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Post date: Jul 9, 2017 11:38:01 AM
There was an embarrassment of riches for the selection committee this week with 28 players available including the return of perennial traveller and birthday boy Jack Hatton who is home for a quick pit stop before his next trip. Phil Hatton was also unable to play away due to his demanding social schedule and so it was a very strong team that gathered at Milaton to face Dartington & Totnes, a side that that had beaten BCC at their home ground earlier in the season. Remarkably, skipper Lee Jutson won his 7th toss on the bounce and with such riches in the hutch, elected to bat first.
Newish opening combination of Neilo and Steve Batstone strode out to set a total and Gareth Harvard, BCC's nemesis with bat and ball in the seasons previous encounter, came charging in to open the bowling from the grandstand end. Steve once again demonstrated the principle of opening the batting by patiently taking the bulk of Harvard's opening 6 over spell and being watchful. At the other end, Neilo played one magnificent looking cover drive for 4 before becoming impatient and top edging one in the air for an easy catch. This brought Jacko to the crease for his first league game in a while and initially it showed as he looked a bit scratchy as he adjusted to the lack of pace in second team cricket. Once Harvard had been seen off Charlie, who was grumpy at not being selected and having to umpire, triggered Batstone at the first opportunity despite a good stride in for a solid 21 from 50 balls. Most of the team nodded their approval as he had already been in the runs the week before and the shorter his innings the less time it takes for him to describe every single ball back at the pub. Phil Hatton joined the fruit of his loins to commence what can only be described as a massacre. As both got used to the slow and loopy bowling the ball started getting hit harder and further with every over. Their 197 run partnership finished as a tiring Jacko (129 from 90 balls) eventually spooned one up to mid off with Phil on 87 at the time. Phil went on to complete his hundred (101 from 73 balls) before electing to retire to allow a bit of fun at the end which saw another 4 wickets fall with few highlights apart from a solid looking 23 n.o from Ian Jutson. The total posted was 360-7, the biggest ever league total at the BCC.
A fine tea delivered by the Joplings saw a pensive 10 man Dartington & Totnes hoping that the talented Harvard would somehow manage to be at the centre of a decent reply. Despite the mammoth total, skipper Jutson stuck to the script by opening the bowling with long spells from him (7-3-12-1) and Bomber Harris (7-0-32-3). Harris saw off Harvard early with a ball that jagged away and took an edge that was comfortably pouched by Phil Hatton behind the stumps. Wickets fell regularly however in the middle there was some test match play for about 10 overs where Chris Roud and Paul Raven made a bit of a protest to the relentless line and length bowling by shutting up shop. Eventually Jutson did turn to part time bowling by throwing the ball at Kieran Lee who bowled the best over of the match left arm over wide on the crease and had the batman hopping away from steeply rising and accurate deliveries. With a well deserved 2 wickets, both clean bowled, that will create another option as next week BCC travel to unbeaten Ipplepenn where they must come home with a win if they are going to challenge for promotion.
Results here https://bridestowe.play-cricket.com/website/results/2910914
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