Devon C West

Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough v Bridestowe

BRIDESTOWE first XI got back to winning ways with a four-wicket victory at Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough.

Captain Mark Butler won the toss and chose to bowl. Tom and Dan Fogerty passed the outside edge and caused a few problems early on but could not find their usually tight lines and lengths consistently enough.

Gaylard and Sanders played mainly defensively, launching the odd ball over the top. Bridestowe were not helped by being a fielder short for the first 15 overs.

The change in bowling got the breakthrough on 65, as Lavis bowled Sanders for 23. That brought the Gaylard brothers together for what would be a huge partnership. They initially played fairly defensively, with Lavis (1-26) and Khan bowling accurately.

The Bridestowe fielding was not at its usual high standard, and a few catches and run out opportunities went begging. Lavis finished a superb spell, going at three runs per over.

When the PCS and R score passed 100, the Gaylards began to open up, and smashed the returning Tom and Dan for a few big sixes. The score raced from 100-1 to 200-1, and with six overs left, it looked as though the visitors would have a huge total to chase down.

Sizmur came back in his second spell and again picked up wickets, first trapping Brian Galyard lbw for 71, ending a 140-run partnership. He soon had brother Rob as well, caught at deep mid wicket by James Ewen for a powerful 84.

The new batsmen proved just as able to find the boundary though, and the score continued to race along. Sam Ewen (2-16) bowled a tidy first over at the death, picking up the wicket of Sharp caught behind. His next over went for a few more runs, but he picked up another wicket through a great diving catch by Sizmur.

The last over of the innings, bowled by Sizmur (4-56), was an eventful one; he went for a couple of fours and a six, but also picked up another two wickets for an extra bowling point. PCS and R finished on 259-7, an excellent score which needed some serious application for the Bridestowe batters to overhaul.

The Bridestowe chase got off to a superb start through Tom Fogerty and Gary Sizmur. Both went after the opening bowlers from the off, but kept most of their shots along the ground. The partnership raced passed 50 and was soon on to 100 through an exquisite Fogerty boundary through the covers.

The home side's captain Windsor brought some control, and the run rate slowed to slightly below what was required. Fogerty passed his half-century with another boundary, and Sizmur followed suit a few overs later, as he punched Windsor back over his head for four.

The home team eventually made the breakthrough with the score at 147, as Windsor dropped one short, and Sizmur pulled it straight to the man at mid-wicket to finish a great innings of 55.

Barry Down and Fogerty ticked things along for a few overs until Barry was out lbw to give Windsor (2-33) his second wicketl. Sam Ewen came to the crease and pushed the ball into the gaps and ran well with Fogerty, who was now smashing the ball to all parts at the other end. With three sixes in quick succession but holed out to deep-midwicket on 94.

Khan clipped a boundary through the leg side, but soon departed thanks to a great catch at cover. The score was now at 191-4, with the required rate well above a run a ball. Just as the pressure was starting to build, Ewan smashed Gaylard for three sixes over midwicket to bring the target to within touching distance. He smashed a few more boundaries, but was the run out to a direct hit, to depart for a brutal 42 from only 21 balls.

James Ewen and Phil progressed to within 19 of the target before James was run out. Phil (24 not out) then wasted no time in getting the last remaining runs, smashing four fours to hand Bridestowe the win with 2.3 overs and four wickets remaining.