Post date: Aug 27, 2017 9:58:00 AM
The penultimate game of the 2017 season and the last road trip saw the toooos in the picturesque settings at Cornwood. With availability limited by summer holidays, harvesting and the start of the winter sport season, it was still a solid team at skipper Lee Jutson's disposal and driving for a top-half finish and effective promotion he opted to bat first having won the toss.
With regular opener Steve Batstone sunning himself and taking selfies on the Cornish coast, it fell to Tim Shaw to accompany now regular opener Neil Griffiths to the middle to set a total in the sunshine. Cornwood opened the bowling with pace at one end from Davies and gentle twirling from the other with Lake. On the considerable slope of the Cornwood back pitch, Shaw succumbed early attempting an ambitious drive to Lake before he had got the measure of the combination of loopy spin and slope and played down the wrong line, bowled for one. Brandon Horn (5) and Ian Jutson (4) fared little better, again trying to push too hard, too quickly, this time to Davies who was swinging the ball in from wide of the crease and using the slope to good effect, both clean bowled. At the other end, Neilo was looking nervous and had survived a regulation caught behind from Davies after Cornwood keeper Bowden had inexplicably dropped him early on and events at the other end were doing nothing for his confidence. With the score 44-3, Jutson was reconsidering his decision to bat first as Charlie trudged out to the middle to have a conversation with Neil were both sloggers told each other that they had plenty of time and take coach Clifford's advice to 'wait for the bad ball'. The mutual pep talk seemed to work as both showed some restraint and went on to a 164 partnership that according to Neil, should have been at least 200 if Charlie had spent more time running and less time moaning about his knee and talking anyone that would listen through a tirade of his medical maladies. When Charlie (68) snicked one to slip, the score was a healthy 208-5 with plenty of time for the lower order to make a mark. Lee (1) also fell going too hard before acclimatising to the conditions but Kieran Lee (16) stayed around for a bit to see Neilo past his well deserved century and beyond, ultimately being caught for 124. Butler (24) made it look as if it was going to be a 300 plus total but when he was bowled by the returning Davies, scoring slowed and after a needless run-out, BCC didn't quite make it, 295 all out.
An excellent tea allowed the time for Butler to educate the visitors on the origins of the pink tree and coach Clifford to provide some bowling tips as well as plenty of fags and tea and it was with confidence that the Bridestowe massive took to the field to defend the total. Cornwood skipper, Charles Knight is the leading batsman in the league and so it was the usual opening pair of Lee Jutson and Shaw who had first use of the new ball. Both delivered with Shaw (6-1-10-1) and Lee (6-2-11-2) removing the Cornwood top order, including the dangerous Knight who snicked off to Lee and was caught by Shaw in the slips. This allowed the skipper to bowl everyone apart from keeper Ian Jutson and exhausted Neilo (there was also a theory that the BCC didn't have quite enough runs to explore that option), with some promising spells by Jack (3-0-18-1), Keiran (5-3-11-1), Butler (5-1-16-0) and Corey (3-0-9-1). Bowling performance of the day undoubtedly went to adult and league cricket debutant Antony Jutson (3-1-11-2) who when thrown the ball for his turn, proceeded to take a wicket caught & bowled with his first ball and another in the same over - double wicket maiden. The only resistance from the Cornwood batters came from Paul Lee (32) and finally, Jutson sensibly brought out the big guns, threw Charlie the ball who dutifully removed Lee with a filthy leg side full toss that he skied to the for once awake, Corey Holliday to end the Cornwood innings on Nelson (111) all out.
The game was played in great spirits with Cornwood commenting that despite the loss, it was one of the best games of their season and a great example to the younger members of both sides in how to play competitive cricket with a smile. Whoever said that clearly wasn't within ear shot as Brandon was using his literary skills to find rude derivations of Mark Butlers name when the talented Cornwood girls were trying to concentrate on their batting. A good day all around and the consensus was that effective promotion is now inevitable regardless of next weeks final game at home to Shaldon Optimists.
Scores here https://bridestowe.play-cricket.com/site_admin/results/2910930