Top Team Performance
Post date: Jul 30, 2012 6:52:45 PM
It was a rather different looking Bridestowe team that made the trip to Topsham on Saturday. With both Jutson’s and Hatton’s away there was a slight worry of a thin batting line up. However with the return of Bridestowe legends Chris Lavis and Steve Drayner the 1st XI were confident of getting a result against a team who we probably should have beaten earlier in the season.
Mark Fog took over as skipper and winning the toss, put Topsham into bat. The opening batsmen never looked comfortable against Steve coming down the hill and it wasn’t long before he got the breakthrough, hitting the top of leg stump. A few desperate drives from the batsmen got the scoreboard going but Steve struck again caught behind by Mark. Steve was in full floe now and took two more wickets, one juggled well by Neil in the slips and the other caught by Drakey at mid-off. Lavis then joined the party taking the key wicket of their opener who clipped the ball straight to James at square-leg. Steve sealed his brilliant five-for just before the half way stage. The runs were still coming for Topsham with a few shots being played, but Tom and Dan took over from Lavis and Drayner both bowling tight lines and beating the bat numerous times. Tom then took out there dangerous looking batsmen with a perfect yorker. The runs then dried up and Dan, then Sam and Joping finished off the tail for only a few runs.
With 58 overs to chase 119, on a true pitch and quick outfield it was merely a matter of keeping our wickets. Tom and Mark opened up and could not have got off to a better start with Mark hitting 3 fours off the first over. Tom followed suit and the chase was looking comfortable at 22 off 2. This continued and although both Mark and Tom were dropped they got to 50 without loss. However shortly after the 50 partnership they were both caught, Tom off a short ball and mark close in. This brought Sam and Drakey to the crease, the latter hit two consecutive fours, and they must have been worried about him as he was triggered next ball, being caught behind but the ball coming off a combination of arm and thigh pad. Sam was looking in top form and the runs kept coming, Neil was looking the more conservative batsmen for once, although he did find the boundary, most notably a slog sweep to cow for 6. Sam then gave their spinner a simple caught and bowled but the result was not in doubt. James proved this by hitting a quick fire 15 and he and Neil finished the game easily to seal a resounding victory and a great team performance.
A busy week for the club ahead with the 20/20 cup final on Thursday against MPL, Tiverton and Bickleigh at home on Saturday and the Bridestowe village tournament on Sunday!