Devon Cricket Board - Bridestowe v Whimple match report

AFTER a crucial win against Upottery last week, Bridestowe went into the final round of games 10 points above the relegation spots, but with 22 points available for a declaration win, they had to win their last game against Whimple to be sure of E division cricket in 2014.

Whimple won the toss and opted to bat, who themselves needed a big win to have a chance of getting promoted to the D division with Babbacombe.

Tom and Dan Fogerty both bowled economical opening spells and Dan (6-3-11-2) soon had the breakthrough.

The dangerous Gordon-Lennox was tempted by a ball short of a length outside off-stump and slapped it straight to Jack Hatton at mid-off, who took it well.

Palfrey came in and was immediately on the attack, hitting two boundaries in quick succession.

Fortunately for Bridestowe, he then went back to a good length ball from Tom and was clean bowled.

The batsmen were finding it hard to get Dan away for any runs and he deservedly got his second wicket, as their number 4 hit the ball straight to Alex at mid-wicket.

Tom (7-2-29-1) was unlucky only to get the one wicket and Alex replaced him, with Jack taking over at the other end from Dan.

Thompson and Brown made the most of anything loose and built a decent partnership and at 90-3 the game was in the balance.

Barry Down replaced Jack and he made the breakthrough in his first over taking the wicket of opener Thompson (46) LBW.

100-4 at drinks and it was time to turn the screw.

Barry did just that, after a couple of economical overs he got his second wicket, Searle heaving to mid-wicket where Tom took the catch after juggling the ball.

By this time Brown was striking the ball nicely and took a liking to Alex's bowling, however the batsmen at the other end looked much less convincing.

Neil was thrown the ball in order to take the pace off things.

Brown crashed his second ball for four and fancied the third as well.

He went to clear the rope but ended up picking out Tom at deep mid-on, a crucial wicket.

Another good length ball had the batsmen trapped and he was given LBW, making it two wickets in two balls! That meant a hat-trick ball for Neil and with men around the bat, he served up a full, straight ball that struck the man on the front foot striaght infront and after a load appeal Neil had a hat-trick! An amazing over from Neil reducing Whimple from 114-5 to 118 for 8.

Much like last week Bridestowe probably should have kept the opposition under 130, but their lower order managed to punish the odd loose ball from Barry and Neil.

The two bowlers had the last laugh though as Neil (3-14-4) got his fourth caught at cover by Jack and Barry (6.3-29-3) got the final wicket, bowling the big hitting Gillard.

After an excellent bowling performance, Bridestowe had bowled Whimple out for 146, a top effort and a very gettable score.

Phil Woods and Jack took to the crease for the last time this season.

They started well with Woods looking comfortable and Jack creaming his first ball for four and taking the first over of the innings for 11.

It was short lived though as in the third over Jack went at a wide one and was caught comfortably at gully.

Palfrey was steaming in down the hill and he soon had Woods as well, caught behind.

Matt Dennis joined Phil Hatton at the crease and smashed one back at Palfrey, everyone looked to the boundary but it had hit the bowler square on the hip.

After a minute or so recovering he dug in a rapid bouncer,and all Matt could do was glove the ball to gully leaving us 19-3.

Barry took to the crease and safely negotiated the rest of the over.

Bridestowe really needed some stability and Phil and Barry provided it, batting patiently and waiting for the bad balls.

The second change bowlers started their spells and by this time Phil and Barry were firmly in and looking good.

They hit the off-spinner out of the attack and at drinks we were in a similar position as Whilple were, 81-3.

Shortly after drinks Phil pulled his quad and after a quick word with their skipper, Jack was out there doing his dads running, not that he needed to do that much as Phil was striking the ball beautifully, frequently finding the boundary.

We soon reached the hundred mark, and Phil his 50 but just after an easy two, the Whimple keeper whipped off the bails as Phil (59) had wandered out of his crease when moving over to square and was rightly given out, a cruel way to go especially having batted so well.

114-4 then as Tom, the hero of last week, strolled out.

He was back in the hutch a couple of overs later though after a rather dubious LBW decision.

James Ewen was next in and smashed his first ball over mid-off for four.

A wild shy at the stumps by the bowler in the next over only encouraged him more and he beautifully clipped another boundary through mid-wicket to get Bridestowe within 10 runs.

By this stage there was quite a crowd at the pavilion and we were cheering on every run.

Barry closed in on 50 as he knocked the ball around with ease, but it was James (16*) who finished things off, clipping another through the leg-side for 4.

It was a well-structured chase in the end with a great partnership between Phil and Barry (49*) and the win was all the more important as those around us in the table also bagged 20 points.

The win ensured that Bridestowe will be playing E Division cricket again next year and shall hopefully be looking towards promotion rather than relegation!