WALKHAM Valley took on Plymouth Corporate Offices in a forty over match. The home team batted first, but were in trouble when Tim Baxter was bowled by O?Connel and Rich Berry run out for a duck. James Hills and James Vincent steadied the ship until Vincent was bowled by R Cload for 8, leaving Walkham on 30 for 3 from 9 overs. Chris Spreadbury hit a dozen including a six before he succumbed to Wilson. With James Hills propping up the order, Graham Vincent came and went cheaply then J Berry perished also chasing a wide from Ray Spreadbury for a brisk 12. Roger Smith joined James Hills in a 30 partnership before Hills retired undefeated on 30. Ken Kay held one end as Roger Smith kept the momentum going before he retired undefeated on 29, bringing Alistair Peers to the wicket. He and Ken Kay produced stout defence as they handled tricky bowling form Ashton and A Cload. Kay fell for 4. James Hills then returned to the fray and was given stalwart support by Alistair Peers during the final overs. They achieved their aim to leave Walkham Valley on a respectable total of 155 for 9, with Hills not out 58, the first half century in the club?s history, and Peers not out for an invaluable 10. Bowling honours for PCO went to Wilson with 2 for 17, Bruce 1 for 10, A Cload 1 for 10 and Ray Spreadbury 1 for 11. When PCO batted, the hosts? tails were soon up as Mowat fell second ball to a very good catch at deep mid off by James Vincent off Rich Berry, then Tim Baxter took two wickets in successive balls to see off Wilson and Bowes, the former caught smartly at the wicket by Roger Smith, and the latter a difficult caught and bowled well taken. Tim Baxter accounted for Ray Spreadbury, caught close in by J Berry. When Rich Berry clean bowled R Cload for a duck, and then Chris Spreadbury had Cowie caught for 3 by James Hills, PCO were in serious trouble at 18 for 6. Barrett and Ashton plundered some cheap runs from the lower order bowlers in a partnership of 60. Ashton retired undefeated for 30. Then another stubborn partnership developed between Cuff and Barrett, though the run flow was staunched dramatically with the introduction of James Vincent and James Hills to the attack. They conceded only 10 runs between them in 8 overs, and in the process accounted for the limpet Barrett for 23, and A Cload for 1. Cuff was joined by O?Connel as the visitors? score crept closer to the total required. These two found a few gaps until with 16 runs to his name Cuff tried to hoik Chris Spreadbury over cover, only to find the predatory Tim Baxter pouching the ball. Ashton returned to the wicket but only managed to find singles as the field was spread and alert. Ashton picked the wrong ball to try and up the ante when he presented Rich Berry with a caught and bowled, leaving Walkham Valley victors by 22 runs with 5 overs to spare. Ashton finished with 35, and O?Connel was not out 20. This was probably the finest spell of bowling from Walkham?s premier bowlers for many a game, as Tim Baxter returned 3 for 9 from 5, Rich Berry 3 for 11 from 5, James Vincent 1 for 4 from 4, James Hills 1 for 6 from 4, Chris Spreadbury 2 for 17 from 5 and Sandy Ralph 0 for 11 from 3. Nailbiting stuff, but a deserved win with valuable contributions from everybody in the team.
