Post date: Jun 23, 2014 12:36:32 PM
After a good win last week we were back on the road again taking the long journey up to Kilmington who we were joint second with in the league. There was to be no Boother show this week as he was on holiday, Belstone legend Matt Dennis replaced him.
Arriving in glorious sunshine to a hard looking pitch with a short outfield and boundaries we were expecting a lot of runs to be scored. Butler won the toss and as usual we took to the field with Lavis and Dan Fog opening up. It didn't take long for Lavis to get the break through, executing the perfect yorker in his third over to bowl Cook. Culley in at number three began playing his shots straight away, driving the ball well. Dan Fog was on top of him though, beating the bat on countless occasions and bringing about numerous false and streaky shots. Lavis was building pressure at the other end bowling consecutive maidens and we felt that another wicket was coming. Dan Fog was very unlucky not to get it and finished a good first spell without reward. Samo took over from Dan and began with a maiden, at the other end Lavis (9-2-36-1) also finished his spell. Samo got the all important wicket in his next over, the dangerous Culley caught at mid-on by Butler for 44. Two balls later he had another, new man Gooding getting the faintest of edges behind to Mark Fog and graciously walking. A double wicket maiden for Samo taking the score to 62-3 from 18 overs. Tom Fog was bowling well at the other end as we looked to get on top. The drinks break brought about the next wicket, Pat gave the usual shout of 'always a wicket after drinks' and it worked, Samo (9-3-38-3) bowling opener Stowex (26) with a brilliant yorker. Wilmot and Rockett began to rebuild for Kilmington striking the ball well. Jopling and Jacko took over from Tom and Samo as the score passed 100. The batsmen were making use of the quick outfield, Rockett especially finding runs all around the field. Jopling (4-28-1) did pick up the wicket of Wilmot (32) who looked to hit it over mid-on but was easily caught by Butler. Jacko was bowling well beating the bat with pace but the boundaries still came. Dan Fog (9-52) returned but he also got the treatment from Rockett who was opening up as he passed 50. The wicket did come but it was not Rockett, Jopling and Dan Fog working together to easily run out Lavender as he was stranded half way down looking for a quick single. With 10 overs to go the score was 157-6 as skipper Cook joined Rockett and also looked to find the boundary. Dan's last two overs were expensive and Samo was also being hit to the fence. Tom Fog (9-1-52-1) came back and bowled Cook but the damage had been done as Kilmington flew past 200. Jacko bowled Noble in the last over to get us another bowling point but we were a little deflated as we walked off having let the score rise to 244, some solid hitting from Rockett (78 n,o) and loose bowling from us meant the last 10 overs had gone for 87.
With the quick outfield, short boundaries and fairly true wicket we knew the score was very gettable as Tom Fog and Samo took to the crease. They began solidly playing balls on there merit and dispatching anything loose. They especially took a liking to Noble hitting him out of the attack after five overs including a huge 6 from Samo that had everyone worrying about their cars. After 9 overs we were on 60 and above the rate but in the 10th Tom Fog (21) slightly misjudged the length of a ball from Seward and hit the ball straight down the the throat of mid-off. The over later we were two down, New bowler Gooding, cleaning Samo up with an in-swinging ball after a confident 33. Jacko and Jopling were now at the crease, Gooding was swinging the ball well but could not get a consistent length with both batsmen happily sending the loose balls to the boundary. Jacko was guilty of trying to attack Seward (9-2-31-2) a bit too much and was easily caught trying to hit one over mid-wicket. James came to the crease but didn't last long eyeing up a full toss from Gooding but draggingthe ball onto his own stumps. Matt joined Jopling as they looked to steady the innings with the score at 97-4 after 17. Matt took a liking to new bowler H.Cook (4-35) but at the the other end neither Jopling or Matt could get anywhere near Rockett who was bowling full out-swinging balls. He beat the bat numerous times but the pair were picking up runs off H.Cook and took the score to 126-4 at drinks. A few overs after the break Matt (19) was back at the pavilion, eventually edging Rockett behind for 19. Pat came to the crease and couldn't get near Rockett either, and when he did get hold of one he ended up skying it, a good one handed catch taken by Noble. Jopling, now with Dan Fog, was cutting the ball well through the offside finding the boundary on numerous occasions. The fact that he couldn't score off Rockett got to him though as he tried to strike the returning Noble (9-61-1) over mid-off only to be caught by Gooding for a solid 47. The father-son pair were once again at the crease needing 90 from 18 overs. Dan Fog saw Rockett (6-1-22-2) out of the attack creaming him through the covers for 4. Mark and Dan also had no problems against Gooding (8-62-2) who was still proving inconsistent. 4 overs throws helped the cause and skipper Cook even gave up the gloves to take the ball in attempt to get the breakthrough. Dan showed him no respect though, taking him for 13 in his second over. The wicket did come in hos third over though, Dan hit the ball to cover and was not clear on the call as Mark (16) set off and then turned back his stumps were brilliantly thrown down and he was heading back to watch from the pavilion. The score was now at 229 so we only needed 16 with 8 overs to go, Kilmington needed two wickets. Cook (3.2-27) served Lavis up a leg stump full toss and he characteristically slapped it through mid-wicket for 4. Dan Fog went to smash Gooding down the ground, thankfully he went through the shot as a big edge flew to the boundary to our delight, The next ball was a far better shot, creamed through the offside for 4 bringing up his first senior 50 and levelling the scores. In the 40th over Lavis easily hit a single though point to seal a great win, and as we had chased it down in the 40th we gained two bonus batting points, 21 for the match.
Another brilliant chase, proving that we bat all the way down the order and can chase the big scores. The win puts us to the top of the table, 9 points clear as we head towards the mid-point of the season. Next week we face Countess Wear at home looking to increase the gap at the top.