Match (Click Here to View Image Gallery)

Ashburton vs Stoke Gabriel - 04/05/08 - Away - Friendly

Line Up

Ben Stone

Jannie Pieterse

Adam Deakin

Alex Hill

Elliot Anderton

Rob Baker *

Matt Nand-Lal

Adam Newman +

Matt Corstorphin

Mark Jackson

Bob Bamber

Result

Stoke Gabriel win by 18 runs

Report

Late order runs plus a team bowling performance ensured that the Sunday XI would pick up their first win of the season , in a friendly away at Ashburton. After suffering back problems seamer Steve Nand-Lal pulled out , allowing Elliot Anderton a chance in the side. Captain Rob Baker won the toss and opted to bat on a soft , spongy surface.

Ben Stone opened with Jannie Pieterse , and it took little time for Jannie’s kamikaze instincts to kick in. Lamping opening bowler Tom Durmam for a six over square , followed by another lusty blow down the ground. His stint was short lived , in the following over one big hit to many saw him on his way back to the pavilion for a speedy 15. Stone soon followed , missing a straight delivery off Durman which knocked back his middle peg. Adam Deakin was joined by Alex Hill , with the score at 19/2. The pair started rebuilding , with Al confident after making 31 away at Feniton the day before , and Adam , off the back of a (less than convincing) 21 in the week at Bovey Tracey. They put on 18 before Hill got bowled through the gate by George Marshall for 7. Deakin continued and watched Anderton and Baker be removed for single figures before himself depart , going for a big hit , for a hard fought 22. With the scores at 82/6 , the game was in the ascendancy. But keeper Adam Newman , followed by Australians Matt Corstorphin and Mark Jackson steered the side towards a defendable total – not without its scares , Jackson found himself half way back to the pavilion before being shelled by keeper Ellis. A successful catch would have left the side 108/9. Some hard biffs later and Stoke’s innings finished on 148.

After tea pace bowlers Bob Bamber and Alex Hill shared the opening duties. Both gave the batsmen trouble early on , and it was Hill , in the forth over that made the initial breakthrough bowling Durman , Lacey followed in Hill’s next over leaving Ashburton 11/2. Bamber himself got in on the act , after fielder Mark Jackson failed to reach an edge that dropped short in the gully from George Marshall , Bamber teased Ellis into driving straight in Adam Deakin’s hands at cover. In his next over he bowled Salter , and proving the importance of holding a maiden , stopped a certain four with his shin at the end of the over (For all Bamber fans around the world – he was unhurt , and will take his place in next Friday’s under 17’s game away at Harberton) , Bamber quickly shrugged the injury off , and returned to bowl another over before finishing his spell with Ashburton on the edge at 24/4 with Marshall joined at the crease by Coon.

Together they put on 34 , before Ben Stone – in a rare bowling appearance – skittled Coon. Captain Rob Baker , seemingly turning to anyone willing to bowl – including himself – saw the game in his sight. It was Adam Deakin , who removed a troublesome Marshall thanks to a tidy stumping from Adam Gilchrist (Newman – easy mistake to make). It was left to quick bowlers Corstorphin and Jackson bowling something that , given enough pints , may resemble spin , to polish of the Ashburton tail. The small 18 run victory in which Stoke were always in control.

Scorecard

1st Innings - Stoke Gabriel

2nd Innings - Ashburton