Bridestowe CC vs. Kilmington CC

After a humiliating loss last week we were back at the Millaton ground hosting Kilmington knowing that anything less than a win could all but end our promotion hopes. Lavis and Pat came in for Boother and Barry.Kilmington won the toss and we were stuck into bat on a slightly soft wicket. Sam and Tom started carefully aware that some balls were keeping very low, particularly from Noble who was bowling some consistent areas around the off-stump. Wallis occasionally dropped the ball short from the other end and Sam dispatched him off the back foot for 6. In the next over Sam was gone though, he looked to drive a full ball from Noble but it moved in and bowled him through the gate. Jopling joined Tom who was looking comfortable, the pair ran well as Tom hit the ball well through the offside. The change in bowling got rid of Jopling as he popped up a catch to the man at close mid-wicket off the bowling of Seward. This brought Jacko to the crease and along with Tom they knocked the ball around with ease. They put on 20 together before Tom fell to Seward, a ball short of a length keeping very low and bowling him, unfortunate as he had looked untroubled for his 26. Phil joined Jack and saw out the end of a good opening spell from Noble (9-4-14-1). He was replaced by Gooding and Phil continued cautiously as Jacko began to get into his stride, whipping balls through mid-wicket. The pair respected good balls put down by Seward and Gooding but anything overpitched was punished with Jacko looking like his old self, attacking the bowling and hitting it over the infield. Phil was also beginning to attack as he struck Gooding for consecutive 4s through the offside. The score reached 100-3 from 28 overs and we were in a good position as Jacko also reached 50. Seward (9-2-28-2) finished a decent spell to be replaced by Rockett. It was the change in bowling that did for Phil, he looked to hit the ball down the ground but it went straight up and was safely caught at mid-off. In the next over new man James was also on his way back, bowled by a good ball from Gooding. Dan joined Jacko as the game was in the balance at 101-5. Jack continued confidently as he struck Gooding back over his head for 6. Dan supported him running quickly between the wickets and also picked up 2 boundaries flicking the ball well behind square. His good work was undone though as he went back to one from Gooding and was clean bowled. With 8 overs to go Butler took to the crease looking to get some quick runs, Jacko had the same idea and attempted to smash Rockett back over his head, he connected well but didn’t quite go fully through with the shot and was caught at long-on, after an impressive 66. Lavis joined Butler and they saw out the end of Goodings (9-1-51-2) spell. Wallis returned and Butler swatted him to the leg side boundary before being bowled. Pat was on his way back the very next ball as he was also bowled by Wallis. Mark safely kept out the hat trick ball and he and Lavis went about trying to get the score to 175. Lavis was striking the ball well on his favoured leg side and picked up a couple of boundaries before the field was spread. The pair then continued picking up 1s and 2s as Rockett (7-1-33-2) finished his spell. A quick change in keepers saw Cooke take the ball and his first over was taken for 10 as we reached 175. With 3 overs to go Mark tried to dispatch a full ball from Wallis (7.4-1-33-3) but could only serve up a catch to extra cover meaning we had been bowled out for 175. A score we felt was about par on a wicket that did a bit and a reasonably slow boundary.

Tom and Dan opened up and started economically as D.Cooke and Culley were cautious of the pitch. The big hitting Culley did get hold of a couple early on picking up 2 boundaries before Dan sent him on his way. He went to strike the ball straight but didn’t get all of it, the ball looked as though it was going to die on Jacko at mid-on but he managed to step forward and get his hands underneath the ball to take a good catch. D.Cooke continued carefully against Tom but did dispatch the bad ball when it came, striking Tom over mid-off for 6. Dan was really getting into his stride and picked up his second wicket in fine fashion, he got the ball to shape away and then seam in and clean bowled Stoney. Lucas was Dans next victim as he trapped him dead in front and he was gone LBW to reduce the score to 26-3. He was bowling with real aggression and immediately troubled new man Gooding. Tom finished a good early spell, the whole of which was bowled at D.Cooke! In his 6th over Dan got the important wicket of Gooding, a ball on the perfect length flicked the glove of Gooding and James managed to react quickly to pounce forward and take a good diving catch, the type of catch he had been waiting for all season. Jopling took over from Tom and picked up a wicket with his first ball, a loose ball first up that D.Cooke looked to dispatch on the leg side but Lavis was equal to it at square leg and took a great catch above his head. Holland joined the talented Rockett at the crease and the pair began to build a partnership, they punished loose balls from both Jopling and Lavis before Jopling picked up his second wicket. A full ball that Holland looked to smash straight but could only pick out Dan at mid-on who took a simple catch. G.Cooke now joined Rockett with the score at 41-6. They continued well as Jopling (5-1-24-2) lost his length and Lavis struggled to find his rhythm. Rockett was hitting the ball especially well and struck Lavis for 2 6s, one just a push down the ground. The batsmen took the score to 81-6 at drinks and we regrouped knowing we still held the upper hand but needed to get the breakthrough if we wanted to take the 10 wickets we craved. Lavis responded immediately finding the perfect areas in the first over after drinks and getting G.Cooke out LBW as he walked across his stumps. Sam replaced Jopling and found some good areas but Lavis was now on a roll. Rockett struck him for another 6 before he got his revenge, another ball on the perfect length got a bit of lift and Rockett (42) could only push it up, there was a moment when it looked as if the ball would fall safe until Lavis himself continued his follow through and juggled the ball for a good few seconds before claiming the catch to his joy. The very next ball Wallis was on his way back as Lavis bowled him all ends up. Noble and Seward survived Sams over and the hat trick ball from Lavis before it was all over. Noble, who had put up some resistance, bowled by Lavis (7.2-1-28-4) to finish a great 4 overs in which he took 4-8. We had bowled out Kilmington for 100, thanks to a brilliant spell from Dan early on and some good cleaning up work from Lavis, with a couple of wickets bought by Jopling inbetween! A good performance all-round, a great anchoring innings from Jacko with good support from Tom, Phil and Lavis.

It was nice to be back to winning ways at the most crucial time. We are currently 2^nd in the table ahead of Countess Wear who we travel to next week for the final game and promotion decider.