Bridestowe CC vs. Kentisbeare CC - 19/07/14

On Saturday we we welcomed promotion rivals Kentisbeare to the Millaton ground, in a crucial 1st v 2nd match. With the threat of thundery showers forecast we were happy to arrive to warm sunshine! Sam was captain once again in the absence of Butler and Phil Woods made his first appearance of the season replacing birthday boy Lavis.

As had happened last week the opposition won the toss and we were stuck in to bat. The skipper opened up as usual along with natural opener Woodsy. The pair began cautiously, being watchfull of the bounce that Chave was getting from the 'New Shed End'. Martin was getting some good movement coming down the hill and the first few overs went for next to no runs. This may have got to Sams head as he eyed up what he thought was a full toss from Chave, he looked to hit the ball straight but the ball went under his bat and into off stump. This brought the in-form Phil Hatton to the crease. Martin was beginning to miss his length and Woodsy gratefully struck consecutive full tosses to the cover boundary. The same happened a couple of overs later and after 12 overs and the end of the opening spells we were 42-1. Farley and Lothian were the first change bowlers, Farley began bowling a tight line and was hard to get away. Lothian bowled the odd loose ball and Phil was now in and a driving the ball well. Woodsy was having a lot of the strike though and the pair were now running well and manipulating the field. At drinks we were 82-1 thanks to a solid partnership from the two Phils. Farley was continuing to bowl tight lines though and got his reward as Phil (19) tried to accelerate the run rate, he attempted to strike the bowler back over his head but only succeeded in picking out the man at long-off. Tom Fog took to the crease and got off the mark with a typical late cut. Woodsy looked comfortable and passed his 50. Shortly after Farley (9-4-10-2) had his second, Tom Fog pushed at a ball outside off and served a dolly up to cover, Kentisbeare were clearly delighted with this dismissal after Toms 100 against them earlier in the season. Spinner Howe had replaced Lothian and after a few loose balls in his first overs he had Jacko caught and bowled, similar to Tom he pushed at one and gave an easy return catch. James now joined Woodsy and calmly faced out the last over from Farley. He was replaced by Cook with his slow, loopy spinners. We passed 100 but with only 15 overs to go we needed to up the rate, James went for a quick single but a good pick up and a direct hit from mid-off left him short of his ground. Jopling now joined Woodsy who was starting to open up smashing Cook around the corner for 4. Jopling edged Howe for four and then looked to go after Cook, he attempted to go down the wicket to him and clear the fence but it was to no avail and was eventually stumped. A few quick wickets and some poor shot selection had left us 129-6 with 9 to go. Mark Fog took to the crease and with the field spread took the singles. Woodsy went for a back foot slap off Cook (7-35-2), he didn't quite get enough of it though and was caught at long-on for a solid and much needed 76. Dan Fog joined his Dad and the pair ran very well between the wickets picking up 2s and 3s. Dan cut Cook beautifully for 4 and we passed 150. The returning Chave (9-26-2) did for Dan though as he attempted to slap a ball short of a length and served up an easy catch to cover. Jutson took the crease with 3 overs to go, after picking up a couple of singles he looked to get Mark (17 n.o) on strike for the next over but was easily ran out at the non strikers end. This brought Boother to the crease with 18 needed from 2 overs for the extra batting point. A 4 from Mark meant 9 was needed form Chaves last over, a couple of singles and then a brilliant pull stroke from Boother took us close but we fell just short, posting 172-9 from our 45 overs. A great anchoring innings from Woodsy, but some wayward batting form others and a good fielding form Kentisbeare gave us a score that was just about par on a wicket that was not easy to bat on.

Tom and Dan Fog opened up the bowling and began well with Gillett and Sprague playing cautiously. Dan was getting some movement on the ball which led to some very dubious wides being called to our dismay. Things began to get a little heated in the middle as we felt we were being hard done by, Gillett looked to take advantage of this as he began to open up, striking both Tom and Dan back over their heads for boundaries. Tom was bowling some very tight lines though and after consecutive maidens he had the breakthrough, the dangerous looking Gillett (20) edging behind with Mark Fog taking the catch at the second attempt. Skipper Chappell then came to the crease and got off the mark with a big 6 over mid-on. Jutson replaced Dan and after a loose first over found his areas with a maiden. Boother came on at the other end as Chappell and now Sprague started hitting the ball sweetly. With 18 overs gone they had taken the score onto 77-1, safely above the required rate. Jutson took a nasty looking fall on the outfield and twisted his knee bringing the end to his spell of bowling, nothing looked to be going our way. But we got some hope as Chapell (25) looked to attack a ball outside off from Boother and dragged the ball onto his own stumps. Thomas came to the crease and played his natural game, attacking from the start. Sam took over from the injured Jutson but he had no luck as he was edged for four and then had one dropped by Mark Fog. Thomas wasn't hanging around and Boother (6-1-21-2) got him, he struck a full ball hard on the off-side, Sam was equal too it though, making some ground from extra cover and taking a good catch. 105-4 now at drinks and we sensed a real chance, spurred on by the promise of jugs to be brought by Kathy Fog if we won it from here! Sprague was still in but wasn't looking too dangerous. Reed joined him and he also looked to hit the ball hard. Jopling (3-15-1), who had replaced Sam, got him though with a shortish ball that shot under the bat. Howe then came to the crease as Jacko took over from Boother. He struck in his second over bowling Howe all ends up. The big hitting Chave joined Sprague and the game was in the balance. He struck the returning Dan Fog through mid-on with a lovely shot as he and Sprague looked to build a partnership. Jacko was bowling brilliantly at the other end and we felt sure we had Chave out. He swung away from his body at a ball on a good length, there was a definite sound and we all went up, Chave looked as though he was about to walk but the umpire stood firm giving nothing. Jacko now even more fired up came in down the hill and struck Sprague (45) on the pad, we all went up once again and this time the umpire obliged to our delight. A big wicket to get rid of the settled batsmen. A few balls later and Dan (9-54-1) got the wicket he deserved, clean bowling Farley who had no chance. 132-7 now and the game was there for the taking. Lothian managed to stick around with Chave and the game looked like it might be slipping away from us as they passed 150. Chave continued to play his natural game and an interesting battle ensued. Dan varied his deliveries as he looked to tempt the big right hander, but he couldn't get the breakthrough and a slower ball and a bouncer were sent to the fence. Jacko then cleaned up Lothian, crashing the ball into the top of middle.157-8 now, 16 needed with 8 overs to go. Dan finished his spell and Tom replaced him for one last effort. His first ball was a good one, straight in at Chave, it ricocheted off his pad and as we began to appeal it went on to hit the stumps! Chave had gone for 28 and now we needed one more wicket for the win as the number 11 nervously walked out. 16 looked like a lot of runs now. Tom Fog ran in again, just looking to get the ball on the stumps, He did just that and Martin got nowhere near it and was clean bowled to our sheer jubilation. A brilliant bowling effort all round, and we got the reward for bowling at the stumps with superb spells from Jacko (7-1-13-3) and Tom Fog (6.2-4-12-3). Another great win giving us 18 points and increasing the gap at the top before next weeks match; away at Kingskerswell.