Post date: May 24, 2015 10:16:31 AM
Week 4 brought a trip to Kenn CC which was looking its best on a warm, sunny and humid day. Bridestowe had a strong team on paper however a back injury to Tom Mallett meant that they would be short-handed for a second week. Winning the toss, skipper Lee Jutson was licking his lips at the potential of a swinging ball and decided that we would bowl first. With no recognised wicket keeper, and with Steve Batstone last to arrive after taking the opportunity of being in Exeter to visit some boutiques, the team voted him to be the best man to don the gloves. The now regular opening pair of Jutson and Shaw both showed great control of the swinging ball each bowling 4 maidens in their 9 over spells, Jutson proved to be more expensive, giving away 13 runs whilst Shaw leaked 11. The difference was in wickets, opener Tyrell fell to the pressure coming from both ends by trying to force Juston through mid-on only to be smartly caught by Ewen fielding close in. This brought regular first team left-hander Koeller to the crease. With two more wickets falling to Jutson, BCC were looking for an early finish as Kenn crawled to 27 for 3 at the end of the 18th over. The only worry was that hard hitting Koeller was still at the crease having been dropped 3 times, twice from the bowling of Shaw who was once again luckless in an impressive spell. With 'Bomber' Harris, debutant Holliday and Buzz Brimicombe all bowling neatly, drinks at half way saw Kenn with less than 50 runs on the board. After drinks, Koeller rebuilt with the impressive youngster, Will Shanks and gradually increased the scoring rate, hitting anything not pitched up hard through mid wicket. As the total climbed with no wickets coming, Jutson turned to Ewen to introduce some loopers which only led to the run rate increasing further and the batsman increasing their confidence even more. Returning BCC legend Neil Griffiths sneaked out a couple with his dibbly dobblers, but Kenn continued to attack. With Batstone tiring quickly behind the stumps, run outs looked as unlikely as BCC holding on to a catch as any need for the gloveman to make a dive resulted in the bowler waiting to deliver the next ball until he was safely back on his feet. The introduction of Dave Jopling saw some control return to the bowling but by this time, every ball was a coconut and despite Koeller eventually running out of luck after a powerful 79, the remaining Kenn batters, especially Mason, worked with the perennial Shanks to power through to 194-8 at the close.
Tea was a morbid affair with inquests into the uncharacteristically poor catching, ground fielding and dubious introduction of Ewen with the ball. With a buoyant and effervescent Kenn taking the field, openers Batstone and Ewen trudged to the middle to start the reply. From the first ball it was clear that it would be a tough ask to get near the Kenn total with openers Wonnacott and Mason hooping the ball dramatically and at pace in the balmy late May sunshine. Batstone characteristically showed poise and maturity, playing each ball on its merits. At the other end, Ewen was clearly panicking in his still unfamiliar opening berth and coped with the in-swinging Wonnacott by going with the swing into the leg side and standing a long way down the track to try to combat Masons pacey and aggressive attack at the other end. Surviving numerous chances, it was 8 overs in with 27 on the board before Batstone contrived to kick one into his stumps, conspiracy theorists may say that his antics behind the stumps had led to sudden fatigue syndrome as he lost concentration. Buzz strode out on the back of a good knock 2 weeks previous but also struggled with the high quality bowling onslaught. By the time he departed for 13 in the 18th over, the Kenn opening pair were not quite as threatening having tired after putting everything in to get early wickets. Newcomer Keiran Lee had a lecture from Ewen around how to handle the swinging ball and having said yes in all the right places, ignored the advice and tried to smash his first ball and was caught at mid off. Incomer Shaw also looked impatient initially and when Ewen's luck ran out on 48 with the total on 93, Neilo needed to perform on his first appearance this season. With Shaw settling into a more controlled innings and Neil smashing anything loose, the scoring accelerated and when Griffiths departed on 29 and with Kenn seeming running out of bowling, a glimmer of hope and expectation proliferated around the Millaton men. Skipper Juston picked up where Griffiths had left and played the same foil to Shaws growing confidence and classy stroke play. There was plenty left in the hutch when Jutson was adjudged adjacent and fell lbw to Connet for 8 with Bomber, Holliday and Jopling all capable of seeing BCC home. With Jutson grumbling about his average, none were needed as Shaw passed 50 and hit the winning runs undefeated with Harris at the other end. Another win for Bridestowe Seconds which secures their top table position and hoping that the sun shines again for their home tie next week versus Halberton & Sampford Peverell.