Post date: Aug 22, 2012 1:11:44 PM
The seemingly different climate of Exeter allowed the 1st XI to get a much needed game in on Saturday, away at Kenn. Gav made a return to the team, in the absence of Sam, whilst Smokey made his 1st XI debut coming in for Ian.
Lee won the toss, for what must be a record time this season! He put the opposition in on what was a small and slightly damp pitch. As usual Tom and Dan put early pressure on the opening batsmen bowling countless maidens. It looked as if Dan was tiring bowling up the slope, but then he struck with two wickets in two balls. The first bowling the opener, top of middle stump and the second swinging to bowl the number 3. Tom was unlucky not to get himself a wicket but Dan picked another up in his last over almost identical to his second. Lee replaced Dan, and with no Sam, Alex took over from Tom. Lee was bowling great areas and in his second over their number four jabbed at the ball edging it to Gav at slip, the whole team went up but the batsmen stood his ground. The umpire was uncertain and gave the benefit of the doubt to the batsmen, deeming it bump ball. After a poor first over Alex made his second a wicket maiden having their number 5 caught at slip by Gav, no question of bump ball this time! Some great fielding and sharp thinking from Tom led to the next wicket, he took a great catch at mid-wicket off Alex but it was signalled a no-ball. The batsmen however was half way down the track, Tom fired it into Mark who whipped off the bails running the batsmen out. At drinks Kenn were on around 80-4 and the match was in the balance. We were then plagued by a spell of bad luck as the ball was mistimed or edged just wide of our fielders. Lee and Tom did eventually pick up the wickets they deserved, Lee with a simple caught and bowled and Tom with a similar wicket caught by Phil. The number four seemed to have countless lives, but did play some nice strokes to reach 50. Runs were leaking, Alex did however pick up two more wickets, one caught behind and the dangerous number four caught on the boundary.
Woodsy and Jacko took to the pitch with a target of 188. The made a solid start, running well and punishing the bad balls. The made a 50 partnership and were looking solid before Jacko mistimed the tricky spinner and was easily caught. Mark hit his second ball for four but was then caught behind off a good looking ball. Woodsy and Tom shared a good partnership with Tom creaming the opener firstly through mid-wicket and then through the covers. However this eagerness also proved his downfall as, not for the first time this season, he was caught at deep midwicket. Phil played in a similar fashion carving the ball through the covers but then being caught, this time behind the stumps. Gav joined Woodsy and all results were still possible. The required run rate did start to climb but both batsmen responded hitting boundaries and running hard. Woodsy reached 50 but was caught shortly after going for one shot too many. With just over 6 an over required Neil swung hard at his first ball and connected, but was caught near the boundary; Lee also went for it but was clean bowled. A win was no looking doubtful and Dan was also bowled. With 22 needed off 2 we had settled in the pavilion for the losing draw and Smokey, in at 10, clearly had that on his mind. Gav however, had other ideas hitting another 6 in the last over to give us a glimmer of hope but it was all in vain. Another losing draw all be it a disappointing one but there were a lot of positives to take from the game, with some solid performances.
Just two games left in the league this season, and the 6-a-side tournament this Sunday!