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It's Chard luck for the hosts as Saints power to victory

Box Score

Aug. 7, 2010

Match Scorecard

The records tumbled today as All Saints dismantled the Chard A bowling attack in style. But even with a huge total, it wasn’t plan sailing.

Under cloudy conditions, Chard won the toss and elected to bowl first. Despite fielding a much changed side from the previous meeting between the sides, Chard no doubt fancied an early finish after bowling Saints out for a lowly 80-odd in that fixture. However, Saints were fielding a strong side, and made the most of the opportunity to bat early on. Steve Trott and the Cole man broke the first record, setting a new record opening partnership for the season, Trott in particular smashing two huge sixes in 21 from 22 deliveries. However, when he chased a wide one and was caught, Nunns entered at three, shortly to be joined by J Trott as Cole departed in a similar manner. With a solid foundation to build on, captain and vice captain could afford to build patiently. Before long, though, Trott lost track of a full delivery before it rattled his stumps, bringing Reynolds to the crease.

Nunns and Reynolds then set about building a partnership. Playing patiently and picking off bad deliveries, the run rate was decent too, and in no time at all, Reynolds reached his 50. Nunns looked set to follow him, but was strangely bowled around his legs for 41. The partnership was 98, and Saints were sitting pretty on 157-4 from 35 overs. Form player J Wallace then marched to the crease, and played the perfect role, dealing largely in 1s and 2s while Reynolds blasted boundaries. Saints breezed past the 200 mark for the first time since 2008, and Reynolds looked likely to get his maiden Somerset League ton. However, playing unselfishly and swinging for the fences, he fell just four runs short of the deserved landmark. A fantastic innings off just 90 deliveries, and a vital partnership of 65 in 9 overs with Wallace had set up Saints’ biggest league score since 2006. J Wallace (27*) continued and was aided with quick contributions from Atkins and F Wallace, as Saints posted 246-6 from their 45.

At tea, it was smiles all round, and it seemed the biggest threat to victory would be light, considering the numerous lengthy delays in retrieving balls. After a few overs though, there were other concerns creeping in. The highly unorthodox Pearce frustrated the bowlers by tickling nearly every delivery down to fine leg, and with the lightning outfield, most balls went to the boundary. At the other end, Barrett played more conventionally and hit some clean shots on his way to 28. A bowling change brought the young Morgan and Phil Atkins on to replace Nunns and Steve Trott, who had been ineffective. The batsmen seemed to struggle with the change of pace and angle, and with the trap set, Barrett could only pick out Nunns at long on to give Morgan his first league wicket of the season. The number 3, Dix, looked less than graceful at the crease, but seemed able to pick up boundaries from nearly every shot. Atkins struggled and was replaced by Reynolds with the situation tense. At drinks, Chard were 121-1 off 23 and looked set to knock off the runs with ease. However, Morgan was not finished yet, and produced an excellent spell which saw him remove numbers 3 and 4, aided by sharp glove-work from Gillingham.

Under pressure, All Saints performed admirably. The fielding was excellent, with concentration and maximum effort every ball, and eventually some good field placing, cutting off the runs. The pressure soon told, and Reynolds joined Morgan to remove key wickets and put the game beyond doubt. As the run chase petered out, Reynolds finished with 4 to seal a man of the match performance and Morgan was congratulated on a match changing spell. Victory number 4 for Saints had been sealed, and defeat to Chard earlier in the season thoroughly avenged.