Post date: May 8, 2016 10:37:02 AM
Bridestowe started their league campaign at home to Stoke Gabriel, a side they had twice defeated comfortably last season. However, it was soon clear we would be facing a very different side, and Stoke were immediately on the attack after being put in to bat. Lavis picked up a wicket with his third ball of the season as Ansley looked to hit over the top from the off. This didn't stop Stoke playing their shots though, and on a hard pitch they rode their luck and kept the score moving at a run a ball. Their new overseas player Hicks looked very confident from the start, adjusting to the relative slowness of the pitch well and hitting some massive sixes early in his innings. At the other end, Hall was looking far less dangerous but was still tricky to remove untill Lavis got his second with a sharp caught behind from Fogs-the-senior. Lavis then had a huge LBW shout turned down with Kanabar on 0 and then a very sharp chance dropped at backward point from the bat of Hicks. These misses would prove costly as this pair would put on a brutal 202. After Lavis finished an outstanding spell from the top end, no other bowler could find enough consistency to contain the pair. Second team skipper Jutson was economical until his penultimate over where a few full tosses were heaved into the field. Jones was also effective with accurate off spin, which slowed the run rate and then got the wicket of Hicks, caught behind for a fantastic 116. Kanabar continued to swing his bat at every ball and also reached his 100 before being well caught at long on off Sizmur. The rest of the innings was far more sedate, with only Tolley (35) looking threatening with the bat. Jones (2-57), Sizmur (2-86) and Jutson (1-33) all picked up wickets towards the end thanks to some great catching. A high catch running back from Butler and a diving caught and bowled from Jutson were early contenders for catch of the season. The Stoke innings finished on 329-9, similar to what we had scored twice against them last year, but a score which would be very tough to chase with so many regular first teamers away.
The chase started steadily, but neither opener could get hold of the short-pitched bowling combined with low bounce from the Millaton wicket. Sizmur (29) began to find the boundary and chipped one over the fence before he leading edged one to long on. James Ewen then smashed a very short ball from Hicks to a diving short-cover to leave BCC 56-2 with 15 overs bowled. Jones began to find the middle and hit a few boundaries to move the score along. Sam Ewen smashed one through point before top edging one to fine leg off Hicks (3-23). It was then clear that the winning score would be out reach so we set about picking up some batting points. Jones was unlucky as he slapped a short ball to backward point to depart for 31. Pat Ewen was then bowled by a beauty from young leg spinner Bullock (1-35). Butler and Lavis provided some resistance and clubbed a few to the boundary, it took the re-introduction of Tolley (2-26) to break the partnership as he produced a good Yorker to remove Butler (20). Lavis continued to play sensibly and pushed the score close to the 160 required for another batting point. Lee dropped anchor at one end and survived a few overs before he was bowled by Kanabar (1-3). Mark Fogerty was unlucky to be on the end of the first LBW decision of the day after a big stride forwards but Jutson and Lavis (37no) steered us to 165-8 at the close to pick up a valuable 8 points. So, far from our best performance, but in effect the difference was the two century makers. The good news was that despite a solid defeat, the team picked up 8 points and denied Stoke Gabriel full points by batting all of the allocated overs. Next week the firsts travel to Alphington and with another week of non-cricket commitments before players return, another challenge awaits.