RESULT: WRINGTON won by 2 runs

Wrington innings (20 overs)

Batsman Fielder Bowler Runs

J.Fowler b S.Hill 10

R.Sheridan b T.Coles 21

M.Taylor b J.Hartrey 4

S.Hussey run out 0

O.Willems ct & b T.Coles 23

A.Lovatt b S.Hill 4

A.Underwood run out 0

N.Higgs not out 0

dnb

Extras (w10 nb1 lb1 b1) 13

Total 7 wickets for 75

O M R W

S.Hill 5 0 14 2

J.Hartrey 4 0 24 1

J.Withers 3 0 7 0

J.McKeag 2 0 12 1

D.Gray 2 0 4 0

A.Wall 2 0 11 0

T.Coles 2 0 3 2

Blagdon innings (19.4 overs)

Batsman Fielder Bowler Runs

J.McKeag b M.Taylor 0

C.Clough-Hall lbw O.Willems 12

J.Roscow* b B.Thomas 21

D.Gray ct R.Sheridan b O.Willems 5

C.Hastie b R.Sheridan 0

S.Hill ct O.Willems b J.Fowler 2

J.Hartrey b A.Lovatt 6

C.Goldsbrough + not out 12

T.Coles b M.Taylor 0

A.Wall b R.Sheridan 2

J.Withers b R.Sheridan 0

Extras (w6 b3 nb3 lb1) 13

Total 5 wickets for 73

* Captain + WktKpr

O M R W

J.Fowler 5 0 16 1

M.Taylor 4 0 11 2

O.Willems 3 0 12 2

R.Sheridan 3.4 0 13 3

B.Thomas 2 0 11 1

A.Lovatt 2 0 10 1

MATCH REPORT

We came into this game after a month’s lay-off due to either weather affected, Bank Holiday or non-involvement (Cup KO) factors interrupting the scheduled fixtures but we should not have been that rusty as weekly coaching/net practice sessions were in full swing. However, there is always one game during the season where we manage to contrive a defeat out of victory and this was one such of those games as we failed, in a nailbiting climax, by 2 runs to overtake the modest total of 75 set by Wrington., after being well placed in the 16th over needing just 11 runs to win with 4 wickets in hand.

Batting first Wrington scored steadily at 4 runs an over throughout most of the game, their prime run makers O.Willems (23) and opener R.Sheridan (21), who figured in a number of double figure partnerships through their innings, were eventually both bowled by Tom Coles (2-3 in 2 overs) in the 17 and 19th overs as he returned our best bowling performance. Simon Hill (2-14), as is usually the case, took wickets in his two bowling spells who along with Jacob Hartrey (1-24) were our only other wicket takers. Jenny Withers with (0-7) in her 3 over spell, Doug Gray (0-4), James MacKeag (0-12) and Archie Wall ( 0-11) in their 2 over spells all bowled tidily to keep the pressure on Wrington and in their quest for more runs we also obtained two run outs in their final score of 75-7.

Having overcome an early set-back with the loss of James McKeag (0) in the 2nd over on a score of 3-1 Chris Clough-Hall (12) figured in a 27 run partnership with James Roscow (21) for the 2nd wicket to put us back on track before Chris was out in the 9th over. Doug Gray (5) only lasted one over though and was quickly followed in consecutive overs by Cameron Hastie (0) and then James. Jacob Hartrey (6) stayed at the crease only long enough for a few lusty blows before being bowled in the 14th over by one of our ex players Anton Lovatt, but even so, on 56-6 at the end of he 15th over, scoring 20 runs in the remaining 5 overs was very much an achievable target. This looked even more likely as 9 runs were scored off of Anton’s next over as Chris Goldsbrough (12no) pushed us towards the home straight leaving just 11 runs needed in 4 overs. From this point on we lost the plot and our 4 remaining wickets as we inched towards their total but Wrington managed to keep Chris away from the strike exposing our tail enders to the return of opening bowlers J.Fowler (1-16), M.Taylor (2-11) and their match winner R.Sheridan (3-13). Whilst the former two took a wicket a piece to remove Simon Hill (2) and Tom Coles (0) in the 16th and 17th overs, leaving us precariously perched on 71-8, debutant Archie Wall (2) had managed to edge us 2 runs closer to 73 but it was Sheridan’s last over burst in bowling Archie and then 2 balls later Jenny Withers (0) without addition to our score that gave Wrington the most unlikeliest of victories by 2 runs.