Post date: Jun 7, 2015 9:53:01 PM
It was first versus third for the 2nd XI as they took on Cullompton at the Millaton Ground on Saturday. Cullompton were coming off the back of posting 300 last week whereas Bridestowe had been bowled out for 82. The home side were boosted with Tom Boother, Alex Jopling and Pat Ewen all coming down from the 1st XI, though in form batsmen, and part-time wicket buyer Charlie Ewen was missing due to a troublesome knee.
Once again Lee had no luck with the toss and Bridestowe were put into bat, cautious of another wicket that could have done with some more preparation. Jopling was given the task of opening up with stalwart Batstone and the pair negotiated the first few overs well. The bounce from the shed end proved particularly variable and it was initially hard to get away. It wasn’t the bounce that did for Batstone though as a good ball from Richards struck his pad in line and umpire Boother duly obliged to the Cullompton shouts. Pat joined Jopling and the pair began to get the scoreboard moving, both striking sweet boundaries and running well between the wickets. The change in bowling did for Pat though as he looked to send the ball back over the head of Bowles (2-27) but got a big edge and was caught well at slip. Corey played a similar shot but split the slips and the ball flew to the boundary, soon after he was also gone as Bowles disrupted his stumps. With the score at 49-3 new man Tim Shaw and Jopling looked to rebuild, with Shaw looking comfortable and Jopling batting patiently. It was another change in bowling that proved to be the game changer, Nicholls bowling from the shed end and finding variable bounce, swing and seam. It was a combination of this that did for Shaw, a ball pitching outside off, cutting in low and taking a flick of the pad to slowly dislodge the bails. Jutson was then dismissed in similar fashion, a ball that shot low from Nicholls and bowled him. Kieran Lee took to the crease with the score at 63-5 and after a couple of wild swipes managed to settle down and defend his wicket. The same could not be said of Jopling, he had batted patiently and looked fairly comfortable but a rush of blood caused him to take a big swing at Nicholls and once again the ball cut in slightly and took his off stump. He departed, rightly furious with himself, for 21. Joe Turner was on his was back a couple of balls later as Nicholls (4-16) picked up another, the ball ricocheting off his pad and onto the stumps. Boother joined Lee with the team in some trouble at 73-7 with plenty of overs left. Kieran was continuing patiently, playing well with a straight bat and having a go at anything wide. Boother took the same approach and dispatched a couple of boundaries with his classic strim shot. This boosted his confidence and he was soon driving the ball well, the pair were dispatching anything loose and the previously buzzing Cullompton soon went quiet as the score passed 100. Lee was eventually bowled as he looked to open up, gone for an accomplished and important 21. Having only just arrived Tom Mallet was the next man in and continued the good work. Having split his bat digging out a yorker he dispatched Vincent to the fence with the help of Jutsons willow. Boother then hit a sweet boundary over cover but was gone the next ball, caught trying to repeat the shot. It has been a good looking innings though and he had contributed a vital 26 to get Bridestowe towards a defendable score. Dave was the last man in but didn’t really get a chance to add to the score as Mallet was bowled by Vincent (2-22) trying another big shot. The wagging tail had managed to get the total to 130, a great effort from 73-7 and a score that the team thought was very defendable on the variable track.
The home side were straight back out to bowl looking to pick up a couple of wickets before tea. Jutson and Shaw once again took the new ball against two of the leagues top run scorers. Shaw soon had the breakthrough as Paul managed to drag a low bouncing ball onto his own stumps. Mortiboys and Durrant then managed to settle down, though got few runs from Shaw and the ever consistent Jutson. However it was a rare lose ball from Jutson that got the next wicket, that of the dangerous Mortiboys. A full toss that he looked to hit over the legside only for Mallet to stick out a big left hand and pluck a brilliant catch. A couple of balls later Jutson had another, Jarrett being trapped dead in front by a swinging ball, out LBW. At the tea break the score was 30-3 and Bridestowe felt on top, especially having seen the back of Paul and Mortiboys. Joe Turner took the ball after tea but struggled for consistency and Durrant along with new man Webster sent loose balls to the boundary. Boother replaced Turner and Shaw returned from the other end after another good spell from Jutson (2-14). It was Boother who broke the partnership in his first over, Webster slicing the ball on the drive and being caught by Jopling diving forward. An over later and Boother had another in similar fashion, skipper Teape slicing the ball to Shaw at point who took a sharp catch. The score was 50-6 and the home side were really on top, though with Durrant still at the crease Cullompton were still very much in the game. Shaw (3-18) had other ideas though, bowling Durrant (21) with a jaffa that swung and beat the bat hitting the top of off. Shaw deservedly took his third in his next over, bowling Richards to leave the score at 60-7. New batsmen Nicholls and Scrace were now at the crease and managed to keep out the end of Shaws spell. He was replaced with Jopling, who along with Boother kept it tight. Both batsmen were looking fairly comfortable though and kept the scoreboard slowly ticking over. It was the fielding of Jopling rather than the bowling that managed to break the partnership. Nicholls hit it into the off side and confusion between the batsmen meant they were slow setting off, a clean pick up and throw meant Pat could whip of the bails and Scrace was run out. Boother then bowled Vincent with one that kept low, and he was sent back to the clubhouse fuming with the score at 74-9. Boother (4-16) picked up the last wicket in his final over, bowling Bowles to cap an impressive individual performance. It was a great team effort with both bat and ball that secured 17 points and ensured the Bridestowe stayed top of the table.
Next week the 2nd XI face Honiton away hoping to maintain the impressive start to the season.