Post date: Jul 26, 2015 8:10:49 PM
With a family missing this week, impacting on both the firsts and the seconds as several players stepped up to the firsts, Jutson begged and cajoled former players, and another Batstone extended family member was encouraged/emotionally blackmailed to don the whites for an afternoon. Blue shoes was a welcome addition, as was OSMAN. KENN had four under 18’s in their squad, and were only able to field ten players, but had managed to make it to Bridestowe with apparent ease despite warnings of judgement day style traffic west of Bristol, and apocalyptic weather warnings.
Skipper Jutson, always a traditionalist, lost the toss, and Bridestowe went out to bat first, with Batstone and Jopling senior the opening pair. Both opening bats played in, with a slow but steady part, being forced to play very defensively by accurately pitched bowling from the Ken openers. (T. MEAN, 4, 0, 16 runs, 1 maiden; CONNETT, 7 overs, 9 runs, 2 wickets, 2 maidens) Jopling was the first to fall, having smashed a gigantic six, was then bowled by CONNETT, for 16. Barkwell came in, playing himself in with 5 off five balls, and then promptly managed to lodge the ball in the bowlers abdomen somewhere, departing for five. Returner Osman was unfortunate to be out for nought. However, Shaw (27) and Jutson (31)Steadied the ship, raising the score and bringing an air of respectability to the board. Both Shaw and Jutson fell to Gaydon, who ended with incredible figures of 9 overs, 7 wickets, 27 runs, 1 maiden. Harris also fell to Gayden cheaply, and thankfully, K Yates was able to pick up a few more runs at number 8, as Pritchard, Wilkins and J Shaw all fell quickly for small figures. Yates ended up with an important 13, and propping up the tail end, which took Bridestowe into the 100s and meant that it wouldn’t be plain sailing for the KENN batters. Bridestowe ended on 121 all out, a very achievable score line.
Bridestowes opening bowlers, Shaw (9, 3, 14 runs, 2 maidens) and Jutson (9, 2, 11 runs, 5 maidens), ensured another slow opening for the batters. Bridestowes fielding was strong, possibly as a result of everyone warming up for a few minutes before the game, but possibly due to the allure of an early doors at the WHITE HART. Once they tried to open up, the top order again went cheaply, with only GAYDON making 15 runs. D Jopling (6, 1, 8 runs, 4 maidens) and J BARKWELL (6, 0, 10 runs, 3 maidens) took over the bowling attack, and slowed the pace down dramatically. Pritchard (3.2, 1, 7) and J SHAW (3, 2, 18 runs) took over the last few overs, with Shaw junior showing his dad that all you need to do is aim it at the stumps, taking 1 LBW and 1 wicket, in his bowling debut for Bridestowe, hopefully beginning another cricketing family dynasty. BASTONE true to his word, caught the ball when it mattered, taking the last wicket with a caught behind, ending the last batsman’s ROSEs stand of 9.
Thanks to WILKINS and OSMAN, both returning to/learning about cricket, and also to KENN for a good game, played in great spirits. Whilst the score line may look like it was a one sided competition, the game was in the balance in the first innings, and could have opened up in KENNS favour in the second. Bridestowe, 121 all out, KENN, 71 all out, Bridestowe win by 50 runs.