on 108.

That signalled the beginning of the end for Santiago, as the lower order quickly succumbed to the accurate bowling of father & son team Bruce and Luke Phillips, with only Pete Smith putting up any resistance. He scored 22 before being stumped by Larson.

Santiago was all out for 145 in only 24.4 overs.

La Dehesa openers Phillips and Dowling knew that victory was in reach if they could occupy the crease. Phillips provided the foundation for the La Dehesa innings, scoring 42, including five fours and two sixes. But Dowling could not stay with him for long, and edged a ball from Shalders to keeper Chris Langley in the 11th over.

Tony Adams was out the next ball, caught at fine leg, and then Phillips was out LBW to Jay Anglin's first ball. At 47 for 3, it looked like there might be a hole in La Dehesa's boat.

It was a battle of wills as bowlers Anglin and Douglas pinned down McGovern and Hooper, giving up only 18 runs each in their 8 over spells. But McGovern and Hooper stood their ground, knowing that if they could see off Santiago's strike bowlers, their team would be one step away from victory.

They did their job, but eventually the relentlessly accurate bowling of Douglas took its toll, with the well-deserved wicket of McGovern who mistimed a drive to Chris Dumas on 25. At that point La Dehesa was on 95 in the 29th over, and it was still very much anyone's game.

But once Douglas and Anglin had bowled out their overs, Santiago let the pressure off the La Dehesa batsmen and keeper Larson, with the support of Hooper, quickly made up the required runs finishing on 36 not out.

When it was all said and done, La Dehesa won their second game by 6 wickets with 4.5 overs remaining.

"A fine team performance. Everyone played a superb role," La Dehesa captain Bruce Phillips said after the game.

Tony Adams Jr. deserves special mention for his fielding, and paragliding skills as he capped off the post-game festivities by jumping off a nearby hill and landing safely on the out-field.

La Dehesa now plays Las Condes next Sunday in a preview match of what will be the final to be held on the third weekend of April.

Santiago will play Prince of Wales Country Club (PWCC) in the third and fourth place final.