Introducing a new feature for 2018 “One from the archives”
Here’s one to ‘wet’ your appetite -the first 2nd team game of the 2010 season.
Dartington & Totnes II 175 for 6 Cockington Corinthians II 79 all out
As glorious April sunshine gave way to a wet start to May myriads of local cricketers were uttering the mantra “It’s raining it must be the cricket season”. Dartington & Totnes’ players were no exception to this as they arrived at a wet and dreary Foxhole on Saturday. However, the rain eased and miraculously play got underway with Cockington skipper Gavin Colegate putting D&T in to bat on a slow track.
Cockington were fielding five former D&T players including three of the local cricketing Colegate dynasty. D&T had two Colegates on the pitch, though one of these was umpiring.
Paul Taylor and debutant, Malcolm Coleman, opened the batting for D&T and found it hard to get the ball off the square against Cockington’s two slow opening bowlers. The wily Terry King was particularly miserly, conceding only two runs off his first six overs. However, his opening partner Gus Honeywill struck first when Paul Taylor failed to get enough bat on a full toss and holed out to James Nicholls at mid off. Taylor’s replacement, Glyn Oakey, another debutant, soon followed when he forgot the Club maxim ‘Never go back at Dartington’ and was bowled by King attempting to play off the back foot. At 22 for 2 off thirteen overs it was a far cry from the Indian Premier League.
D&T skipper Kevan Throgmorton signalled his intent hoisting King over his head for 6. Throgmorton and Coleman gradually picked up the run rate, building a solid platform for the later batsmen to enjoy. King (1 for 30) and Honeywill (1 for 38) bowled together for the first 26 overs by which time the score had reached 69. Fortunately for D&T their replacements, Gavin Colegate and Max Ellis, were less parsimonious.
With the score on 85 Throgmorton was bowled by Ellis for 34 and Coleman comically run out for 35. Tom Petherick hit a quickfire 30, which included two sixes, before Glenn Colegate took a good catch. Dan Goord scored a rapid 17 before Harry Baxendale (26 not out) and Jono Colegate (15 not out) biffed 43 more runs, securing a fourth batting point in the process.
D&T knew that anything over 150 would be a competitive total given the slow wicket and so it proved as opening bowlers, Baxendale (5 for 43) and Rusling (5 for 36) shot out Cockington for 79 in just 23.3 overs.
Like his opposite number, D&T skipper Throgmorton opted for slow bowlers to open his attack and this proved to be an inspired move. Gavin and Neil Colegate opened the batting for Cockington and although Gavin survived a huge lbw appeal in Rusling’s first over this was a temporary reprieve as he was deceived by the swing on final ball of the over which hit middle and leg. Watt was soon caught behind off Rusling without scoring. James Nicholls, took an enormous swing at Baxendale and had he connected the ball would have ended up in Bidwell Brook. However, he missed by a considerable margin and was bowled- another duck.
Cockington seemed determined to go down with guns blazing and Ellis (10) looked dangerous before being deceived by Baxendale’s spin with Oakey taking a good catch at mid-on. Lighthowlers (21), like Ellis, applied the long handle, denting Rusling’s figures somewhat before the bowler had the last laugh by rattling his timbers. Wickets continued to tumble to D&T’s dynamic bowling duo. Neil Colegate (39) alone resisted, surviving a dropped catch and some strong lbw shouts in the process. Colegate became man of the match Baxendale’s fifth victim- trapped lbw- confirmed by the raised finger of Neil’s brother, Darren. Finally, Glenn Colegate was well caught by Oakey completing Rusling’s ‘fivefor’ as Cockington capitulated.