Kingsbridge II 237 for 9, Dartington & Totnes II 119 all out.
Kingsbridge (20 points) beat D&T (6 points) by 118 runs
Our batting was not too riveting to prevent Mudgey’s calculator computing that the team’s average age was around 49- and it would have been over 50, without 17 year old Tyler Walton.
Unphased by his Dad’s (and in some cases Grandads) Army, D&T Skipper Tom Petherick elected to bowl first though D&T’s bowlers gained little help from the pitch. Kingsbridge’s ground, known as ‘The Butts’ (you are invited to make your own joke here!) has a significant slope and Kombi opened D&T’s bowling downhill with a strong wind behind him. In contrast, Mick Rusling, back from a 3 month injury lay-off, was asked to labour uphill against the wind (with the lateral slope of the pitch potentially nullifying his inswing) There were several comical fielding episodes which may or may not have been wind related.
Kingsbridge’s batsmen showed aggressive intent from the start and kept the scoreboard ticking with some quick singles. Mick, making up for lost time, struck in his second over, bowling J. Hardy for 8. Kombi soon induced new man James Ellis to sky the ball to Mick at mid-off, were he held on to the ball at the second attempt.
Mick bowled opener Chandler for 24 but conceded at least 19 in an over (electronic scoring means we no longer have over by over stats) as Edmonds meted out some punishment. Edmonds hit him for 2 sixes but Mick ( 3 for 52) had the last laugh dismissing for 31, when Glenn took a good catch at point. Kingsbridge, were scoring at a good rate,and were 72 for 4 at this point.
The fifth wicket pair, Church and D. Hardy rallied Kingsbridge adding 44. Hardy was dropped on the long on boundary off Glenn but shortly afterwards Glenn got his revenge by running him out for 23. This brought Clive Clark to the crease. Clark is having a phenomenal season, averaging 118. He’s a cricketer who plays to his strengths, being quite content to block every ball, whilst waiting for a loose delivery. Keld Van Schreven and spinners Glenn and Tyler, managed to keep him fairly quiet for long periods then he would suddenly appear to wake up and launch the ball to the boundary, hitting two huge straight driven sixes. Keld trapped Church lbw for 20 as Clark continued accumulating runs at the other end. Clark had a let off when he was dropped at point off Keld, who bowled economically and with great skill taking 1 for 28 off 7 overs with his medium pace.
Tom brought himself into the attack, (possibly too late?) and was soon taking wickets with his spin. He dismissed Inch for 9, well caught on the mid-wicket boundary by James Hartridge. Hamett (13) top edged Tom to Daz at slip which brought up the biggest cheer of the afternoon as Daz took the catch with aplomb. Finally Clark (56) advanced down the wicket and was bowled by Tom (3 for 28).
237 was a good total but not impossible to overhaul. However, we got off to a disastrous start when Glenn was run out by a direct hit in the first over. Combi joined Neil Colegate and the pair seemed to be in control before Neil was bowled for 11 attempting a big hit off Hardy. Kombi was playing some delightful shots, particularly some fine cuts and Paul Taylor was batting well with him. Kombi edged a good delivery from Rhymes and Inch took a marvellous catch at slip to dismiss him for 29. At 66 for 3, D&T were still in the game. Keld became the second run out victim to a direct hit and his dismissal heralded a collapse as D&T lost their last 6 wickets for 40 runs.
Tyler went first ball and then PT (16) hit a delivery from Hamett (3 for 17) straight to mid-on. Only Tom with 27 put up any resistance in the later order as league leaders Kingsbridge gained a comfortable win.