Oddballs v
Walkham Valley
THE first away fixture of the season saw Walkham Valley?s recent heady progress set back a little by the all round excellence of opponents Oddballs at Plymstock.
Put in to bat, a depleted Walkham were given a fine start by Richard Berry, despite accurate bowling. After two quick wickets fell, Berry was joined by debutant Chris Spreadbury, and the pair enjoyed a good partnership before Berry retired on 25 not out to be replaced by Berry senior.
This new partnership found the runs difficult to come by, and Berry was eventually out for 20, leaving Spreadbury on an impressive 23 not out in a modest score of 87 for 4.
Oddballs were kept quiet for a few overs by steady bowling from Sandy Ralph, the Berry clan and guest player Mike Kierney, but as the less experienced bowlers took centre stage, the floodgates opened and Denny, Haynes, and Tookey plundered the bowling to see their team home for the loss of only one wicket with seven overs to spare. Kierney took the only wicket to fall with a fine delivery which removed Kiddle?s middle stump.
While there was understandable disappointment at the result and the low turnout for the Walkham Valley team, R Berry?s continuing good form and Spreadbury?s efforts with the bat and behind the stumps on his maiden outing were encouraging.
Grasshoppers v Walkham Valley
OPENER James Hills got the Walkham innings off to a fine start with a mighty six off the first ball as he and Richard Berry produced another excellent unbroken partnership of 58. Both retired undefeated with more than 30 runs apiece after several classy shots from both which saw off some hostile bowling from the Grasshoppers.
Runs became harder to get as the home side?s bowling, particularly from Lakey, Howard, Brown and Cove remained tight, though Sandy Ralph?s feisty 19 and a 26 from J Berry kept the scoreboard ticking over.
A reasonable score of 140 for 6 was achieved, though in the ideal conditions that prevailed, the total looked to be 30 or so runs too few to present the home side with a challenge.
Spence and Russel got Grasshoppers off to a vigorous start, despite steady bowling from Hills and R Berry, before Russel was snared by Spreadbury, Baxter making good ground to take a spiralling catch.
Greenwood soon followed to an excellent diving catch by Ralph off Alistair Peers, who then accounted for Spence, as young brother Philip Peers nonchalantly picked up a difficult looking catch at third man. Peers then took the third wicket of his best haul for the club by clean bowling Howard.
At 95 for 4 things were well balanced and an impressive spell from Ralph left the game more delicately poised. But a resolute innings from Lakey and some hitting from Cove saw Grasshoppers home for the loss of 7 wickets with 2 overs to spare, Paul Gibbings, Philip Peers and Hills accounting for the other wickets.