Cornwood 3XI vs. Bridestowe 2XI - 04/05/19

On a freezing but sunny day, the super two’s made the journey down to Cornwood 3s for their first game of the season.

The super 2s arrived in good time for the 1pm scheduled start with a quick pitch inspection they trundled into the changing rooms to find the Phantom lying dying in the corner after being hit by the pollen bomb. Buzz was parading around in his new BCC gear with a puzzled look of why we now have Cornish shirt sponsors (answers on a postcard to buzz). . . However, on to the toss - and in a remarkable turn of events Juts' actually won the toss, much to everyone's surprise. To no one's surprise, he decided to put the 'woods in to bat first. Skipper Juts decided to open with himself and Shaw (badger, new nickname courtesy of phantom) from the other end. Jutson was his usually miserly self, not giving much away. The first wicket came in the 3rd over, Shaw hitting the middle stump with one that came back in. Jutson followed up, hitting the off peg, and then in the next over having one nip back if the pads to take the middle stump for his 3rd wicket of the game. Shaw kept up the good work in the next over, managing to hit the stumps with the batsman playing down the wrong line. Cornwood were in all sorts of trouble at 25-5 off 11. Jutson finished up his spell with Marais taking a catch of a mistimed drive, leaving Jutson with excellent figures of 4 for 13 off 8 (1st team beckons...) Shaw finished with a not too shabby 2 for 31 off 8, Cornwood with a slight recovery to 46-6 off 16. The Phantom enters the game and immediately has the Cornwood batsmen playing and missing with his swing and pace Harris (5-0-26-1) at the other end was struggling to maintain his line and length until he came off a shorter run, after which he took the Wood's 6th wicket, beating the bat with some nice swing. Barkwell (5-0-15-1) took the 7th wicket with Smiler (Ant) taking a nice low catch at mid off. Smiler and Kayleigh replaced Phantom and Harris and soon mopped up, Smiler taking a wicket with his 1st ball with Marais taking a nice catch at mid off and then Kayleigh's pace caused the batsman to edge a catch to Badger in the slips . Cornwood all out for 95, with the decision to carry on for another hour before tea - much to the dismay of a few of the Briddy players!

Marais and Buzz in his shiny new gear strode out to take on the Woods opening bowlers. Marais took 8 of the first over 'hello, this could over before tea' muttered the Briddy players. A few more singles followed by another 4 - things looking good - then wallop, Buzz gets triggered for 3 and Marais soon follows for 16. Oh dear, Phantom gone as well, 20-3... Dropsy Jutson and Badger tried to steady the ship, just ticking along and trying to see out the opening pair. 9 more added in about 8 overs before badger was caught on the mid wicket boundary. Kayleigh and Dropsy saw things out to tea. 42-4 and Dropsy looking good. After a fantastic tea and another puzzled Buzz - this time, what was the fruit in the chocolate eclair cake? After deliberating with a few players, the verdict was mango. Anyhow, back to the game, Kayleigh and Dropsy (on a very full stomach) set about attacking the change bowlers and soon moved the score on passed 70. Just one run away from the 50 partnership, Kayleigh was dismissed for a nice 19. Dropsy soon followed, caught behind for a cracking 29. Jack Shaw lasted a while before getting bowled and Skip went 2nd ball, hitting a full toss straight to mid on. At 82-8, the Woods smelt victory, however, Harris and Burder had other ideas. With a couple of scary moments and a couple of boundaries, Harris and Burder saw out the attack and took the Super 2s home for a opening day victory. (the first for BCC in god knows how many years). Smiles all around in the changing room and a dapper looking Kayleigh dashing off to his wedding reception. Buzz attacked the last piece of chocolate eclair cake (and to his surprise finding out the fruit was peach, why didn’t he think of that!?). Next Saturday the Super 2s are home to local rivals Chagford, hoping to keep the winning run going.