Sun Shines For Mr. President

Post date: Sep 15, 2013 7:20:27 PM

Sandwiched between two terrible days of rain, the sun shone on Saturday for the last game of the season at the Millton Ground.  The match was between a Bridestowe XI and a President's XI selected by BCC President John Leonard.

James Ewen skippered the Bridestowe side but it was former BCC seamer Steve Sizmur who won the toss and elected to bowl first. Tom Fogerty and Ian Jutson opened the BCC innings and started solidly against the opening attack of Gary Sizmur (3-15) and Tallan Burns. Both batsman managed to negotiate the moving ball and hit early boundaries before Burns removed Jutson bowled for 7. Next in was our leading run scorer for the season Jacko, who departed quickly, bowled by Sizmur for just 1. Captain James faired little better as he smashed new bowler Brandon Horn to Burns at cover who caught well diving to his right. That left the score at 39-3, not the start that BCC were looking for! Luckily next came a fluent 50 partnership between opener Tom and new bat Phil Hatton, who hit the ball to the boundary with ease. The new bowlers, New Zealander Blair Reed and spinner Gavin MacDougall bowled tight lines and lengths but were not able to separate Tom and Phil until a dragged down ball from Gav was smashed straight to Sizmur at square leg to remove Phil for a rapid 35. New man James Speak joined Tom at the crease, who was now beginning to open up, particularly against the President's captain Steve Sizmur (2-31). Tom did have a bit of luck with a catch going down but hit a number of fours before a huge slog sweep for six over midwicket to take him past 50. It was wily Sizmur who had the last laugh though as Tom mistimed an attempted shot over cover and was safely caught for a superb 68. Sizmur had another wicket in the same over as Mark Butler, after his match winning 29 from 8 balls last week, hit a 4 first ball but was caught the very next one at long on. Next in was another hero of last week, Pat Ewen, who also couldn't repeat his power hitting and was caught off Gary Sizmur at long-off for just 3. The batsmen crossed but Gary removed the new bat straight away as Dan Fogerty gloved a sharp bouncer onto his helmet and the ball somehow ricocheted onto his stumps! Steve Batstone successfully negotiated the rest of the over and he and James Speak fought to take the score from 160-8 to to 177-8 before James was run out for an important 30, trying to come back for a second off the last ball of the innings. Considering the amount of rain that the surface had taken, 178-9 seemed a decent score, but with some dangerous players in the President's side, BCC knew they would need to bowl and field well to defend it.

After a great tea, and a draw, the President's innings got under-way. Gary Sizmur and Tallan Burns, the opening bowling attack, also opened the batting for the President's and it was Jack Hatton and Tom Fogerty who took the new ball for BCC. Much like the BCC innings, the batsmen didn't get off to the best of starts, Jack removed Tallan bowled for 2 and Tom got the big wicket of Sizmur caught brilliantly by Pat behind the stumps for only 7. Gav, batting at 3, took his normal approach and smashed early boundaries against the left arm bowling of Mark Butler. He was ably supported by Matt Moore before Phil Hatton (2-8) got the breakthrough, tempting Moore into a big shot which was caught well at mid-on by James. Brandon Horn was next to the crease and he started well, particularly in the showdown versus his younger brother Leon. Gav also took a liking to the leg spinner but after clearing the boundary for a six, he mistimed a cut to a ball which bounced but the ball somehow landed between the 3 men in the ring on the off-side. It didn't cost much though as the very next ball Horn bowled Gav for 19 with one which stayed low. The President's men where soon in even deeper trouble as Phil Hatton removed Brandon caught for 16, making the score 63-5. New man Blair Reed negotiated a difficult first few overs before launching the off spin of Steve Batstone for a 4 followed by a 6. He and captain Steve Sizmur battled well and played some great shots to put on more than 50 runs, before BCC skipper James (3-11) brought himself on and removed Sizmur caught for 14. Reed continued to anchor the innings and youngster Kian Burns played some fluent shots before he was out to a one-handed caught and bowled to James. Smokey Tremain was out trying to hit over point the very next ball leaving Kev Yates to face a hatrick ball. The hatrick ball was well outside off stump and was safely left alone by Yates, but the damage had been done with the score going from 120-6 to 120-8 in just 6 balls. With 58 still needed for victory, Yates and Reed dug in and hit any loose balls to the boundary, together they moved to 150 but with victory in site, James Speak (2-18) swung the game back towards BCC by removing Reed, who was caught for an excellent 46. Last man Toby Crimmins stuck with Yates and hit a boundary to take the President's men to within 25 runs of a victory which looked almost impossible 20 overs before. Yates hit another boundary but it was Speak who held his nerve and flighted a ball which turned and smashed into middle stump to dismiss Yates for 17 and win the game for BCC! And with that the 2013 is over, thanks for everyone's help this year, players, umpires, scorers, supporters, ground-staff, tea ladies, the committee and of course our President! Without you the club simply couldn't function, we look forward to your help and support again next year, here's to a great 2014 season!

President John Leonard shown below congratulating the winning captain, James Ewen after Bridestowe narrowly won the close fought match.