Post date: May 20, 2013 12:10:28 PM
Bridestowe set off to Kenn with only 9 players on Saturday , with Jopling making his way over after work. Thankfully Lee won the toss as fielding with 9 would have been tough work on a somewhat dodgy outfield.
The less said about our innings the better, which is just as well seeing as I was somewhere on the A30. I did get the impression that it wasn’t going too well though with numerous missed calls and ‘get here now’ texts as I got into Kenn. The opposition were kind enough not to time me out, not that it made any difference as the innings was over 3 balls later. So we had been bowled out for a measly score of 80, made worse when I was told we had been 50-0!! Mark Fog, Phil Hatton, and a bloke called ‘extras’ were the only notable scorers.
We went straight back out to field knowing it was now essentially a 20 over game in which we had to take 10 wickets but with an unpredictable pitch the game was far from settled. In the absence of Dan Fog, skipper Jutson opened up with Tom and was unlucky not to make the breakthrough as Mark whipped of the bails with the batsmen seemingly out of his ground, the umpire at square leg somehow giving it not out. Justice was partially given 3 overs later though when Fog trapped his man dead in front. 1 down, 9 to go. The next followed quickly, Fog again finding the edge and a sharp catch was taken by Phil at slip. Next came their Sri Lankan spinner who had caused many problems for us with the ball, he lasted all of 3 out plum LBW. 5 straight maidens from Jopling at the other end helped to increase the pressure, but it was wickets we needed.
Returning after tea the game was in the balance with Kenn 30 odd for 3, it was all to play for. A perfectly executed yorker rounded off a brilliant spell for Fog. Now 4 down with half the runs to get, the game began to turn as a few loose balls went to the boundary and chances fell agonizingly short. Callum making his 1st XI debut bowled very well and got his reward with Phil taking yet another great catch, this time in the deep. Cal Mal took another to give us a glimmer of hope, bowling their number 6 who got nowhere near the ball. However they batted carefully knowing all they needed to do was stay in. A couple more boundaries took them ever closer to the small total and even though Boother bowled tightly and picked up a wicket it was never quite enough.
It was a great effort at defending such a small total with only 10 men, and the relief on the opposition’s faces told us that we had pushed them close.
With the football and rugby season finally coming to a close you would hope that would be the last week we are struggling for players, and we need to start turning it around if we are going to challenge at all for promotion this season!!