Hi, don't laugh but in Tom's absense I, Dave Watson, have had the pleasure of being in charge of our 2nd XI. So inorder not to be outdone by other teams I am going to attempt some match reports, which unfortunately involves me exposing my typing skills! If you think I'm slow in the field then you should be here to witness the fattest double left handed, no fingered, secretary in the world! Here we go;
2nd XI v Plympton 13/6
Tom wasn't on holiday at this stage, proceeded to the middle, and inevitably lost the toss. However Plympton chose to bat. Ben Robins and Jack Dent opened our bowling and both bowled very lively spells causing the Plympton batsmen problems. However the luck seemed to be with the opposition with every knick avoiding the slips, many more avoiding the edge altogether, and most mishit shots finding gaps in the field. When our chance came, James Carr chipping to mid off, unfortunately the catch was dropped. However we continued to press and Tom made an early bowling change bringing Pavvi on at Jack's end. Our bad luck continued as Pavvi's opening overs went for a few runs. Yet again most of the shots were mis hit, all shots in the air falling into gaps, and the whole thing becoming increasingly frustrating. Pavvi persisted, as did Ben who was eventually replaced by the evergreen Martin Gill, and eventually our luck turned. On a dry pitch with uneven pace and bounce we started taking wickets and slowing the run rate down. Pavvi took 4 wickets, Gilly 2, both at very good economy rates. Nick Polhill was also used inorder to keep pace off the ball, he also bowled well taking 1 wicket for few runs. Plympton battled hard though and their young guys in the middle to late order all chipped in. Ben returned to take a wicket, and Jack took the last two in the 49th over to ensure Plympton were all out for 185. A very good effort all round, in particular an unbelievable one handed running and then diving catch by Peter Firth, and a fantastic spell of bowling by Pavvi (at tea most Plympton players asked about him and confirmed what was very evident, that they struggled to play him), meant that Plympton with the lions share of the luck had posted, on a variable pitch, what was felt to be an average score. Both teams happy at tea. Our reply was slow (mainly due to me. Useless fat git!). 29 for 1, quickly became forty odd for 3 due to some very tight bowling by Danny "sniffer" Hawker, and accurate pacier stuff from Matt Gregory. Also including our batting star Nick for single figures, lbw to Hawker. There began our recovery, Keith Barlow making a rapid 28 and Tom a more sedate but very solid contribution, this continued to drinks when we had reached 80 odd for three. Keith now on 29 and Tom 16, and Keith becoming a little frustrated that after his earlier hard hitting freedom had been slowed by the returning Gregory. After drinks Keith got another one to smash, he duly oblidged, but un fortunately the ball went like a rocket to Dan Vince at mid on who took evasive action. The ball struck him on the shoulder, went up in the air, and he had time to adjust and catch the falling ball. Andy Ware was then given out lbw after appearing to under edge into his pad whilst attempting a sweep. Our bad luck now seeming to have returned, this was closely followed by the further losses of pete firth and ben Robins in quick succession. So now 7 down, and with only Gilly and Pavvi back in the hut, Tom and Jack took the decision to play for the draw. Our innings finished on 149 for 7, with Tom on a very creditable 36 not out. A losing draw, 9 points, could so easily have been different had things gone a little more our way. Quite well done boys.
2nd XI v Exeter 20/6
The less said about this game the better. Losing toss again, we were put into bat. The bowling seemed much easier and friendlier than that faced at Plympton but we possibly suffered frm that, and also a belief that seems to exist that we are better than we actually are, and that somehow the runs will come because we have so many good batsmen! ( NOT!! ). I agree we have much potential talent in our ranks but that doesn't become true talent until people apply themselves 100%. Anyway we digressed to 144 all out, that mainly thanks to some rearguard action from Gilly (3 in 18 overs), and a record breaking innings of 21 from Phil Barrow including a 6 over cover. Ben Ferrao, 35, was the best of a sorry set of scores prior to that and even he was dropped on 1 at the beginning of his innings. Exeter started their reply on a fantastic batting track and progressed to 8o odd for 4. A couple of decisions then went against us, both caught behind and not given. Exeter did not look back from there and won at a canter. A pretty poor performance I can only hope we all learn from.
2nd XI v Sandford 27/6
Toss lost again!!! Good news though really as we were put into bat on a good wicket on a hot sunny day. There is a god after all!! As reported by Abo in the 3rds review we entered the game with a much weakened batting line up. I believe this turned out to be a good thing as people, maybe learning from the previous week, and now not relying on others to pull them through, all batted with application and made the opposition work for their wickets. Myself (21) and Phil put on 48 for the first wicket, Andy Sewell then falling almost immediately to a nasty delivery that lifted sharply and unfortunately was gloved to slip. Enter Keith Barlow..... He and Phil continued onward running well between the wickets in the heat (glad I was out!), and smashing some good boundaries. Keith eventually holing out to deep mid wicket for 32. Andy Ware came next and he and Phil took the score well past 150, nearer to 175 I think, when a very tired Phil fell for a brilliant 77. Well done mate, we aii love you, how's Fudge? Jake, Gilly and Pavvi and made useful contributions to keep the scoreboard ticking and the run rate increasing, while Andy Ware progressed to 55 not out at the end in a total of 236 for 9. Well batted Andy, a welcome return to form. It was nice to take to the field with a big score to defend, be able to apply some pressure and, as long as we took wickets, not have to worry about the oppositions run rate. After a scary opening stand of 51 in only a handful of overs that proved to be the case. Wickets started to fall mainly due to the ever reliable Phil Barrow (4 for 58 in 15 overs), but finshed off by the amazing Pavvi who took 5 for 71. Again the opposition were totally bamboozalled by our giant from Sri Lanka. He bowled with so much variation of spin,flight and pace that as well as the opposition batsmen, I felt very sorry for the tireless Phil Stephenson behind the stumps who after all has to read every delivery. Deservedly for him the final wicket fell to a stumping and Sandford were all out for approx 180. Pavvi's and Phils figures would have been much better, and the winning margin greater, had we managed to hold on to the 8 catches dropped. Even so, a good performance, good application, and a good result. Keep up the good stuff lad's and remove those Exeter type performances and all should be ok. Remember Sandford were third in the league before saturday, smashing Exeter along the way. That possibly highlights the need for application and consistency, and what could be achieved with good levels of both. Good luck for the rest of the season.
Love and Cuddles
Dave
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