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Sports see off Saints

Box Score

Jul. 24, 2010

Match scorecard

All Saints recovered a lot of pride against table-topping Bridgwater Sports today, but were unable to seal a much needed victory.

With the tie moved to a neutral venue, Saints arrived to a wicket in apparently superb condition, but were nonetheless asked to bat first by home captain Ben Fellows. No doubt the skipper wanted to hand the new cherry to his leading wicket taker, Temlett, and the pace man duly steamed in. Opening bats John 'Cole man' Cole and Steve Trott were tasked with seeing off the early attack, and Trott decided to counter-attack after taking a blow on the elbow, and one on the head. The next ball went for a massive straight six. Unfortunately his clean hitting only lasted for three shots and he departed for 16 to well disguised slow ball. The Cole man toiled against the rapid Temlett, and was unable to capitalise on some loose deliveries from Gardner before being bowled in the same manner as Trott. Nunns and J Trott battled hard and then began to take control of the first change bowlers, putting on a season best 3rd wicket stand of 43. However, Nunns shouldered arms to one that came back, only to hear the dreaded death rattle as his middle stump was knocked back.

This shocking piece of judgement saw J Wallace come to the crease, able to rotate the strike and allow Trott to free his arms. Trott was looking in great touch, but succumbed to the classic dismissal, caught in the deep, but for a fine 39. Atkins came next, and after a watchful beginning, was tempted in the same manner as Trott, and picked out the long-on fielder without having troubled the scorers. D Seward and Wallace then built a fine partnership, rotating the strike, running well and frustrating the bowlers. As the openers returned, Gardner in particular was infuriated as Seward turned his back on a number of balls, only to then cream a four through wide mid-on. Lots of staring and fuming got him nowhere, and in the end the 40 partnership was broken by a direct hit, running out Seward half way down.

B Sunderland replaced him, for one ball, and then F Wallace joined his brother, adding another 5 himself and running everything. Saints desperately tried to add more runs, but the pace men shortly wrapped things up, J Wallace bowled attempting the big hit, but for another fine 39, before last man Collins became Temlett's fourth victim for 0. The final score of 148 was a far better effort than the 86 in the earlier meeting, in better conditions. Against the top side in the league, Saints were pleased with posting a defendable target.

Bridgwater Sports' response started proactively, with some good early running, but Hurford improved Nunns' mood by leaving one of his deliveries only to see it strike the top of off stump. Nunns started in fine rhythm, while at the other end, S Trott was troubling Fellows, nearly bowling him on a number of occasions. Nunns picked up the dangerous Hansford with an excellent catch from F Wallace, before setting the trap for Holliday, who duly picked out Sunderland at mid-off. Fellows quickly established himself as the key wicket, playing sensibly and picking off any bad deliveries. Nunns took his fourth wicket and it looked like an unlikely victory may have been coming. However, Prowse showed some mettle and rode his luck, dropped by Gillingham off J Trott, to move into the thirties. Bowling changes failed to make an impact, with Fellows imperious at the crease until he played on to Atkins for 60. By then the damage was done, although Prowse and Organ did their best to make the final 15 runs look difficult.

Another defeat for All Saints, but a fine performance against the best side in the league will give a sense of confidence going into the remaining fixtures.