Post date: Aug 27, 2013 3:53:30 PM
With last week washing out almost every game in the county the 1st XI found themselves in a serious relegation battle. We started the day 6 points shy of Upottery and safety. It was lucky then that Upottery were our opponents in this crucial match, in which a win for either team would all but secure safety. The Hattonmobile travelled with a strong team for the last and most important away game of the season.
Mark Fog was once again captain and won the toss, putting Upottery in to bat on a rather slopey pitch. Tom and Dan opened up and gave little away as usual and Tom made the breakthrough in his second over, a wicket-maiden, bowling their number two. Dan had the harder of the two ends with the slope and struggled to find his rhythm but Tom was bowling as well as ever. Pulman looked to take the upper hand by advancing down the track and flashing the ball to the short boundary but two balls later he was gone, to our delight, yet another sharp catch from Phil at slip. 22-2 and we had the upper hand. Upottery responded though hitting Dan for 4 and then Tom for 5, courtesy of the tree that was just inside the boundary, but Tom responded once again bowling the dangerous looking Arscott with a perfect yorker. Alex (7-2-26) had replaced Dan, and after Button-'Binsy'-Stevens had hit his first ball for six, settled down and hit a good line outside the off stump. Tom ended his brilliant spell of 7-1-18-3 to be replaced by Stewart Down making his long awaited league debut. 52-3 from 14 and we still felt we had the upper hand. Upottery rallied once again with Button-Stevens and Kennard both hitting the ball well, we were unlucky though with a couple of sweep shots just looping over Cal and a solid appeal for LBW being turned down. Stew did eventually get his man though, Button-Stevens swept again but was caught brilliantly by Dan at deep square, just managing to stay in side the boundary. Kennard continued to knock the ball around but was perhaps a bit to eager to up the rate calling for two after the ball had been hit to Tom in the deep who picked up well and immediately saw the chance, picking out Mark with the gloves who had time to take a few steps and whip off the bails. Jacko replaced Alex and struck with his first ball, trapping Drew in front, mesmerised by his action perhaps? Stew continued to entice the batsmen and it paid dividends, James taking a sharp catch on the boundary that looked destined to take his head off or hit a tree. A couple of overs later and Stew had his third bowling Kennard, the ball turning, flicking the pad and hitting the stumps. 120-8 and we should of really cashed in but their 9 and 10 played intelligently picking the bad balls from Jacko and Cal. That was until Dan (6.3-31-2) returned and took the last two wickets in stunning fashion, the first cutting in and bowling Broom and the second a caught and bowled taken at full stretch. We had bowled them out for 158, perhaps about 20 more than it should of been but still a good performance and a very gettable target, especially with our strong batting line up.
Jacko went out with Stew and they began well, playing every ball on its merit taking us to 30 for no loss from 7. Stew had looked solid and untroubled but then tried to turn the ball to leg slightly too early getting a big leading edge and being caught brilliantly at slip. Phil joined his son at the crease and creamed his first ball through the cover for four. An over later though and he was gone as well, in similar fashion, caught from a leading edge. Jacko continued in his usual way, striking the ball to the boundary with ease, he and Mark had a solid partnership and on the sidelines we were feeling confident. Jacko reached another 50, almost bewing caught superbly in the process! He was then caught a couple of balls later trying to attack but completely mistiming the ball. Tom was the next man in and settled things down, knocking the ball around cleverly and finding the odd boundary to take us to 106 at drinks. The break did for Mark (24) though, as his drove his next ball in the air and straight into the hands of cover. James took to the crease eager to halt the classic Bridestowe collapse, Tom was batting well now nudging the ball around and pulling out his favourite late cut (Bell-esque!!). A 12 run over, largely of extras, helped the cause as James and Tom took us to 135, before James chipped one back to the bowler. The nerves were begining to creep in on the sidelines, not least for loyal fans the Whitehorns!! Ian came and went for 1 and we began to worry, not just about losing a batting point, but losing the game. Pat had other ideas though, smashing his second ball through the covers for four. We were counting every run on the sidelines with overs not being a problem. Pat dispatched another four past mid-on to tie the scores, and though he looked as if he could of been give LBW next ball, soon found the single to win us the game and take home the crucial 20 points. A slightly more nervy chase than it should of been but we did enough thanks to Jacko at the top and then by Tom (26*) who did well to anchor the second half of the innings as wickets fell around him.
Bar a heavy defeat next week at home to Whimple and a big win for Upottery we should be safe, it is very much in our hands!! Here is the table -