Kentisbeare CC vs. Bridestowe CC - 17/05/14

After a disappointing loss at Kenn last week we were on the road again, this time to Kentisbeare for a 3^rd vs 4^th clash. We welcomed the return of Tom Fog, James Ewen and there was also a debut for Jerome Innocent. Arriving at a sunny Kentisbeare to a hard track and familiar short boundaries we knew that about 250 would be a par score. Butler once again won the toss and we took to the field with the Fog brothers opening up. They both began well, bowling good areas and getting good carry and a bit of lift from the pitch. Dan (9-48-0) beat the bat on numerous occasions but the luck was with the batsmen, Gillet and Sprague, who began to find the short boundaries, often through edges or false shots. Dan thought he had his man though as Sprague muscled one down the ground, Pat took a great catch running backwards but his momentum took him crashing into the fence and it was signalled 6. Tom (9-2-46-2), finished his first spell going for just 18 and Lee Jutson (9-3-28-3) replaced him and continued in the same vain, hitting his usual areas for little runs. Alex Jopling (9-75-1) took the ball at the other end and began promisingly beating the bat and finding the edge, but it was to no avail as Gillet (45) was beginning to open up. Jutson eventually got the breakthrough though, taking the wicket of Gillet, sharply caught by Mark Fog behind the sticks. A couple of overs later Jutson had his second wicket, again teaming up with Mark Fog to get Ogden easily stumped. With 25 overs gone Kentisbeare were 109-2 a score we were pretty pleased with considering the pitch.

Sprague (71) did finally begin to find the middle of his bat and Jopling leaked boundaries. Jutson maintained the pressure though by picking up his third wicket, once again caught behind by Mark. Jerome Innocent (2-27-1) took the ball and had an eventful first over, an 11 baller but most importantly a wicket taken thanks to a certain Phil Hatton. Macartney swung hard at a short ball only to be spectacularly taken one-handed by Phil at slip (he takes one every season!), who quickly stated that your best fielding years start at 50! Jutson finished a great spell, and the game began to swing the way of Kenitsbeare as new man Howe joined Sprague in regularly finding the fence. Neil and Phil both had a go with the ball but also got the treatment. Sprague did eventually fall though thanks to a great piece of fielding by James Ewen, he dived for the ball at backward point and on the way back up threw down the stumps with Sprague stranded. With 10 overs to go the score was 210-5 with Howe (55) and now Busch striking the ball well. Tom Fog returned and bowled Busch for a quick-fire 27. Dan Fog bowled his final three and kept the run-rate down, before Jopling returned for his final over that proved expensive although did get the wicket of Howe, caught well by Dan Fog. Tom took a wicket in his final over to gain another bowling point, trapping Thomas (27) dead in front. A good effort with the ball and in the field, but a few too many extras meant we were chasing a 302 to win. However having chased a similar score here last season and with the short boundaries and good pitch we remained optimistic.

Mark Fog and Phil Hatton, who made a brilliant 133 in the win here last season, opened up the batting. It was a stable start from both, as they rotated the strike and Phil found the boundary with ease. Both openers were dropped at mid off in the same Busch over before Mark was out, hitting a poor ball straight to cover off the bowling of Howe. This brought Tom Fog to the crease, with plenty of time he looked to play himself in as Phil Hatton continued to pick off the bad balls. Tom then began to follow suit and the pair peppered the boundary, taking advantage of the tiring Howe (9-52-1) as he bowled his overs straight through. The other opening bowler, Busch (9-41-0), had bowled an economical first five and was replaced by Parkin (6-43-0). Tom and Phil were both going well now, looking comfortable in both clearing the fence and picking the ones and the both passed 50. At drinks they had put on 100 together and we were 135-1, it began to get quiet in the field as Phil (91) hit numerous straight sixes and Tom found the off-side fence. Lothan (7-51-1) did get the much needed wicket though, bowling Phil around his legs after a great innings. Jopling, promoted to 4 after top scoring last week, then took the crease with the score at 169. He, as Tom had done, took his time to play himself in before finding the hedge with a six. Tom Fog continued to look at ease and he along with Jopling began to take the game away from Kentisbeare, rotating the strike and hitting some big shots. A double bowling change saw Howe and Macartney take the ball, one slow and on the spot and the other firing in spinning balls like darts. A solid partnership from Tom and Jopling came to an end to the delight of Kentisbeare as Jopling (30) eyed up one too many and was bowled by Macartney (5.5-44-3). James Ewen fell in the same fashion and was quickly followed by brother Pat, bowled by Howe (5-33-2). Neil Griffiths then joined Tom but having only faced a few balls was sitting back down. He top-edged a chest high no-ball straight into his head, a horrible sound that could be heard from the boundary and with that reluctantly came off retired hurt. Butler took his place and turned his first ball around the corner for 4, a couple of balls later he was also back at the pavilion, eyeing up a short ball but not getting all of it and being caught straight. A classic Briddy middle order collapse losing 4 wickets for just 10 runs meant Kentisbeare now sensed a shift in momentum. Tom hit another big six over mid-on and brought up his maiden ton for Briddy. However he was unfortunately bowled next ball by Howe for a brilliant 103, and nerves began to creep in at the pavilion. Dan Fog and Lee Jutson were now at the crease needing 37 from 7 overs. After a good performance with the bat last week Dan looked confident and he began sensibly, knocking the ball around the now spread field for easy singles. A huge 6 and consecutive textbook drives for 4 by Dan released some pressure and the equation was brought down to 12 from 3 for the win. Opening bowler Busch came back for his final over going for just a single. 11 needed off 2 then, nails were being bitten by those in the pavilion, and Neil was up on his feet ready to go back in and be the hero. He wasn’t needed though, the second ball of the over was in the slot and Jutson (12n.o) gladly obliged, creaming it for 6 over mid-wicket, (our 13^th of the innings!). With two needed he then took a single and Dan (26 n.o) deservedly hit the winning runs. A fantastic chase with the tone being set by a classy 91 from Phil Hatton and anchored by an exceptional hundred from Tom Fog, with priceless contributions from Jopling, Dan Fog and Jutson at the end.

Another great win at Kentisbeare then, it’s proving to be one of our favoured grounds! Next week we are back at home, facing newly promoted Kingskerswell. Let’s hope for another top performance!