Post date: May 17, 2015 8:25:23 AM
After last weeks disappointing result, BCC 1XI traveled over the moor to Yelverton, boosted by the return of Sam Ewen, Gary Sizmur and Alex Jopling (sporting another horrendous lid). BCC lost the toss and were asked to bat first on another wet pitch.
Openers Sam Ewen and Gary Sizmur got off to a brisk start, with both batsmen pulling short balls to the boundary early on. Sam survived a big appeal for caught behind after hitting the floor, but Gary was soon gone as he missed one which swang in from left-armer Hobbs to bowl him for 4. Sam continued to play his shots but another wicket fell at the other end as Phil Hatton was given out after 3 rather hopeful lbw appeals in quick succession from Hobbs (3-35). Tom, a little worse for ware after his epic journey home, played some surprisingly nice shots, including a trademark late cut through the gully for 4. Sam then tried one shot too many as he pulled a horribly short ball straight to mid-off to end a boundary filled innings of 22. Tom was then bowled to leave BCC in real trouble at 42-4, with memories of the previous week resurfacing. James Ewen and Nazir Khan then set about rebuilding the innings, by looking for the gaps and running hard. Goldsby-West came on and proven very difficult to get away, as he hit good areas, with even his short balls staying very low. At the other end the bounce was more true and the short balls which were offered were ably despatched by both batsmen. James eventually fell as he chopped a short ball from West onto his stumps to depart for 18. Khan (13) went soon after, also frustrated by West, he tried a big slog sweep but could only manage a top edge which was safely taken at gully. Jopling went as well as he smashed one straight back to West (3-23), who held on well. Mark Fogerty and son Dan worked the ball around well to move the score to 89-7 before Mark was sent back lbw after inside edging one onto his pads. Captain Butler managed a powerful boundary which hit a glass, which ricocheted off the pavilion, and smashed on the floor. The party tricks didn't last much longer though as he edged behind to the keeper off Van Neikrick. Number 11 Lavis strode out with the score at 99-9, with at least 20 more needed for a competitive score. Him and Dan looked untroubled by the bowling, and proceeded to launch a counter attack with the bat. Both found the gaps well and managed numerous boundaries, including a powerful 6 from Dan (24no). The innings was eventually brought to a close when Lavis was bowled by a good yorker from Crompton for 22. The score was 139-10, with a valuable 40 added for the last wicket, which had more than brought BCC into the game.
Again going straight back out before tea, things went similarly to the week before, with sharp opening spells from Dan Fogerty, who was this time partnered by Gary Sizmur. Both beat the bat on numerous occasions in the first few overs, leading to extra slips being put in place. The first chance was spilled as Colmer edged Sizmur to Butler at 2nd slip, who couldn't hold on. It didn't cost much though as Sizmur disturbed his stumps soon after with an accurate yorker. The next wicket quickly followed as Parker tried to slash at a wide ball and Khan took a good catch running backwards. At tea, the score was 15-2 from 9 overs, and with the game was in the balance. Soon after tea Sizmur had his 3rd wicket as captain West mistimed a drive straight to Jopling at short cover who took a good catch. Khan held up one end well, and was turning the ball appreciably, and the only runs he conceded were balls which turned past leg stump for wides. Sizmur (4-20) was on fire and wicket number 4 soon followed as Van Neikrick edged to Phil Hatton at first slip who, as ever, held on well. Khan (2-14) then picked up his first wicket, trapping opener Jacpbs lbw after he had dug in well for 10. He then bowled Glover for 2 and Yelverton were on the ropes at 47-6. With Sizmur bowled out, Lavis replaced him and there was no let up as he started very accurately. He had an edge fly through gully and a huge lbw decision turned down before he bowled Hobbs for 10. Dujan (24no) was batting well at one end, but was running out of partners. Lavis (3-17) then put the game to bed as he picked up a couple of caught behinds, with Mark Fogerty holding on well. Sam Ewen bowled some accurate overs without reward before Dan Fogerty returned to finish the game by bowling Crompton for 0. That left Yelverton 86 all out, 53 short of the winning target, with only 3 men making double figures. So another top performance with the ball and in the field for the BCC, the batting still needs work, but help from the lower order saw us to a winning score.
Next week, BCC 1XI face Kingsbridge at home, and the 2XI travel to Kenn.