Exwick CC 2nd XI v Bridestowe 2nd XI - 4th July 2015

Post date: Jul 5, 2015 8:52:22 AM

To celebrate the anniversary of our US cousins independence, the super-twos took a visit to the winless Exwick, confident with another strong side out.  There were a few alarm bells ringing at the toss with the well-used track looking variable.  The bells got louder as after skipper Jutson predictably lost the toss, Priddle, the Exwick skipper was quick to have a bat first commenting, 'it won't get any better'!  So into the field with Jutson (9-2-21-1) and Shaw (9-2-24-4) doing the usual damage as Exwick struggled to 28-5.  Alex Jopling (7-1-24-1) and Dale 'Bomber' Harris  (6-2-30-4) took on bowling duties, continuing to use the spiteful track which was almost unbelievably unpredictable.  In a game that was always going to be a lottery, BCC dropped at least 6 'gettable' catches, 3 or 4 of which our US friends would call a 'can of corn' (Google it!) and you would castigate your 6 year old daughter for dropping.  Ewen, Jutson and Jopling were the prime offenders and in a game were only Exwick batter Tom Cox (38) looked somewhat on top of the pitch, it was to prove costly as Exwick got to 115 all out.  Only Corey Holliday showed the way, taking the one good catch having had to make up a lot of ground in the deep.

A quick turnaround saw guest Aron and Ewen stride to the middle, newly trained opener Dave Jopling not available due to 'making hay", in itself impressive at his age when most have lost interest in that kind of thing.  For once Ewen looked to have some purpose and whilst offering chances, hit the ball hard and hooked a couple of rising deliveries to the leg side boundary.  He then demonstrated the effects of age on the mind, seemingly forgetting the rules as he orchestrated a 'yes, no, yes, wait', debacle that ended up with he and Aron standing at the same end as the delirious Exwick skipper smashed off the bails at the other end.  This brought Matt Dennis to the wicket who didn't last long falling foul of the bounce to get a top edge to an attempted sweep, easily taken and out without scoring.  Neil Griffiths, upon getting news of a windfall, found it hard to concentrate but began to apply himself and the hutch started to relax as he and Ewen got the score above 30 before Professor Ewen, having lectured on the dangers of playing back to anything moderately straight, did exactly that and was bowled for 16.  Having hit some lusty blows, Griffiths holed out to mid-wicket for 21 but with Shaw and Jopling at the crease, the moorlanders were still confident.  Having been out trying to bully the ball in the last couple of weeks, Jopling decided that today was to the day to build a test match like innings, only realising the error of his ways as his immaculate forward defensive was circumvented by a sharply turning ball from Bhaskaran (9-1-52-4) who got the most out of the minefield wicket.  Aussie seamer Wilson then blew away the Bridestowe middle order with Holliday, Lee, Harris and Pritchard all falling victim for less than 10 runs.  Skipper Juston was stranded on 16 not out and Bridestowe fell for 96 all out.

This puts Bridestowe over 40 points away from table-topping Feniton but with promotion hopes fading, it does mean that there should be more opportunities for newer players with bat and ball.  If BCC struggle anywhere, it is that sometimes our bowling is too accurate and sometimes a bit of variation wouldn't go amiss.  So having made the mid-season turnaround, expect to see some new names taking more of a part as skipper Jutson tries to develop his side.