RESULT: CLEEVE won by 8 wkts

Blagdon innings (17.3 overs)

Batsman Fielder Bowler Runs

S.Hill stpd C. Dent b J.Roberts 18

H.Lyons* b L.Pearce 0

C.Hastie+ b L.Pearce 0

J.Hartrey b W.Carpenter 17

J.McKeag b W.Carpenter 0

J.Withers not out 4

D.Gray ct S.Neale b W.Carpenter 1

S.Huggins run out 0

T.Hendzel b W.Carpenter 0

T.Coles stpd C. Dent b S.Morrell 2

J.Binding run out 0

Extra (w11 b2 lb1) 14

Total 10 wickets for 56

* Captain + WktKpr

O M R W

L.Pearce 4 1 13 1

N.Mapson 3 0 15 0

W.Carpenter 4 2 7 4

C.James 1 0 10 0

J.Roberts 3 1 2 1

S.Neale 1.3 0 3 0

S.Morrell 1 0 3 1

Cleeve innings (13.2 overs)

Batsman Fielder Bowler Runs

B.Cave lbw J.McKeag 19

C.James b S.Hill 1

C.Dent not out 20

L.Pearce not out 11

dnb

Extras (w4 lb2 b2) 8

Total 2 wickets for 59

O M R W

S.Hill 4 0 14 1

H.Lyons 3.2 0 16 0

J.Withers 3 0 9 0

J.McKeag 3 1 16 1

MATCH REPORT

For the second season running we found ourselves drawn away against Cleeve in this competition and faired even worse as we lost quite easily again but in abysmal weather conditions which we had the worse of. Given the 1st rounds weather postponements we did not want the same to happen again so mutually decided to try to complete the game.

In continuous drizzle/light rain we were asked to bat and immediately suffered the setback of losing 2 wickets in the first over as both Haydon Lyons and Cameron Hastie were removed for ducks (1-2). Fortunately Simon Hill (18) and Jacob Hartrey (17) mastered the conditions and Cleeve’s bowlers for the next 7 overs as they managed to regain some of the initiative with a partnership of 44 runs. That’s as good as it got, with the introduction of spinner W. Carpenter into their attack, and on a wicket that was by now more like a skating ring, we lost 6 wickets for 3 runs as Carpenter decimated our batting with a spell of 4 overs 2 maidens 7 runs 4 wickets and we eventually folded to 56 all out in 17.3 overs. In total our innings comprised 6 ducks, 2 of them run outs, one of which would have done Swan Lake proud as Steve Huggins majestically set off for a run upon which, realising he was not going to make it, he tried desperately to turn round only to find his feet still going in the other direction and unable to stop, with arms and legs going everywhere!.

Although there was an early success as Simon Hill (1-14) took a wicket in his first over to give rise to the possibility that Cleeve might struggle in the conditions as much as we did but things were quite quickly starting to improve, the rain had stopped and the pitch was beginning to dry. There was little sign of us being able to cause the batsmen many problems as Cleeve weathered our opening attack and they began steadily picking off the runs at an ever increasing rate. James McKeag (1-16) did interrupt their progress in the 11th over trapping B.Cave (20) lbw with the score on 45-2 but the inevitable victory by Cleeve was secured only 2 overs later as L.Pearce (11no) joined the undefeated C.Dent (20no) to knock off the 12 runs required virtually by himself!.