Post date: Jun 5, 2016 8:05:26 AM
After a week so disappointing that neither team could stomach writing reports, week 5 saw the super-twos take the short trip to Lydford to face local rivals Lewdown. Arrival at the ground saw some confusing conversations about who was playing for who with both sides having residents playing for the other team. This wasn't helped by Trev Turney actually still wearing his Bridestowe kit whilst turning out for Lewdown! Winning the toss, Lewdown skipper Graeme Horn put BCC into bat on a hard but used strip that showed some signs of wear. Chipper Batstone and New Shoes Shaw got the twos off to a solid start, handling the variable bounce well until Steve (5) was caught off Jon Marais who was the pick of the Lewdown bowlers coming in with 9-1-29-3. Skipper Tim Shaw (27) and Buzz Brimacombe (52) were pushing the scoreboard to 3 figures when for the second week running, Shaw demonstrated his sportsmanship by walking having gloved one to keeper Horn despite the umpire not giving him out. Neilo strode in looking nervous having failed to trouble the scorer for the entire season to date but his nerves evaporated after a single to fine leg and he charged to 37 before fatigue drove him to try to take an impossible single from a wide and becoming stranded half way down as Horn took off the bails. Corey, Ebby and Dave Jops all 'chipped in' and with a solid base set, it enabled a returning mercurial Smokey Tremain (25 n.o.) and Charlie to push around the tiring Lewdown bowling attack. Having realised that a ton was on the cards, Charlie tried to accelerate after 200 and max batting points had been achieved but despite being dropped a couple of times, still couldn't make it and was bowled for 75. Dale Harris saw the innings out with Smokey with BCC setting a good total of 260 - 8.
After what was rated as the best tea of the season so far, Lewdown started the reply confidently with the extra pace of Shaw and Harris not getting the kind of variable bounce that the slower Lewdown bowlers had achieved. Marais (39) and Turney (15) pushed the total over 50 before a seemingly baffled Turney was bowled behind his legs by the astute Shaw (5-0-25-2) who has noticed that his guard had crept to off stump. Shaw then rotated his bowling looking for the right pace to make the most of the wicket, Dave Jopling had one end under control and after the non-swinging match ball had been lost in the hedge, he decided to try Neilo (4-3-4-2) from the pavilion end who sure enough, swung the ball like a banana. Griffiths was less than impressed after lobbying from the field, concerned that Neil had already had too good a day, convinced the skipper to make him 'take a blow'. Charlie took himself off after 2 sketchy overs having come down with sudden fatigue syndrome leaving Jack Shaw (4-0-16-2) and Corey Holliday (4-0-23-1) to have spells which showed a lot of promise where if they can both cut out the odd stray ball, demonstrated that they will have a lot to offer as they gain experience and confidence. Batstone (2-1-3-2) and the returning Jopling (5-1-11-1) were brought on to finish as the skies threatened rain and with Ebby Vallance having had a good day behind the stumps and Lewdown making it over 100, the game was drawing to a close. This is the point that the notoriously 'premature' Steve Batstone ripped out the stumps and started marching for the changing rooms despite Lewdown having a wicket left. Resetting the wicket, it took one more ball and Griffith matching his actual catches with his drops (2 each) for the game to be truly over and an important win secured.
With the first team also winning, there was a happy atmosphere at HQ and we even got Ebby to the Wurzels on time; a good time had by all. Next week sees the visit of Chelston to Millaton and fingers are crossed for them turning up and a sunny day.