Devon C West

Bridestowe firsts v Babbacombe firsts

BRIDESTOWE missed the chance to remain top of the league after a disappointing performance with the bat against Babbacombe.

The hosts lost the toss, and were asked to bat first on a wet pitch. Things were difficult for the opening batsmen, as Tom Fogerty and Phil Hatton, usually aggressive from the start, struggled to time anything well enough to pierce the infield. The pressure told as Tom miscued a big shot down the ground and was caught at deep midwicket. Hatton managed one booming boundary over extra cover before he was caught expertly in the gully by Broad.

James Ewen and Mark Fogerty then dug in for a number of overs, picking up more extras than anything off the bat. The pair progressed the score to 49-2 before Mark tried a big shot down the ground, but missed and was bowled. Ewen and Khan batted a few more overs before the former got inside a Goodwin delivery with the ball hitting the stumps to dismiss him for 11. Dennis was bowled the next ball by Goodwin (3-18) and BCC were in trouble at 51-5. Pat Ewen countered and struck a couple of boundaries before he too was bowled, and Dan Fogerty was caught in the gully off Kingdon soon after. Things went from bad to worse after a calamitous run out saw captain Butler stranded without facing a ball. Spinner Bates bought the final two wickets with his slow left armers; first Lavis caught on the boundary, and then another good catch was taken in the gully to remove Khan for 13 and finish the innings. The hosts had managed just 84, albeit on a very difficult wicket.

Daniel and Tom Fogerty caused the opening batsmen problems almost every ball. After two maiden overs to start, Dan bowled Babbacombe's opening bat for 0 to make it 11-2 after six overs.

After the tea break, it was clear that the pitch had dried up appreciably, and the batsmen were able to play with more confidence off the front foot. Broad (27) struck Tom Fogerty for two straight sixes in an over. Khan and Lavis then came on to try to turn the tide for the home side. Khan had a huge lbw appeal turned down first ball, but was able to strike almost straight away as a full toss was smashed by Kingdon to captain Butler at mid-on who took a sharp catch. Lavis then removed Broad thanks to a sharp catch at gully by Ewen to leave Babbacombe needing 30 runs with six wickets left. The new batsmen steered their side to a relatively comfortable victory.

Feniton seconds v

Bridestowe seconds

IN the first away trip for the reformed Bridestowe seconds the toss was won by Jutson and there was little hesitation in inviting Feniton to bat first.

The opening combination of Jutson and Tim Shaw led to the scorers having little to do for the first 10 overs. 

Feniton were just starting to look like opening up when a snick-off was sharply taken by Dale Harris in the slips from the bowling of Jutson. From then on, wickets fell regularly with good catches taken by Charlie Ewen and Dave Jopling and tidy bowling, especially from Buzz Brimacombe. Kevin Burns continued to impress — with two great wickets. Jopling and Jutson (3-38) put the pressure back on the batsmen with accurate spells. Feniton's skipper, S Bright, played a true captain's innings of 52 not out, but aside from a great performance from a promising youngster, he had little support as they posted 147.

Charlie Ewen opened for Bridestowe with Steve Batstone.  Batstone was rarely in trouble, but it was clear that Charlie was already eyeing up the short leg side boundary.  With skipper Bright using the wicket with metronomic accuracy at one end, all the scoring came at the other and all was going well for the home side until Ewen was lbw. 

Buzz (42) strode confidently to the wicket and with Batstone, built a solid foundation before Batstone was caught for 16, trudging off having calculated that he now has an average of 99.

Tim Shaw looked out of sorts before getting a remarkable shooter that pitched three quarters and shot along the ground.  From then, Feniton did a great job of building pressure with their young bowlers supporting Bright. By the time Buzz was dismissed and Jutson strode to the wicket, the total was well within reach. Supported at the end by Harris, Jutson (38no) asserted his captain's credentials to imperiously seal a five-wicket victory with a towering six over long-on.