Post date: May 15, 2016 8:47:13 AM
Week 2 of the league saw availability issues become even more critical with at least 7 of last seasons first team regulars still not ready to play. The team that travelled to Alphington drew heavily on the second team and it was a good day for the club that despite this, two competitive teams were put out and a scorer and umpire present for the 1st team. Alphington won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Bridestowe to bat. Mark Fogerty returned to the opening berth with Gary Sizmur and the two put on 40 with few alarms and on a good pitch, it looked as if a high total would be set for Alphington to chase. In the 8th over, Mark inexplicably took to the air from spinner Javed Mamood and was caught failing to clear mid-off for 16. Ian Jutson joined Gazzer at the crease and South African bowler Ashley Green building some pressure, a test match like field of 5 slips and a gully saw Jutson falling for the trap nicking one to third slip attempting an ambitious drive. Stability returned with experienced stalwart Richard Drake and Siz taking the total to 82 before Drakey holed out to mid-off (26). Tim Shaw was starting to strike the ball well but unusually for the day, was bowled by one that didn't get up. When Sizzy feathered a lifting ball from Bright to the keeper for an excellent 42, it still seemed that a competitive total could be made however a succession of nervous looking shots saw a collapse with the total of 124 never looking like enough. One of those innings in which absolutely everthing went to a fielder and to be fair to Alphington, they held on to all of their chances.
With plenty of time before tea, the 10 minute turnaround saw Chris Lavis and skipper Gary Sizmur deliver an outstanding opening spell of relentlessly accurate and pacey bowling. At one stage shell-shocked Alphington were 7-3 and the meagre target looked a long way off. Aussie Mark Porter (62 n.o) had steered some kind of recovery before the tea interval at which the total had climbed to 28 with no further loss. It was a period that reflected the match though that there were few authentic shots and edges and mis-timed shots either stayed low or missed fielders. After tea, Porter became more confident despite Callum Mallett (7-1-22-0), Lee Jutson (6-2-15-0) and Tim Shaw all producing fine spells and at no stage did the Alphington batters look in control. Unfortunately unlike Alphington a couple of dropped catches were vital on a day where there was no room for error and in the end the total was just not enough and despite Shaw taking a couple (9-1-30-2) and the returning Sizmur taking another (9-4-22-3), Sandercock had the dubious privilege of bowling the final over as Alphington overcame the Briddy total.
Another week to lament lady luck but certainly some positives to take from a game that could easily have been different. Mark Fogerty was outstanding behind the stumps and snaffled absolutely everything that came his way, skipper Sizmur classy with both bat and ball, Lavis looking more dangerous than in many years and a clutch of fringe and second team players absolutely competing against a good Alphington team. A bit more grit and determination with the bat, holding on to some in the field or even winning the toss could all easily have seen a win and with potential selection crises looming as players returned, the rest of the season looks bright.
On that note, club captains Siz and Juts would ask that all players are amenable to being picked as scorer or umpire at both first and second team level. It is a huge disadvantage to not have officials and with Geoff out for a number of weeks, it will be 'all hands to the pumps' with hopefully all taking their turn in good spirit. Next week sees the ones at home to newly demoted Abbotskerswell who top the league with only two points dropped from the maximum so far this season.