President's Day 2014

Post date: Sep 8, 2014 7:06:30 PM

With the end drawing in on a fantastic year for the club, we had one last hurrah in the annual game against the President's XI. The sun was, for once, shining as Bridestowe captain for the day James (with Sam and Butler inexplicably unavailable) won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat on a typical Bridestowe road. Phil Hatton and Tom Fogerty opened up for BCC after accurate opening overs from Rami and Brandon Horn, the in-form Tom was on his way back having inside edged a ball too close to cut onto his stumps. Lavis was promoted to number three in an attempt to get BCC off to a flyer and he struck the ball well before being brilliantly caught and bowled by Rami for 15. At the other end, Phil was looking in great touch and kept the scoreboard ticking by regularly finding the boundary. Steve Batstone made 7 before he was caught at mid-on off Devon leg-spinner Leon Horn. With the score at 54-3, Alex Jopling came in with BCC in a spot of bother, he looked a bit shaky early on, surviving a few close run out shouts. He soon found his feet though, striking Phil Down for a big 6 over mid-on in his first over. Phil and Alex put on 68 in quick time, hitting the President's captain Steve Sizmur for multiple boundaries before Phil brought up his 50 with a fine 6 over extra cover. Sizmur eventually got his revenge and broke the partnership as Phil edged behind to Tremain for an excellent 57. Captain James Ewen was next in and he looked to give Jopling the strike and get the team towards the 200 mark. Having just missed out on many occasions in the league this year, Jopling brought up his first senior 50 with another lovely boundary through the off-side. He and James were looking fairly solid and, as they began to up the rate, so Charlie Ewen was thrown the ball to look to buy a few wickets. He did just that, as Jopling guided his first ball straight to Gary Sizmur at cover who held a solid catch. Thoughts returned to Topsham last year as he got James caught on the boundary in the same over to finish a decent first over with figures of 2-2! New men Pat Ewen and Dan Fog both hit boundaries before Charlie had another, the huge wicket of 6-hitting Dan who inside edged a full ball onto his stumps! Rami (8-2-24-3) got his third wicket as Pat skied one which was well caught by Kev Yates, meaning BCC had gone from 160-4 to 172-8, another BCC collapse! Mark Fogerty spoiled Charlie's figures somewhat by hitting him for a couple of 4's in his last over but he had more than done his job for his captain. The opening bowlers returned and Mark was able to manoeuvre them around to get close to the coveted 200 before Dave Jopling was bowled at the other end by Rami for 1. Mark and Gideon Pritchard took BCC to 201 before the innings was wrapped up by Leon, who bowled Gideon for 0 to pick up his second wicket. BCC were bowled out for 201, with 2 balls of their 40 overs remaining.

The President's chase started well through Gary Sizmur and M. Huai, who safely negotiated accurate opening spells from Tom and Dan Fogerty. New bowler Dave Jopling started with a maiden to Gary as he and Lavis kept the pressure on the opening batsmen early in the innings. Sizmur and Huai continued patiently, hitting anything loose to the boundary as the pair passed 50 for the first wicket without too many issues. Lavis eventually got the breakthrough, getting one to lift from just back of a length, the ball smashing into Gary's (37) glove and being safely pouched by Pat behind the stumps. Lavis soon had his second as he bowled Brandon Horn in the next over for a duck. James got rid of Huai for 21 with his first ball, caught in the covers, and Alex Jopling continued his fine day by bowling Charlie Ewen to reduce president's to 74-4 with them having been 62-0. Kev Yates smashed a few boundaries before he was also gone, bowled by a Mark Fog yorker to depart for 9. President's captain Steve Sizmur attacked the change bowlers and he and Leon Horn were able to halt the collapse by finding the gaps and running well. The pair put on 34 before Leon was caught in Gideon Pritchard's first over. The very next ball, Rami smashed a short ball straight to Dan Fog at cover, who did well to hang on to a sharp chance. With fielders surrounding the new bat Tremain, Gideon bowled an accurate delivery which was safely defended to finish a great first over for Gideon! Sizmur and Tremain then put together another useful stand which was broken by Dan Fog, who had switched to bowling off-spin and got one to go on with the arm and hit Sizmur's (33) leg stump. With the score at 133-8, Blair Reed, who scored 50-odd in the same fixture last year, strode out at number 10 and started in commanding fashion, lifting Dan over long-off into the tree for a big 6. Reed and Tremain looked as if they may be able to pull off a miracle chase, as Reed struck another 6 to leave the President's men needing 45 from the last 4 overs for victory. Lavis returned to bowl a tight over for just 3 before Jopling removed Tremain caught for 15 to virtually seal the game. Jopling finished things off by bowling Reed for a quick-fire 20 to end with figures of 5-1-15-3 to go with his 52 with the bat. With the game lost, John Leonard, the President himself, even had a go, batting at number 12 and clipping Alex through midwicket for a single before Mark Fog bowled him in the next over to completely finish the game! The President's men were bowled out for 168, to hand Bridestowe the victory by 33 runs.

A great day in the sun to cap an excellent season for Bridestowe CC, thank you to everyone involved in the club at any level, what a year it has been!

Also, many thanks to Waitrose who provided £100 for Teas through their 'Club Open Days' scheme.

The Teams with BCC President John Leonard and Chairman Neon Reynolds.

Alex Jopling looks to attack against young Devon spinner Leon Horn