Post date: Jul 10, 2016 8:11:24 AM
With the weather looking unsettled over the weekend, the BCC second-string had to make some last minute changes to accommodate farming needs. Steve 'Chipper' Batstone was recalled from officiating for the One's and Ebby had to sneak away from work early to make the game. With drizzle rain from the start, skipper Lee Jutson continued his magnificent home record by losing the toss. With many mismatches in this league, the mighty second team has typically batted first to try and ensure as many as possible get a game and minimise TFC's (thanks for coming) however both captains wanted a bowl and therefore it was no surprise that Ian Jutson was soon strapping on his pads and Steve Batstone was clamping his YMCA bright yellow helmet on his head to start the BCC innings. Ian took it to the bowlers from the off and raced to 25 before playing around a good ball from Forgham. This brought Callum Mallett to the middle and he and Steve looked very solid, taking the score over 50 before Chipper (15), chipped one up and was caught behind. Corey Holliday (41) showed again how he is developing by setting a great stand with CalMal of 80. Corey rode his luck a few times however he tried to do the right thing by trying to increase the run rate in the last 20 overs and was found short of his ground taking a cheeky 2. After CalMal (61) was eventually bowled by Floyer and it was left to Keiran Lee (35 n.o.) to work with Neilo, Adam Holliday and Lee to try to maximise the score. He did this to some extent however in his trainers on a slippery surface, he misjudged his slide a few times and was called short 3 times, almost certainly some kind of record. Finishing on 210 and with the rain literally not stopping for the whole innings, it looked like enough on a track that was steadily deteriorating. Hatherleigh had bowled well and the only surprise was that they didn't use their youth bowling attack to a larger extent having held the promising youngsters back in favour of a more seasoned attack.
Cricket tea virgin Alison Holliday, delivered a home cooked veritable feast before the Millaton men, wrapped up in jumpers and hats and stepped into the drizzle to defend their total. It was clear that Hatherleigh were going to compete from the start with some well known Devon cricketing names in their line up as well as some promising youth players. It was therefore no surprise that they made a very solid start to the opening attack of Bomber and Lee however the pitch was certainly not getting any easier and the wickets started to fall when Dale had a straight one keep low and bowled Rose before Jutson used his slow ball to good effect and cleaned up the hard hitting Forgham. This brought Nick Rogers to the crease who always looked dangerous but lacked strike makers at the other end and so Hatherleigh were always dropping off the run rate. Ebby Valance impressed with the ball and was not intimidated by Rogers' clean striking and it was from his bowling that Rogers was adjudged to have been run out after Charlie miraculously flipped a ball stopped untidily at extra cover back to Jutson who whipped off the bails. Neil Griffiths, Ebby Vallance, Callum Mallett and Corey Holliday all supported Bomber and Lee well and the Hatherleigh innings petered out to 134-9 from the 45 overs, apparently no one telling them that you don't get any extra points for a draw these days. On what was a pretty miserable day on a wet wicket it was at least a competitive game and with Charlie the only 'TFC', it was good to get a game in. Hatherleigh still top the league thanks to 60 points awarded for unfulfilled fixtures however it was clear from yesterday that the seconds should be aspiring for promotion.
Scorecard attached.