Match (Click Here To View Image Gallery)

Stoke Gabriel Vs Babbacome - 28/06/08 - Home - Francis Clark Devon Cricket League - C Division - 1st Xi

Line Up

Steve Tolley

Mark Newman

Rob Baker

Neil Robinson*

Dave Bolland

Jamie Day

Paul Collings

Bill Alcock +

Adam Castle

Mark Jackson

Tom Armstrong

Result

Stoke Gabriel beat Babbacombe by 2 Wickets

Report

Stoke made hard work of the Babbacombe match today , coming home two wicket victors chasing just 117. After bowling the away side out for 116 (Including a fifer from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk) Stoke scratched and scraped their way to the total , with Billy Alcock and Aussie tailender Mark Jackson there at the end to hit the winning runs.

Despite repetitive cries of “This is the cricket season” from groundsman John Webber , aging Left Armer Sean Dwyer managed to injure his wrist playing football during the week , which earned Tom Armstrong a call up. Stoke’s resident diamond dollars batsmen Alex Hill was finally given the axe to the 2nds (He told me early in the week that he never performed on camera – which I’m sure his misses will testify – but saying that , he never performs off camera either). That gave resident fine-collector  Jamie “Doris” Day (Absent last week after being held at customs for those lips) , his place back in the side. Skipper Neil Robinson won the toss (for just the 2^nd time this season) , and put the visiting side in on a rain-effected surface.

With Nick Sandbrook absent , the Pimms drinking captain gave the new ball to skater boy Dave Bolland , and an inspired decision it turned out to be. In the third ball of his first over he had Farkins bowled for a duck. Blackburn came to the crease , and decided to go after the Aussie Jacko , hitting the Aussie over mid-off for 4 , and then  3 balls later through mid wicket , although his vidual was soon ended by an ever promising Avril as Babbacombe were struggling on 9/2. Captain Robbo found just enough time between smoking his pipe and swigging from his hip flask to take chicken legs Jacko out of the attack.

Sunderland upped the Babbacombe run rate , before falling to Jamie Day (No doubt blinded by those lips) skying the ball to Steve Tolley who gobbled up the catch (Money Shot take note).

36/3 soon became 41/4 when Sunday player Monkey run out Lockyer from square leg. You’d have probably seen a smile on the captains face , but it was disguised by the Caviar and Chips he was tucking into that had been whipped up by his Butler Jeeves on the boundary edge. Opener Reading was joined by Cocker who went on the counter attack against Doris , taking 12 off his over (enough to remove him from the attack). Redding was finally bamboozled by Tony’s quick feet , trapped infront for 12. Tommy Armstrong replaced Doris , and bowled four economical over for 3 runs. Tony Hawk picked up his fourth , having Myers caught behind to a busy Billy the Fish behind the stumps , followed by his fifth – Goodwin – LBW for 3. Tony celebrated with a Kickflip and a 450 spin. He finished with figures of 13 overs 5/30. Bolland was removed from the attack by Captain Shearos – now sat down at extra cover tucking into freshly cooked Rabbit.

Clopper replaced Avril , and slowly began spinning his web. And had Cocker deceived for a well earned 24. And when Jackson had Babbacombe captain Bates removed for 3 with the scores at 85/9 , Robbo (Now onto dessert) and his merry men were harbouring hopes of removing Babbacombe for a score not even they could screw up chasing (Well – we’ll never know I guess). Backholer joined Sleeman (20*) , and together the 10 wicket pair batted for 40 minutes , Backholer surviving a bat pad catch from Tommy off the bowling of Clopper (A Catch that even the Matrix would have been proud of) , and two extremely close LBW appeals from a returning Jacko. 13 overs after the partnership had started , Clopper finally put the innings to rest , 116 all out , with just 3 balls to spare.

Stoke returned from the break opening with Steve Tolley and Sunday specialist Mark Newman. And the start couldn’t get much worse , attempting to get the score up quick (not the only thing he’s had a problem getting up this week I’m told) , run out for 3 – he’ll get runs against Plymouth Civil Service tomorrow. Rob Baker joined Steve , and began to slowly but surely push the Stoke total up. But Tolley (Chronically short of runs in recent weeks) became Goodwin’s first victim , LBW for 11. With Tolley on his way back , Captain Robinson removed his Excalibur from King Arthur’s stone , and walked out to the middle to the tune of the Final Countdown played by a local brass band , after walking through a guard of honour , his Butler marked out middle with a piece of chalk for him , and he began to make the chase alongside Tom Tom Rob Baker.

Runs were difficult to come by , Aussie Jacko accused the partnership of being boring (Yea right Jacko , next week , you bat at three and we’ll watch you knock off 130 in 5 overs). The pair batted for nearly an hour , before Robbo was caught cheaply in the covers by Blackburn for 19. Tony Hawk strapped on the knee pads and joined Jnr Luggy at the crease. The rate increased before Baker , became Goodwins 2^nd victim for 29 , and Avril finally ran out of tricks , and was sent packing the umpire for 13. Doris , more out of form that Gdorphin in the bedroom , came and went quickly , after a blast over mid off , he pushed one to Blackburn at second slip , leaving Stoke 85/5 , with the game no-where near from over.

Paul Collings was joined by Bill Alcock , 31 still needed if Stoke were to claim their first victory in 3 weeks. Things were looking good as the pair propelled Stoke passed the 100 mark. But PC was caught , bring the safety net to the crease. Two balls later he was on his way back to the hut , controversially given out LBW for 0. Stoke still needing 12 to win , with just Jacko (now in) and Tom Armstrong left to bat. Jacko , backed by groudsman John Webber to win the game , looked cool as he calmly struck a 4 square of the wicket. And when Billy chipped one over the gully , Stoke had the game wrapped up , with 2 wickets in hand.

Scorecard

1st Innings - Babbacombe

2nd Innings - Stoke Gabriel