Post date: Aug 3, 2015 12:13:59 PM
The mighty BCC 2nd XI first outing in August took them just three miles from the Devon Somerset border – Halberton and Sampford Peverell CC. It was the general consensus that a loss here would likely put us out of the promotion chase. So all lucky charms were engaged with and Lee Jutson rolled even called out the big one….Jack Shaw! now known as the ‘The terminator’ following his wrapping two wicket haul to wrap up Kenn last week. In fact, BCC 2s have never lost with Jacko in the side. Under a changeable sky and on a reasonable looking pitch, with perhaps some of the smaller boundaries that we have seen this year. Lee strode out with his ‘tails never fails’ approach to the toss. Which of course meant the opposition had the luxury of deciding what to do. They ummed and ahhhed for a bit before deciding to insert us.
The familiar team of Batstone and Joplin (Snr) opened the account with a few good drives and looked to be moving well until Batstone managed to not get enough elevation on one to be caught at mid on. Dave Joplin now joined at the crease by ‘the Phantom’ (Jack Barkell) ….we have no idea why ‘the Phantom’, but Jack announced upon his arrival at the ground that he would only respond to the name ‘the Phantom’ through the day. Maybe too much WWF on telly, maybe in response to some of his other nicknames that have been bestowed upon him by others over the past weeks. Joppers continued hitting short balls hard through the covers or through midwicket, whilst ‘the Phantom’ really started to lace into the opposition bowling hitting three consecutive 4’s at one point. The rush no doubt got to him as he was bowled trying to repeat the dose off the 4th ball of the over. Pat Ewen returning to the side joined Dave and the pair continued to push against the bowling. However when Pat lofted into the hands of one of the HSPCC fielders we found ourselves way up on the rate but losing too many wickets. Tim Shaw, our most consistent with the bat joined Joppers, but only for another 10 runs before Dave (24 runs) was caught trying to smash yet another ball through the covers. Tim and Lee Jutson steadied the ship whilst continuing to punish bad balls and pushed us BCC through 100, at which point we were looking good, with a high run rate and plenty of overs still in hand. At 104 Tim (24 runs) managed to miss one that took his middle stump, bringing Corey Holliday into the game. At this point it all started to go wrong as we lost Corey, Lee, Alex and Dale in quick succession for only 5 runs. Tom Boother and the Termiantor Jack Shaw were left do what they could. Some lovely shots by Tom and a great support by Jack kept the Boother show facing most deliveries. Some lusty blows ensued, but when Jack was run out trying to sneak a single off the last ball of the over…..there it was!! All out for 123 in only 34 overs.
A quick turn around and BCC were back in the field for 45 minutes or so before Tea. We noted that last time we played these lads it took them 7 wickets to collect only the 80 runs they needed last time we played, with 50% more this time we harboured ambitions for an early trip back up the A30 with another bunch of points in the bag. It was not to be….the opening pair for BSPCC A.Hills & B.Chilcott walked to face our reliable opening pair Lee Jutson (9-5-19-1) and Tim Shaw (3-0-32-0). In the second over Tim managed to entice a nick from A.Hills that fair travelled to ‘the Phantom’ at first slip who didn't take the chance. Mr Hills then simply cut loose like a man possessed. Slashing and cutting ball after ball to the boundary. Five 4s off one over from Tim forced a bowling change. Taking pace off the ball Dave Joplin (6-1-20-0) tied the two openers down, whilst Lees metronomic action restricted them at the other end. Tea was called and BCC were still wicketless with the score at 54. Resumption after tea saw the bowlers continue with Lee finally trapping A Hills in front for 49. Putting pace back on the ball ‘the Phantom’ (5-2-6-1) came into the attack and B Chillcott (20 runs) quickly fell to his pace. (ct Jutson ). The introduction of Left arm pace from ‘bloodbath’ Boother (3-0-18-0) ( he had reopened a cut on his leg diving in the field and looked to have poured at least half a pint of it down the front of his whites) didn’t scare the new pair of N Raud & A Broomfield. The latter of whom started to score quite consistently. Dale ‘bomber’ Harris (3-0-16-0) took up the attack from ‘bloodbath’ but by this time the game had gone. Jack ‘terminator’ Shaw (0.4-0-5-0) came on in an attempt to recreate the glory of last week, but with little to work with and two batsmen now well set the game was over in 29.4 overs.
So that looks like the end of BCC 2s promotion ambitions, and even the Talisman Jack Shaw couldn't help against the front end and lower middle order collapse that consigned BCC to simply ….not enough runs. As we move into holiday period and with only three games left to play the team will probably end up at the top end of the table, which is not a bad start for the recently reformed super 2s. An so far it’s also been a lot of fun!!