PCC erased last week's debacle with a competitive win against Chudleigh.
At 16-3, I think we were hoping to beat last week's total!!! Andy Sewell was dismissed going for the big one in a 24 ball duck - Ritchie followed him on the same score, very well caught to a diving catch by aptly named Trout the 'keeper and James Nicholls fell to a brute of a delivery (pitched on a length, shot along the ground to make friends with middle stump).
Rich Gill, however, showed tremendous discipline despite being dropped and taking 38 balls to get off the mark. he had been joined by Captain Watson who battled away until being given LBW for 15 (47-4). Enter Jake Foley who played superbly for his 42 which included a straight 6 (a couple of balls earlier, the Chudleigh Captain had moved a fieldsman to stop the "awful hoik").
Rich went for 18, playing a big shot but the score had reached 82 by then - a terrific effort.
Jimmy, up and down the order like a yoyo fell LBW for 5 and Dale struck 8 vital runs to push the total to 133. Phil joined JJ and 14 more runs meant that Chudleigh required 148 to win.
Wilson, one of the opening bowlers had, in his first 11 overs gone for 19 runs - only ONE was off the bat though as he had bowled 18 wides!! Chudleigh had given PCC 35 in extras and for that we would be grateful.
Plymouth opened with Phil and JJ with Phil, feeling that Wilson was grabbing too much of the "wides" attention, bowled 3 in his first over as his continued struggle with rhythm. At least one followed in 5 of his next 6 overs. However, he did manage to have Foreward LBW with one which kept low and bizarrely having Howard bowled behind his legs playing no shot as the swing decieved him (and probably everyone else). JJ, meanwhile, was very expensive , going for TWO runs off his maximum 7 over stint - again, excellent accurate bowling.
Ritchie replaced Phil after 7 overs and struck in his first over by having Lemarquand caught by Rich Gill at square leg - this meant the oppo were 26-3 after 15 overs (PCC had been 5 runs ahead so nothing in it).
Chudleigh then added 51 runs for the 4th wicket as Horne and dangerman Wilson struck aggessively, if fortuitously, for Martin Gill ws unlucky not to claim wickets at deep mid-wicket but JJ could do little about these as the boundary was too close. He got his man though as Jake took a great catch at widish long-on?? running in. Gilly had suffered a previous drop off his bowling but struck further with two LBW decisions. James Nicholls had taken over from Ritchie and proved to be very brave (don't mangle your arm forever - there's no point) as he fell on his arm in just failing to stop a bullet of a c&b chance. very soon after, he fell on his arm again - great commitment. he picked up a wicket and by the time Phil came on again, Chudleigh, who had not done a Bradnich, were still in the chase but PCC were definitely in the ascendency. Their last chance, Captain Heather tried (and almost succeeded) to hit Phil over long-off but JJ took a super catch. Phil bowled Newland first ball and Gilly and Jake teamed up to dismiss the oppo for 113 - another very well taken catch doing the trick.
Barton next week in the prelude to Leaders Exmouth. We might be able to make THAT game a battle of the top two but Barton have been winning games so let's carry the momentum through.
Thank you Jo and Carolyn for a lovely tea - apologies if I have left anyone out but it was very much appreciated as was the washing up of the cups/plates by a lady from Chudliegh!!!
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