Produced by Cricket Statz - www.cricketstatz.com
Last updated 15-Jul-2007.
Match Report
Back home at Turnpike on another grassy wicket. The opposition on Saturday were Purbrook 4ths. We noticed an immediately contrast: with the departures of Matt, Graham F & Martin to the 3rds, coupled with Hannah's injury last week we had a much older side. The replacements were Tim C, Ian C, Stuart Bruce & getting a game on the mainland was Sam Freemantle. Purbrook had 3 players over 20!
The skipper lost the toss and we batted. Stuart & I opened and against tidy but unspectacular openers we progressed comfortably to around 40 before I was LBW (back leg) for 19. Sam joined Stuart and gave the innings a burst of runs. A big six and several fours saw us progress nicely to around 100. Purbrook brought on a young spinner who had Sam stumped first ball (off a no ball). He certainly gave the guys something different to think about turning it both ways on a slowish pitch. He bowled Stuart R for 18 straight after drinks. Stuart B was out quickly, and the young spinner got Sam out bowled after he gave him the charge . Sam made 38.
From 100 or so for 1 we were suddenly 4 down. Graeme S & Tim C hit a few lusty blows and their partnership took the score up to around 140 before both getting out in quick order. Tim for 9 and Graeme for around 20. That left Ian Clark & Blacky to take things on for the last 10 - 12 overs. Both batted well, Ian brisk between the wickets and Blacky less so. They put on 50 and we entered the last over on 194 for 6. After Blacky was dismissed by the young spinner, the skipper created carnage in the search for runs. Ian & Mike were both run out as we closed on 194 for 9. Not a bad effort on a damp pitch, all the batters got a start, but disappointingly no one got the big score that was there for the taking and we probably could have got 40 - 50 more runs against a weak bowling attack.
All that was forgotten once Purbrook started their innings. Dom opened the bowling and looked to have trapped the opener LBW plum, but the umpire looked away. However, for some unknown reason he charged off for a run and quick work by Blacky ran out his young partner.
Sam opened at the other end, and although bowling a slightly erratic line he got the other opener nicely caught by Stuart B. Still the action wasn't over,and Purbrook continued their suicidal running and tried to take a quick bye off Dom to short fine leg. Sam gathered it in quicky and threw it alongside the stumps and yours truly did the rest ;-)
As a contest it was pretty much over. Dom bowled six very tidy overs for no wicket and Derek replaced Sam. Derek bowled very slowly and struggled for his line a bit. Graeme replaced Dom and bowled a very good line and length. Derek & Graeme bowled in tandem for a number of overs. Purbrook couldn't score freely and we took wickets regularly. Derek got one courtesy of a stumping and bowled another. Graeme bowled one, got another LBW and Stuart B took another catch. Dom returned and wrapped up the last two, one bowled and presented a third catch to Stuart B to wrap things up. The other bowler was Ian C who bowled a single over. Best bowlers, in my opinion, were Dom & Graeme, although Derek improved over his ten over spell.
Purbrook were all out for 81 and we had helped ourselves to another 100+ run win. The older guys were a little disappointed that Purbrook played so many younger players as the contest was a little mismatched, but the game was played in the right spirit.
Final mention of the week for Blacky's scorebook. When he batted I had strict instructions about colour coding bowlers to ensure that our stats were spot on. I think I found not messing up his book tougher than batting! I makes you appreciate the art of a good scorer though - only hope I didn't make it look too bad Blacky?
Mark H
Blacky adds: The scorebook was tip top perfect thanks Mark, and the leg is coming along fine ;-)
