Bridestowe 2nd XI vs Ottery St Mary 3rd XI - 27/06/15

Bridestowe 2nd XI were back in action on Saturday, home against close table rivals Ottery St Mary 3rds. The home team fielded a strong side with returns for Matt Dennis and Matt Jopling as well as a debut for Ryan Dennis. Lee eventually got on the right side of the toss and batting first did cross his mind, but ever wary of the Bridestowe track he stuck the youthful Ottery side in. Kitzinger, who was coming off the back of a 100, opened the batting but it was his young partner Mutter who was playing the shots early on striking both Jutson and Shaw sweetly to the fence. The pitch was the complete opposite to previous weeks with the ball getting some considerable bounce and at times popping up, meaning for once it was okay to play on the back foot. It was Jutson who got the breakthrough in his third over though, as the confident Mutter chipped one back to him to take a good caught and bowled. Shaw followed this up brilliantly, tempting Kitzinger with an outswinger that he sliced to Alex at gully who took a good catch. This brought two new batsmen to the crease and it was clear that the young Southwell-Brown was going to try and play his shots. This soon proved his downfall though as he tried to go after Jutson but could only spoon the ball up in the air for Alex to take a simple catch at point. With the score at 16-3 Bowyer-Thornton joined Dean at the crease and looked to rebuild. Juston (2-21) and Shaw (2-20) were both bowling well and Shaw should have got his second as Dean edged one straight to Neil at slip who dropped the chance. He did redeem himself a few overs later though as Dean sliced the ball upwards, once again off Shaw, and Neil took an easy catch. Ryan Dennis and Dave replaced the opening bowlers and both began tightly, Dennis continually beating the bat and Dave finding some good areas. It was Dave who got the breakthrough just after drinks, Bowyer-Thornton chipping the ball to Matt Dennis who took a comfortable catch. This brought skipper J.Tierney to the crease to join son L.Tierney. He immediately took a big swing at Dennis and it looked as though he wasn’t going to hang around. After a couple of overs though it was clear he wasn’t just a pinch hitter as he knocked the ball around and sent anything full to the ropes, with his son sticking in at the other end. This prompted a bowling change with Alex replacing Dave with the score at 102-5 from 31. He almost dismissed J.Tierney with his first ball but after that failed to find any real rhythm. The older Tierney was really beginning to open up and his son was also starting to play a few shots as the score flew past 150. Alex did pick up the wicket of L.Tierney in his fourth over bowling him for a patient and accomplished 24. This wicket only caused J.Tierney to accelerate even more as he past 50. Ryan Dennis then picked up the wicket of Jeacock in what was thought to be his last over, however it was then called that he had already bowled his 9, much to the dismay of the home team, and Jeacock was called back. Pritchard replaced Dennis for the last overs and started reasonably tightly. Tierney was the wicket that Bridestowe really craved and a couple of half chance run outs resulted in over throws to add to the frustration, this was furthered when Tierney was dropped on the fence by Shaw. He capitalised on his fortune by smashing Alex (1-58) to the fence numerous times. Pritchard (2-35) did eventually pick up the wicket of Jeacock as he edged one high to short fine leg for another easy catch for Alex, his third and unjugworthy catch of the day. Tierney took the score past 200 before he was eventually caught on the midwicket boundary by Ryan, going for another big shot off Pritchard. He fell for a brutal 99, though it was later recounted and deemed that he did make a century. A wicket came from the last ball as Matt Dennis under armed a simple run out meaning Ottery finished on 211-9. This was a great score considering that they had been 54-4 at drinks and the Bridestowe players left the field feeling a bit deflated.

It was a father son partnership to open the batting for Bridestowe with Matt Jopling joining Dave in an attempt to build a solid platform for the chase with a strong batting line up behind them. They both started patiently being cautious of the good lines of Jeacock and McNamara-Campbell. In the sixth over Matt began to find his timing and capitalised on some loose balls striking three fours. Dave looked to join him in the next over dispatching a full toss from Jeacock to the fence, but it was short-lived as he was bowled a couple of balls later. This brought Matt Dennis to the crease and he knocked the ball about comfortably as Jopling began to find the fence, hitting the ball well through the off-side. They took the score to 42-1 from 10 as the bowling change came. Dennis took no time judging the new bowlers and dispatched Bowyer-Thornton to the mid-wicket boundary for a sweet six. The pair took a similar approach to Southall-Brown taking the young spinner for 23 from 3. L.Tierney (1-22) replaced him and soon got his reward as Dennis tried to strike another boundary only to be comfortably caught by Dean for a quick-fire 34. Neil joined Jopling who was looking particularly comfortable, picking the right balls to attack and respecting those in good areas. The pair took the score to 100 at drinks and the home side were looking in a good position. Mutter took the ball after drinks and Jopling reached his 50 with his tenth four of the day, another drive through the off-side. He was gone a couple of balls later though, chopping on a ball that was outside off and departing frustrated for an accomplished 51. Shaw came to the crease and he and Neil continued safely, knocking the ball around and dispatching the odd loose ball to the boundary. Neil struck a couple of sweet fours before he was on his way back, he tried to strike a ball from Mutter (2-19) over the off-side but could only send it upwards and was easily caught. Alex took to the crease with the score at 122-4 from 25. He and Shaw started to build a solid partnership running well and hitting the ball over the infield. They attacked the returning McNamara-Campbell both striking him down the ground for four. They also sent loose balls from Gardner to the fence and put increasing pressure on the fielders with quick running between the wickets. The pair put on 50 and the score was on 179-4 with 10 to go. Bowyer-Thornton (1-35) returned strongly and got the better of Alex as he tried to send it over the infield but was bowled for 27. Ryan joined Shaw who was batting brilliantly with the score approaching 200. Opener Jeacock (3-33) returned and got rid of him though, bowling him for a vital 38. The field came in for Pat and he was bowled first ball trying to clear the infield. The score was now 197-7 with 15 needed from 39 balls. Corey was the new man and somehow managed to get bat on a yorker form Jeacock and the ball went to the boundary, Jeacock tried to repeat the ball but overpitched and Corey smashed the ball through the offside for another four, much to the delight and relief of those in the pavilion. 7 were needed with 6 overs to go as Ryan tried to send one over the rope, he didn’t get all of it and it fell safe putting Corey back on strike. He punched a two through the offside and finished the game in brilliant style the next ball, creaming the ball through extra cover for four.

Bridestowe had won by three wickets with 5 overs to spare, though not without a slight wobble. A great team performance in a thrilling match that puts them third in the league with Exwick away next week.