Match (Click Here to View Image Gallery)

Stoke Gabriel vs Axminster 3rds - 26/07/08 - Home - Francis Clark Devon Cricket League - C Division - 2nd XI

Line Up

Jeff Baker *

Dave Higgins

Alex Hill

Ashley Hill

Alex Bertram

Matt Corstorphin

Clive Burnell

Sam Hill
Doug Ansley

Chris Life

Mike Perkin

Result

Stoke Gabriel win by 6 Wickets

Report

2^nd XI captain Jeff Baker celebrated his 347^th Birthday in style today after his side cruised home in style with a 4 wicket victory thanks to an unbeaten 46 from opener Dave Higgins and Matt Corstorphin – who took fifer and shook rattled and rolled his way to 38 not out to see Stoke home , with 32 balls remaining of the Stoke innings.

With both Tim and Steve Nand-Lal  on holiday – although after some of Steve’s overs in the week for the 17’s – you wonder if they did wait until Friday to leave. Tom Armstrong  was also an absentee , and with Rhys Lowther turning down the opportunity of a start – much to the delight of all concerned , it saw starts for all three of the Hill’s. On the first dry wicket of the season , Jeff Baker won the toss , and asked Axminster 3rds to bat.

Openers Matt Corstorphin and Mike Perkin made runs difficult to come by at the top – when you consider that the Aussie Corstorphin bowled 10 no balls in his first spell – the score at the first set of drinks (20 off 15 overs) proves the point. Perky struck the pad with one of his effort balls , then let out a photogenic grunt that wouldn’t have sounded out of place in the King Kong film – although it sounded like he’d ruptured his spleen at the time! Perky continued to push the ball through , and Corstorphin was finally getting his half tracking rubbish that he’s bowled all season to trouble the batsmen , so much that Jeff Baker introduced himself and Dave Higgins in as close catchers on the leg side. And it was the latter who broke the opening partnership , with the short stuff from Corstorphin too hot to handle , the pressure eventually told , and Beighton could only fend the ball to Higgy , who – after his best Circus impression , eventually held on , and the 12 over partnership was at an end.

The same combination quickly saw the end of the other opener too , with Higgins taking a slightly better catch off Murnane , Corstorphin’s 8^th over (10^th with the no balls) ending 2/27. Jeff Baker introduced the brothers of destruction into the attack. With all the danger of a safety pin , Sam Hill induced Marshall into a lofted drive to Doug Ansley in another Jeff Baker field placing special , with Dougie in no mans land 2/3rds of the way back to the fence at mid off. Both continued to rack up maidens as runs were ever increasingly difficult to come by. Jeff Baker introduced himself on for the younger of the two Hill’s , and the pressure continued – Jeff bowling 3 of 14 maidens in the innings. Money Shot’s tenth over saw Wright snagged behind – snaffled by Chris Life behind the stumps – breaking another arduous partnership lasting 17 overs adding 32 runs to the score. The innings meandered along until the penultimate over , where 4 wickets fell , 1 to Sam Hill , 2 to a returning Corstorphin and one to a run out in the final ball of the innings.

Stoke’s reply couldn’t have gotten off to a much worse start – well loosing Higgy would have been – but as Jeff’s made no runs all season it was status quo I guess. With Jeff already resigned to collecting tea money – money shot walked out to the middle. This week saw the conformation that Money Shot would be leaving the club – and the area – within the next few weeks to take a new job in the capital. Unfortunatly the script lacked the fairy tale innings that 50 Cent would have been looking for – as his eyes will now turn for the selection for next Thursday’s Narracott Cup final. Money Shot senior made his way to the middle – albeit lacking the style and sway of Al , his belligerent knock turned Stoke from a tricky situation at 11/2 , to a slightly improved position on drinks at 62/3 – when Ash got out clean bowled – 78 required from the remaining overs. Alex Bertram joined Dave Higgins at the crease , and the chase continued, with Bertram eeking every quick single available. Bertram followed a gorgeous extra cover drive by playing all around a straight ball , and trudged his way back to the hut for 8 with 61 runs still required.

Enter the ever confident Gdorfin , who quickly punished anything loose – as the score rocketed along (No pun on the last bowler – seriously). Higgy could only stand an watch at the other end as Corstorphin confidently slashed the required rate down to size , and the match was there’s , with 32 balls to spare. Dave Higgins not out for a superb 46 not out – with Aussie Matt just 8 behind on 38. No Clive Burnell straight drives to cow corner required.

Scorecard

1st Innings - Axminster

2nd Innings - Stoke Gabriel