Post date: Aug 14, 2016 10:37:50 AM
Bridestowe first team got back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory at home to Whitchurch. Mark Butler won the toss and elected to bowl after some morning rain. Tom Fogerty got Bridestowe off to a cracking start, wrapping the pads of Alford to pick up the first wicket early doors. Billy Barriball and Ben Powell then dropped anchor and dabbed their way to 30 before the latter was out caught at short mid-wicket off Lavis. Tim Shaw came on and made an immediate impact, removing the dangerous Charlie Barriball for just 1, safely pouched by Bomber. After this, Sam shouted to David on the sidelines that he might as well pay up his £1 match bet already; however, it wasn't quite that simple with Billy still at the other end... He too was soon removed by Shaw, who will be lucky to see second team cricket for a while, for a patient 28. The rest of the Whitchurch batsmen chipped in, but Shaw and Jopling were bowling some ripsnorters which proved difficult to keep out. Tim's (9-3-16) last over featured two relatively simple drops, one by himself in a blatant display of jug avoidance. Sam Ewen had a tough first over but cam back to take a couple of wickets (6-2-20). After some serious treatment from an injured Hammy, Jopling (9-3-32) finished off the Whitchurch innings with some classical legbreaks which were far too good for the tail enders. 106 represented a well under par score, however, the way we have been battling recently we were more than capable of falling short.
After a stunning Fogerty tea (sorry Eddy) we set about chasing down the target. In his last game before heading off on his travels, and after smoking 192 on tour with the dumplings, Sam stepped up to open with Tom Fog. The pair batted in their usual flamboyant style, smashing 30 off the first 3 overs from the Barriballs. It took an unplayable ball from Charlie to remove Tom for a quickfire 16. Sam continued to 'enjoy himself' but James was cleaned up by a full bunger trying to deposit it onto the road. Ryan Dennis provided a calming influence as the rest of us seemed determined to get the chase the chase done in 10 overs and make use of our Saturday board masters tickets. Sam (35) could not resist the spin of Bone, and after being dropped by Charlie at deep mid-wicket, gave him another go to which he duly obliged. Mark Fog tickled a few before becoming Bone's second victim. Tim Shaw calmed any remaining nerves by slapping a few to the boundary to finish 16no along with Ryan (21no) who was calm and composed throughout.
With Plymouth CS&R picking up a win we are not out of the relegation dogfight yet, though with talisman skipper Sizmur we'll be confident of picking up a couple more wins in the three remaining games.