2013 Match Report: The Bourne

Jack’s 91 Shows Bourne

Supremacy

The Bourne CC Vs Pyestock CC

Sunday 26th May 2013

Weather Conditions: Warm and Sunny.

Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Dry, Green, Outfield: Green, fast.

Match Type: Time

 

A superb 91 from stand in opener Jack Bromley helped give Vice-captain Chris McGovern victory while in control of his first match this season.

Amongst the delightful setting at The Bourne, Pyestock ignored the fact that no fewer than four regular faces were missing to post their highest total since facing Badshot Lea in 2011 and set themselves up for what proved in the end to be a comfortable victory.

Batting before tea for the first time this season, it could have been so different however as with the very first ball of the match Jon Ford, played Jordan Frost inadvertently through to wicketkeeper David Barnett. After encouragement to the bowler and a half appeal, the umpire’s finger went up and the bemused Pyestock number 1 was on his way. It looked unfortunate but immediately Pyestock needed to regroup. Dan Heath now joined Jack at the crease neither with experience of facing a brand new ball and a home side revelling in their early success.

Jordan Frost and Chris Beanland bowled tidily in the opening period, not allowing either batsmen to get away and in the 5^th over Frost doubled his wicket tally for the afternoon as Dan lofted a delivery and depart caught for just 2 runs.

At 14 for 2, Pyestock were on the back foot, and new batsmen Vaughan Newcombe helped consolidate the innings as frost and Beanland could not find any further breakthroughs.

Michael and Chris Toase took the bowling reigns looking for further inroads and it was the latter that prised open the door in his first over as Vaughan was caught to reduce Chris McGovern’s side to 47 for 3.

At the other end, however, Jack was beginning to settle down and play the shots more suited to the wicket and the bowling. Where others had failed, the youngster was thriving, and having only scored 6 runs from his first 24 balls faced, he became Pyestock’s main batting threat. Needing a partner to support him, Jack found the perfect man in Colin Butler, who remained happy to support Jack by allowing him the majority of the strike to attack the bowling, while providing the solidarity at the other end.

Jack really stamped his identity on the bowlers and after the difficult start moved Pyestock to 100 for 3 after only 19 overs. The impressive innings continued after the drinks break as the Bourne’s captain Julian Frost introduced himself to try and wrestle back an element of control, and after 3 overs in the attack, the prize scalp was claimed as a rare loose shot from Jack saw a simple catch to Mid on.

Jacks 91 from just 87 balls had set a legacy, but Chris McGovern’s side needed to kick on. Chris Heath joined Colin at the crease, and now as senior batsman, the Pyestock legend broke free from the shackles that were holding him back while Jack attacked. Colin was only on 8 runs when the wicket fell, but with Chris now as the anchor, Colin brutally brought up his first half century of the season, as Julian Frost and Mark James suffered. The Bourne introduced young off-spinner Ollie McAllan who bowled superbly to limit the attacking forays of the Pyestock duo, however as time began to run thin, runs were obtained at every opportunity with some impressive running.

As the overs ticked down it looked as if Colin and Chris were going to see Pyestock to a high total, with some fast paced hitting, however McAllan delivered a wicket 4 overs from tea by coaxing Colin down the track allowing Barnett the easiest of stumpings. Chris also perished in the final over leaving Ben Bromley and Peter Harris to scramble what they could from the remaining 4 balls as the innings closed on a formidable 234 for 6.

 As always with time games, Pyestock knew the ultimatum, no less than 10 wickets would see a victory, no matter how big the target set, so set about attacking The Bourne’s batting line up. The opening exchanges were nervous and tetchy, as Jordan Frost and McAllan looked to start the reply off in positive fashion.

Chris’s third over saw the breakthrough however as a length ball nipped back and bowled McAllan set the visitors on their way. His wicket however brought the formidable James Frost to the crease who instantly looked comfortable against both Chris and Greg Fanshawe. A second wicket did come in the 11^th over as Chris repeated the trick, bowling Jordan Frost for 13 to really stamp his identity onto the match.

Jack Bromley replaced the unlucky Greg and accounted for the wickets of Barnett and Duffy, who were both bowled, however the threat remained James Frost, who had yet to give the visitors any scent that his wicket was about to fall, a lusty maximum into a nearby house, evidence that he was still up for the run chase.

The question was however, could Pyestock  eat away at the batsen partnering the impressive number 3. This was the main talk at the drinks break with The Bourne 91 for 4.

A moment of brilliance however swung the match hugely in Pyestock’s favour. Third ball after the restart, with a changed field, a lofted slog-sweep into deep mid-wicket found newly placed Greg Fanshawe take a superb catch and see Frost on his way for 42.

Chris McGovern, was evidently a happier man after seeing the back of The Bournes main threat to the target, and relied on Dan Heath and debutant Ben Bromley to bowl tidily and with enough overs left the release of pressure showed. Dan caught Michael Toase LBW, whilst Ben Bromley repeated the trick with Mark James.

The game now shifted to seeing whether The Bourne could hold out for an unlikely draw. Pyestock persevered with the 2 spinners and it paid dividends as Dan picked up his third wicket as Woodstock only found the hands of Chris Heath with a mistimed drive.

Chris Beanland and Chris Toase battled well to avoid defeat as the overs ticked down, but the visitors continued to believe in victory and with 10 overs left, Dan seemingly found the edge of Beanland’s bat and the whole ground was conviced the ninth wicket had been found, but batsman and umpire remained unmoved. Undeterred, however the final two crushing blows were soon delivered. Ben Bromley produced a peach of a delivery that cut in and bowled Toase and three balls later Captain Julian Frost was unlucky to receive a ball that just never lifted off the pitch and took the base of off-stump.

Pyestock had claimed victory number two of the season, but more importantly, have hopefully made new friends in The Bourne CC and created a legacy for many more friendly well fought matches in the future.

Pyestock CC 234 for 6 (J.Bromley 91, C.Butler 65)

The Bourne CC 139 All out

Pyestock CC win by 95 Runs

Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man Of The Match: Jack Bromley