Post date: Jun 19, 2016 11:21:39 AM
With a number of key players missing this week it was down to a few to prepare the pitch for the visit of Kingsbridge. The roller only working in reverse did not help proceedings and the lead up to the game all became a bit of a mad rush!
However, stand in skipper Lee Jutson did win the toss and after a quick change we were out in the field. Lee and Lavis opened up and started economically with the pitch doing less than anticipated considering the amount it had been rolled! After a tight first 6 overs Westlake began to open up, heaving Lavis to the leg side boundary. After 10 overs Jopling and Harris were brought on. It was Jopling who made the breakthrough, J.Ford (11) trying to flick the ball down the leg side but only managing to send the ball ricocheting off himself and easily into the hands of Mark behind the stumps. A couple of overs later Mark and Jopling combined again as F. Ford was out stumped. The ball was getting grip and turn off the surface and troubling the previously settled Westlake. He called for a drink to be brought at the end of Harris’ next over but there was no need as he hit the first ball of the over straight to Drake at cover to depart for 37. The score had gone from 50-0 to 53-3 in the space of four overs. Ellis and Pike started to rebuild but were still giving chances as both were dropped off Jopling. After a couple of bludgeoning shots straight Pike (14) sent one skywards and was caught by J. Hatton off Harris. In his final over Jopling (9-3-19-3) dismissed Ellis bowling him leg-stump. Harris (9-27-3) also finished with a wicket, a juicy full toss hit upwards by De-Silva towards cover where Drake took a couple of steps to his left to take a good catch. Two good spells had meant the score was now 81-6 from 28 overs with the game in Briddys favour, though this was to quickly change. J. Hatton took the ball but could not repeat his heroics of last week, a two-night bender in Falmouth the excuse. Sandercock (4-1-34) replaced Harris and started well and with Lavis returning there were a couple of quiet overs. However, Treeby and Shephard were just getting themselves in before sending the bowling to all parts. They put on a stand of 80 in 10 overs before Shephard (38) tried reverse sweeping Drake and clipped his own bail off. A couple of overs later Drake (3-25-2) dismissed Treeby, caught at long off by Ian, for an important 43. Rosewarne continued from where Treeby had left off, hitting the ball sweetly to all parts. He punished anything too full or straight and took the returning Lavis (9-43-1) and Lee (9-1-55) to pieces. Lavis did pick up a wicket late on as Mark got another sharp stumping, however the damage had already been done. Rosewarne (62 n.o) had propelled his team to 245, and with batsmen 7, 8 and 9 making 143 between them it was a very deflated Briddy side who went in for tea, with some even questioning whether the opposition had reversed their order!
After a great spread at tea courtesy of the Jutsons, Phil and Mark took to the crease to start the chase. Peach (6-2-22) and Rosewarne bowled the perfect areas first up and runs were hard to come by. The latter got his reward as Mark played on to his own stumps. M. Dennis joined Phil and the pair began to get the scoreboard ticking, running well and sending any loose balls to the boundary. De-Silva took the ball and was, as always, difficult to get away on a turning pitch. The pair instead looked to target Pike and they took the score to 47 before the M. Dennis (20) fell trying to send Pike into the container. J. Hatton fell not long after, sending a leading edge from De-Silva up for an easy catch. Drake took to the crease and sent a rare bad ball from De-Silva (5-12-1) to the boundary. This was to be his only contribution with the bat however, as a good ball from Pike dismantled his stumps. Phil and Ian safely saw us through to drinks with the score 74-4, with scorer Jackie quickly reminding us that Kinsbridge had only been on 67 at his stage. Phil went about attacking new bowler Westlake pulling him for four and hitting him straight for six. Ian joined in, beautifully driving Pike (9-40-2) for four. As Westlake settled he began to find some movement from the pitch and did for Ian bowling him for 5. Lavis struck a boundary before also being bowled by Shepard (2-6-1). Jopling completed the trio of those to be bowled as Westlake again got some nip of the pitch and clipped the bail of off stump. In amongst this Phil had brought up his 50 and was looking comfortable at the other end, sweeping and hitting straight particularly well. Sandercock came in and immediately looked to counter attack, striking the ball well but not quite hard enough to reach the fence, he departed for a brisk 7, caught and bowled by Westlake (8-1-26-3). Harris was then run out looking for a quick 2 and then the returning Rosewarne (7.5-2-24-2) did for the resistance of Lee who dragged onto his stumps. The regular fall of wickets meant we never really got fully going and were all out for 143 from 38 overs. Phil Hatton was the only batsmen to really trouble the scorers and ended unbeaten with a solid 66 n.o.
Well played to Kingsbridge who took 20pts to our 7pts.
Thanks to Geoff and Jackie for scoring and to Gideon for coming down early to help set up!
Looking forward we play Chagford away next week with the return of some key players, including Nazir Khan who we are pleased to say is coming over for the rest of the season!