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The two top teams of Division C met at Plymouth Civil Service�s
ground on an extremely hot and cloudless day on 10th June 2006.
Even though the 2006 season would be barely 1/3 complete, both
teams appreciated that a victory was likely to determine, if not
the final placings, certainly go a long way to cement their
respective promotion aspirations. Batting first, a
strengthened Plymouth Civil Service got off to a flying start,
taking 80 off the first 10 overs as the opening partnership of
Hawker (77) and Maloney (54) plundered the wayward Bradninch
bowling.
After an uncertain start, including two sixes in one over,
Henry Scott (13-0-58-2) managed to exert some semblance of
control and respect from the Plymouth pair, taking an excellent
catch off his own bowling to dismiss Hawker. It was the
introduction of young Billy Wakeley (13-2-43-2), however, that
prevented the Civil Service from running away with the score.
Nevertheless, taking advantage of both the excellent road on
which to bat and Bradninch�s shortage of bowling, Civil Service
posted an imposing score of 285 off their allotted 46 overs for
the loss only of five wickets.
Chasing a target of over 6 per over it was important that
Bradninch got off to an equally good start. This they failed to
achieve as captain Nat Davey was back in the pavilion in the
very first over. This brought in Billy Wakeley, previously
promoted up the order to ensure an injection of pace in the
run-rate. In extremely aggressive and clean-hitting mode,
hitting 11 fours and one six, little Billy Wakeley capped an
excellent day�s performance with both bat and ball scoring 63 as
he and Rob Acton put on 117 in only 17 overs.
Such was his ebullience; Rob Acton (62) played an unusually
quiet innings hitting only 4 boundaries in yet another, by now,
customary half-century. Unusually, Rob was out, representing his
first dismissal of the season, but not before he and Christopher
Dean saw Bradninch to the required 191 run-mark to easily secure
the losing draw. As is frequently the case, his dismissal was
promptly followed by another - that of Chris Dean (44 with 1 six
and 4 fours) without any increase in the score of 194. Liam
Raybould and Alex Dunlavey safely saw out the draw but not
before an unnecessary run-out of Henry Scott, reaching 221-5.
Thus, over 500 runs were scored in the day for the loss of
only 10 wickets with four batsmen reaching 50�s. Whilst both
teams were keen to win, they were equally determined not to
lose. Civil Service went �defensive� far too early in the match,
posting five players on the boundaries. Although Bradninch were
ahead of the run-rate after 25 overs, they were not sufficiently
confident and closed up with 15 overs to go.
This and other divisional results has led to a constriction
at the top of Division C. Bradninch (88) lead by three points
from Civil Service, with a further four points over third-placed
Ivybridge who beat a slumping Kentisbeare by reaching a target
of 194 for the loss of only one wicket, thanks to an excellent
Salmon century (101*).
Next up is Kentisbeare at home, whom Bradninch must beat in
order to maintain their lead over Ivybridge before they meet in
a fortnight�s time.
Plymouth Civil Service 13 points � Bradninch 9 |
