The week taking in Dorchester, Ventnor and Cardiff did not have the best of starts.  After asking to revert to the trusted Ford Transit the only one in the yard had a sliding door that would not open. The mechanics positive comment that the bus was dangerous set the alarm bells ringing and more heat between part of the management team. After all it was past noon on a Saturday - how were we going to get out of this one – cars? A bus with a sound door was found in Plymouth who were closing at 2.00pm so the A38 was revisited with TOM TOM wanting to take us home rather than the city centre. Once this was resolved and the heavy city traffic survived we were on our way home to store the bus in a friendly farmer’s yard and although the rain clouds were still prevalent some others had at least lifted. A standard ninety minute exercise had taken four hours. Dorchester had been played on for a full game on Saturday, overnight it dried up further and there was no dreaded early call from Dorset. Young deer frolicked on the A38 at Halden Hill and the eleven were present on time. We were playing both Dorset and the Isle of Wight in the holiday season for the first time but at least the journey to Dorchester was a reasonable one. On arrival the scorer determined that her vital black bag, the one that is ALWAYS left in the car had been removed the previous night to deal with an over rate dispute. Anna Thompson came to the rescue, which was unfortunate as it resulted in having to speak to her, and she provided her pens and visited nearby stationers – a saviour but do not tell her.

Devon lost the toss and was soon apparently dead and buried at 38-4 which was 38-5 when Dan Bowser’s big toe was broken. Ladd–Gibbon had both openers, Thompson and Hardy, leg before, Kingdon played an injudicious shot to be caught, the younger Smith pulled and was bowled and then the bone was broken. Dorset County Hospital was not too busy on a Sunday afternoon and Dan went through the procedures which ultimately confirmed the break. Mr and Mrs Bowser were actually on a little break which unfortunately had to be cut short as they returned to Devon early. Bowser believed 130 might be a good score so it was some relief on returning to the ground that Devon had lost no further wickets and the scored had advanced to 128 with ten overs left. Gary Chappell and Joe Smith had led a major recovery putting on 89 off 22 overs. Smith scored the side’s first boundary with an improvised shot and the pair never looked back. Smith hit two fours and three sixes in his 40 when he was caught behind to give Ladd-Gibbon his third wicket. The captain joined the Bradninch all rounder, who is having an exceptional first season in the Premier, and they added 66 off only 45 balls. Porter scored at more than a run a ball and exposed his reverse sweep to Thomas Hardy country. He hit two fours when Dunham took his second wicket and bowled him on 183. With 16 balls remaining would the double hundred be achieved? Gary Chappell’s superb performance came to an end after 118 minutes at the crease having faced 88 balls when he was caught at backward square trying his own improvisation. His 67 had helped his side face tea with some real optimism he had hit four fours and six. The tail did their best giving Dunham his third and fourth wickets but they fell one short with the last man so confident that he would not be needed he was in blues.

Conversation at tea revealed that locals considered 180 to be a more than reasonable total in the 2009 Dorchester summer so the 199-8 had been an outstanding recovery. Porter removed the home side’s captain, Esson, when he bowled him third ball and some very tight bowling and fielding kept the home side on the back foot throughout the 35.5 overs bowled. Gary Chappell took the next three wickets to fall, stumped Yau on 38, caught Porter on 41 and leg before on 42. Dorset had faced 24 overs at this stage and was very similarly placed to Devon who had been 47-4 at the same stage. Porter returned to the attack to bowl the thirty-sixth over and fourth ball bowled keeper Tweedle who was looking to unleash. At 75-5 the threatening rain became persistent, there seemed a reluctance to cover and the game was eventually called off as Tom Watson lost the four hole play off. Acton had conceded just 1.7, senior Thompson 2.4, Chappell 2.1 and Metters 2.6 adding to the pressure exerted by the captain who conceded 1.9 in an outstanding united team performance. Late in the day the second test had got away from England with a big unbroken stand but all was well with the world as Bowser’s replacement Sam Richardson arrived from Budleigh. The Botany Bay was a more convenient watering hole even if the Thompson’s had to chase the bus to collect some keys from forgetful eldest. The journey to the Travel Lodge did not go to plan as Richardson had to improvise on his tracking skills and the centre of Ringwood viewed.
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