Bare statistics dont tell the whole story

The scorebook will show Lansdowne opening batsman James Adamson was dismissed for nought without even facing a ball in his team's Umpire's Cup senior men's cricket match with Rathkeale College last Sunday but bare statistics don't tell the whole story.
Adamson was run out after fellow opener Henry Cameron was struck flush on the head by a short-pitched delivery.
The ball landed far enough away from fielders for Adamson's call for a single to be sensible one in normal circumstances but Cameron, dazed from the blow, did not hear his partner's command and stayed in his crease, thereby leaving Adamson stranded with no place to go but back to the pavilion.
Fortunately for Lansdowne however that rather bizarre start to their innings didn't stop them from overhauling the target earlier set them by a Rathkeale side, who had managed to pass the three figure mark thanks to useful knocks by Jamie Holmes (43) and Anton Ross (25).
Holmes, especially, played freely with one pull shot for six being his most memorable stroke.
Doing most of the damage for Lansdowne was medium pacer Doug Johnson, who finished with the superb figures of 5-22 from his 5.5 overs.
If Adamson's dismissal gave Rathkeale hope of a possible victory it was short lived for Lansdowne skipper Sam Curtis came to the crease in an aggressive frame of mind and with Cameron in good support soon began to plunder the bowling to all parts of the field.
After just six overs 48 runs were on the board and while Cameron was out for 22 Curtis and Tim Butler ensured Lansdowne's chase never wavered, Curtis being unbeaten on 59 (10 fours) and Butler 26 not out (three fours) when victory was achieved in the 15th over.
Making the success even more notable for Lansdowne was that it took them to the top of the Umpires Cup points table, coming as it did just a day after a big win over Red Star.
In that particular game Lansdowne batted first on a challenging Queen Elizabeth Park Oval pitch.
They were 72-3 after 12 overs and were finally all out for 176 made in 46 overs. Curtis (29), Cameron (28), Brock Price (24) and Robin James (20) were their top scorers while bowling for Red Star spinner Brad Edwards finished with the excellent figures of 4-15 from 10 overs.
Red Star's reply got off to a disastrous start with the in-form Edwards being clean bowled third ball without troubling the scorers and that pretty much set the tone for the rest of their innings.
Only a dogged partnership between Joe Hull (32) and Nick Karaitiana (22) gave them anything to smile about and they were dismissed for 115.
Bowling for Lansdowne, James took 4-17 from 8 overs, Curtis 2-13 from 5 overs and Dane Buchanan 2-19 off 8.2 overs.
The other Umpires Cup match played last weekend, between Greytown and Wairarapa College, was also a one-sided affair with Greytown welcoming former Wairarapa rep Hayden Spierling back to the fold, and he did not disappoint with either bat or ball.
Greytown would not, however, been brimming with confidence after making just 115 when they batted first, only Central Districts A rep Seth Rance (34) and Spierling (30) getting amongst the runs. Medium pacer Daniel Haxton led the Wairarapa College attack, taking 3-21 from his six overs.
Rance and Spierling were again to the fore when Wairarapa College batted and were all out for a paltry 78. Rance was all fire in claiming 5-14 from 9 overs while Spierling finished with 3-20 from seven overs.
The draw for inter-club cricket in Wairarapa this Saturday is:-
Senior (Umpires Cup 12 noon start): Wairarapa College v Lansdowne at Wairarapa College, Greytown v Red Star at Greytown.
Open grade (Times-Age Cup 1.30pm start) Semi-finals: Marist Old Boys v Wairarapa College 2 at Chanel, Lansdowne 2 v Red Star 2 at Sports Bowl. Bottom four play-offs: Greytown 3 v Lansdowne 3 at Carterton artificial, Cossie v Greytown 2 at Park Sports 3.