Post date: Aug 14, 2012 12:49:26 PM
After a washout last weekend the 1st XI were keen to secure a win against Kentisbeare in order to rekindle promotion hopes and with the return of the two Hattons and Woodsy we had a strong batting line up. The 1.30 start caught a few of us by surprise but Lee managed to win the toss and we were out in the field all be it starting with 10. It was an encouraging start for both Tom and Dan and they were unlucky to have edges fall short or not go to hand. Tom deservedly got the break through though bowling their opener top of middle stump. Sam then got the wicket that Tom and Dan had done most of the work for, a wild drive caught at point by Phil. With the opposition on 69 for 2 at drinks 200 seemed a long way off. The runs did start to come but Lee and Jopling kept their heads and picked up a wicket each, one of which was well caught by Dan at mid-wicket. Jopling then got rid of their number five with a well executed yorker. Things all changed though as there big number 6 immediately opened up, hitting Jopling and Jutson out of the attack. He had a brilliant eye and a combination of timing and power sent the ball over the grandstand numerous times. Although we dropped a couple of hard chances we had no real answer for it and he made a 106* from less than 50 balls taking their total to over 250. Dan picked up a deserved wicket late on to get us another bowling point.
Woodsy and Jacko walked out with a daunting target of 254 to win. Jack went at his first ball but miss-timed the expansive drive and was caught at extra-cover. Phil was bowled the next ball to round off an uncharacteristically poor day for the Hattons. At 4-2 from 2, any batting points were looking a long way off. Mark Fog joined Woodsy at the crease but their partnership didn't last long as Woodsy was dismissed. Sam, as he has on numerous occasions this season, went in and looked comfortable. The pair survived until the drinks interval that was signaled with the ringing of the newly mounted bell by Patrick Ewen. However Sam was out shortly after, bowled trying to turn the ball to leg. Tom was the next man in and he too looked comfortable with the pair securing us a batting point at 100. Tom was then caught at mid-wicket off a leading edge. Mark was looking at ease and passed his 50 and he too began sending balls over the grandstand. However nobody could really stay with him to mount a serious challenge on the total. Contributions form Ian, Neil and Lee took us to two thirds of the runs which meant we had to survive the last 5 overs to secure the losing draw. Mark was then caught at slip for a brilliant innings of 82, leaving Jopling and Dan 3 overs to survive. Men surrounded the bat and sledging came from every angle but this did nothing to put off the last pair who blocked out the last overs to deny Kentisbeare 5 points and gain 3 for ourselves.
A well ground out losing draw!