Inter District Report 14th May 2006
West v East – Match Tied
Well what a game that had a controversial finish – needing five runs to win off the last over with five wickets left. Their batsmen panicked and three were run out in the over. The umpires and scorers were unsure if runs were completed and should runs be given. Even as the players left the field the teams were unsure who had won. After discussions between the umpires, scorers and managers a tie was awarded. This gave the East a one point advantage in the district competition with the North still to play the South.
Inter District Report 28th May 2006
North v South - South won by 6 wickets
After a week of poor weather and uncertainty about when the game could be played, it was a real joy for the two teams to get out on a cricket pitch. Due to the bad weather in the North of the county, it had been agreed to switch the game to Dartington in the South.
The day was overcast, but not cold, and occassional flashes of blue sky gave hope that summer might return in the near future. North won the toss and decided to bat. The pitch was soft, and everyone knew that it was likely to play “slow and low”. In the event this proved to be the case. It was definitely a day when the bowlers would be on top, and batting would be tricky. South opened the bowling with Andy Longstreet and Matt Hickey (the South’s inspirational captain); Cooper and Rowbotham took strike for North. Cooper played an excellent defensive knock, but in the fourth over he lost his partner to a fast straight delivery from Hickey. Hickey bowling left arm quick from the pavillion end was a handfull. North’s task was not made any easier by the excellent field set by Hickey, who was backed up by some excellent fielding from the whole team. Popplewell joined Cooper, but in the 6th over both perished , Popplewell bowled by a Hickey express delivery, while Cooper pushed at a ball, and was caught at short mid wicket by Tom Field. McEndoo and Brierley got their heads down to see off the opening bowlers, and at 10 overs, North were 13-3. Angus Wilson took over the bowling from the far end, and immediately had an impact when McEndoo mistimed a forcing shot and was very well caught low down by Tom Field. In Wilson’s next over he brought a ball back into Brierley who had was playing an attacking shot, and he was bowled. Charlie Wood joined Billy Curtis, who was trying to put ball to bat, and had played some lofted cover drives off Stevenson to good effect. Stevenson had the final word however, as he decieved Curtis with a slower ball, and Matt Thompson brought off a fine stumping. The score was now 26-6. However, North never gave up, and J king stayed around for a while as Charlie Wood tried to hit his way out of trouble. The ball was still moving around and King unwisely went onto the back foot to a ball from Wilson and was bowled off the edge of his bat. However, a partnership of 14 had moved the score onto 40 in the 17th over. Fishleigh arrived at the crease and was soon faced with the spin bowling of Tom Field who replaced Wilson. Field, an off-spinner, got turn from the pitch but at a slow pace. The North batsman decided to try and hit Field out of the attack, hitting with the spin onto the leg side, and this made for a good contest. Matt Hill replaced Stevenson at the pavillion end, and first ball he persuaded Fishleigh to drive loosely and get and inside edge onto the stumps. Crouch joined Wood, and despatched Hill for a 4 to the long on boundary, with a lovel clean hit. This was the third and final 4 of the innings, both Curtis and Wood had also managed to hit a 4 each. The end came in Hill’s next over when first Wood tried to match Crouch’s shot for 4, only to get caught by the safe hands of Hickey at deep mid on. The next ball, Crouch played an attacking stroke at a full delivery from Hill, missed and was stumped by Thompson. North were all out for 61. Charlie Wood had top scored with 18, whilst Billy Curtis had scored 9. The South had bowled and fielded well, making the most of the conditions. Matt Hickey finshed with 3-4 from 5 over, Angus Wilson took 3-11 from 4 overs and Matt Hill cleaned up the innings with 3-7 from 1.5 overs.
It was decided that a drinks break would be held before South started their reply; tea was to be left for the end of the game. South opened with Luke Tuckett and Tom Field and the North stricke bowlers were Billy Curtis and J Perkham. The conditions were still difficult, but although Curtis and Perkham were bowling well, the batsmen were able to take singles and keep the score moving along. They didn’t look in any trouble until Tuckett was caught on the crease by a swinging delivery and out LBW. Angus Wilson, promoted to the number three position, strolled out to join Field. He must have wondered what was going on, as Field was bowled by Perkham two balls later, and then Matt Hickey was bowled by Curtis in the next over. Wilson had yet to face a ball as South slumped to 17-3 in the 8th over. Andy Longstreet joined Wilson in a determined partnership. They saw off the opening pair of bowlers, and slowley moved South towards the winning target. They knew that they had plenty of overs, and so it was cautious defence, with occassional attacking shots. It was the 19th over before South hit their first 4, with Wilson driving powerfully through the covers. Brierly and Cooper bowled well, Brierly in particluar was difficult to attack, as his spin bowling didn’t get too much bounce from the pitch. After a patient innings of 8, Longstreet attacked a ball from J King who had just come into the attack, and hit it back to the bowler. The score was 49-4 in the 20th over, and in came Ryan Stevenson on his home track. He immediately showed that he knew how to play, by forcing King first for a couple of runs, and then hitting a fine six over mid-wicket. Suddenly at the end of the 20th over, South only needed 2 runs to win. Wilson ended his patient innings with a fine cover drive for 4 to win the match. He ended on 14 not out, with Stevenson 8 not out. South scored 64-4 in 20.2 overs. The best North bowler was Billy Curtis with 2-11 noff 5 overs, Perkham chipped in with 1-10 off 5 overs, whilst King had figures of 1-11 off his single over.
The game was played in an excellent spirit, with North believeing that they could win right up to the last few balls. Many thanks to the umpires, Barry Jarvis and John Longstreet for their excellent work, but most of all thanks to Totnes and Dartington Cricket Club, who agreed to stage the game on Thursday night, and made us very welcome. Thanks also to the ladies who produced a fantastic tea that was enjoyed by everyone. South ended the game with 18 points, North got 2 points. The South man of the match was Angus Wilson, with Charlie Wood winning the man of the match award for the North.