Post date: Jun 10, 2012 4:37:11 PM
After a good win last week this was an important game for the 1st XI, away at third placed Kentisbeare. Arriving at a very small pitch, with a hard track and on what appeared to be a dry day, there was much talk of a run-fest. Once again winning the toss, we put the opposition into bat knowing we had to bowl good line and length and field to our best ability in order to keep them under 200.
Tom and Dan made bright starts, and although loose balls were punished, Dan once again made the breakthrough. The batsman took a wild swing at a ball on a good length outside off stump, getting a big top edge that was caught sharply by Tom on the third man boundary. Dan then picked up another good wicket and Tom struck at the other end with a well executed yorker. Sam and Lee took over from the Fogs and although they could not find wickets immediately, runs were hard to come by. Sam bowled particularly well, finding pace, bounce and movement that had both batsmen all ends up. Sam then got the wicket he deserved, a drive very well caught by Jacko at cover. From here the wickets began to tumble at both ends, Lee causing a dangerous looking batsman to send the ball straight up, again well caught by Jack. Sam picked up another, although deserved more. At 76-6 Kentisbeare were rattled. Lee picked up two more in quick succession with Jopling at the other end finding the edge in his third over, a simple catch for Phil, who had taken the gloves in the absence of Mark Fog. Lee then took the final wicket, lbw, to finish an excellent spell with four wickets. Overall, a great bowling performance with everyone picking up wickets, not to mention a fantastic effort in the field, left us chasing 105 with 59 overs to get it.
The opening partnership, this week of Tom Fog and Jacko, made a comfortable start, only playing the balls they needed to. There was a reasonable amount of pace on the ball, as Tom found out when getting six off the shoulder of the bat! However unfortunately the next edge carried straight to the keeper. Time was never an issue, and Sam acknowledged this by playing patiently and rotating the strike well. Jack was timing the ball and, having picked the bad balls, he then began to open up; he was clearly enjoying himself and saw off the opening bowler by dispatching him for 20 runs in one over. With that, the score was up to 65-1 and the target was in sight. Jack then played one shot too many and was caught, but he had set up the innings brilliantly, once again falling just short of his half century (once again bringing about the odd mention of jug avoidance). The traditional Bridestowe collapse followed with Phil falling cheaply and a misjudged two causing Ian to be run out. Sam followed lbw after a composed innings, leaving James and Charlie at the crease with around 30 required. The father and son pair, two of four Ewens in the side, both played well defending the straight balls but also playing some great shots. The game was sealed with massive sixes from both players bringing home another very satisfying win.