Post date: Aug 2, 2015 7:41:57 PM
Bridestowe got back to winning ways with a 138-run thrashing of Stoke Gabriel.
The home side won the toss and chose to bat first, with a damp outfield, but covered pitch, hopefully resulting in a lack of swing for the Stoke bowlers. The tactic worked as Tom Fogerty and Gary Sizmur got off to a flying start, with both batsmen striking numerous boundaries before Sizmur (17) was bowled by Ansley with the score on 47. James Ewen and Tom Fogerty negotiated a couple of breaks for rain, which meant the game was reduced to 40 overs per side. They soon upped the pace, and ran well between the wickets to keep the score moving at close to a run a ball. Fogerty hit a six off Lewis to bring up another half century. He then sent another over the boundary the very next ball and then hit a two before he lobbed a full toss straight back to Lewis to depart for 57. Mark Fogerty departed quickly as he edged Withington behind, but Ewen and Nazir Khan continued to score at a good rate. Ewen struck Seb Ansley's last over for 16 to spoil his otherwise impressive figures of 1-38. Ewen also reached his half-century with a six, as he slog swept Bullock into the hedge. To everyone's surprise, he then decided to try to scoop Tolley (1-55) through the vacant fine leg, but missed the ball meaning that he was bowled for an important 60. With overs running out, wickets tumbled at one end, but Khan continued to smash the ball around at the other. Young leg-spinner Bullock (4-43) bowled excellently at the death, and was rewarded with four wickets for his efforts. Khan became the third batsman to bring up his fifty with a six thanks to a huge blow which nearly made the bottom hedge. He finished on 56no to cap a fine last innings for BCC. Amazingly, it was the first 1XI DCL half-centuries at Millaton for all three batsmen, leading to an imposing total of 230-9 from 40 overs.
The Stoke chase started in sedate fashion, as neither opener seemed bothered by the fact that the required rate was climbing well past a run a ball. It soon became clear that Stoke were playing for batting points rather than the win, with very few attacking shots offered in the first 15 overs. The score was crawling along at around 2 runs an over but both batsmen looked relatively solid at the crease. Economical spells from Sizmur, Tom Fogerty and Chris Lavis all went unrewarded, and it took a change in the bowling to get the breakthrough, as Dan Fogerty dug in a short ball which stayed low and trapped Lewis LBW. Khan then got two wickets in two balls as Parker was trapped LBW for 23 and Seb Ansley edged a doosra behind to Mark Fogerty first ball. Khan then picked up a run out thanks to a great throw from the boundary by Mark Butler, to leave Stoke in huge trouble at 45-4. Alex Jopling (2-14) bowled some tight overs of leg spin and soon had his first wicket as Tolley top edged a sweep and Phil Hatton took a good catch at slip. He had another next ball as another top edged shot was easily taken by Ewen at short leg. Neil Griffiths (1-21) came on to bowl some tempting swingers and almost had a wicket straight away as he put down a tough caught and bowled chance. He did get one in his second over as Ewen took another simple chance at silly mid-off. Doug Ansley then smashed a few boundaries to make the total more respectable before Dan Fogerty (2-10) returned to remove Horsburgh caught by Jopling. Fittingly it was Khan (4-18) who got the last two wickets, first he produced a beauty to bowl Ansley through the gate, and then very next ball he followed it up with another beauty which bowled Rooney.
This was probably one of the 1XI's best team performances of the season, with three men passing 50, and every bowler hitting their lines and lengths from the start. It was a great way to say goodbye to Naz, who unfortunately needs to return to Sweden before the end of the season. He has been excellent with bat, ball and in the field, and has helped our young (mostly!) side move to the next level in our performances. He finished with 31 wickets from 14 games, at an average well under 10, and has overtaken Gary this week to be the leagues top wicket taker. We wish him well in all his future endeavours, and it would be great to see him back at Millaton.