2013 Match Report Badshot Lea

Five Star Dan Strikes

As Pyestock Turn up the Heat!

Badshot Lea CC Vs Pyestock CC

Sunday 21st July 2013

Weather Conditions: Very Hot and Sunny

Pitch Conditions: Wicket: Dry, uneven, dusty. Outfield: Green, dry,

Match Type: Limited Overs (40 Overs, Bowlers limited to 8 overs)

 

Five wickets in a devastating 8 over spell saw Dan Heath tear a huge hole in Badshot Lea’s batting this week resulting in a comfortable win for Neil Butler’s side.

The mid innings spell came at just the right time for the visitors who were looking for some real inroads into the home sides line up after 3 early wickets from brother Chris Heath stemmed a frantic start from opener Chris Olley.

After losing the toss, Pyestock bowled first with Olley and Aaron Smallbone (Ironically more used to Thursley CC appearances) looking to build a firm platform for their adopted side to build on, and the pair looked to start well with Olley playing 3 impressive boundaries from Chris Heaths first over.

At the other end Neil Butler, opening the bowling for the first time in 9 weeks, was keeping Smallbone at bay, and the opener perished in the 4^th over when a leading edge saw the ball loop up to bowler Chris, who took an impressive catch against the flow of his follow-through to claim Pyestock’s first wicket.

Olley continued his one-man assault on the Pyestock bowling as Neil this time conceded an expensive over, while Chris accounted for Josh Menzies, normally better known for his bowling exploits, with a ball that was lofted to Dan Heath at mid-off.

At 24 for 2 and Olley not out on 23, it was obvious who Pyestock had marked as the “Man to Get”, as Pyestock tightened their line and length in an attempt to frustrate both the opener and Tom Bull who was the latest to take to the crease.

Ben Bromley was introduced to the attack in place of Neil, but it was Chris who struck again with a ball that left Olley slightly, just flicking the off stump enough to dislodge the bail. With the danger man walking back to the pavilion having scored 34 from 27 balls, Pyestock could concentrate on further progress through the Badshot Lea line up.

Chris continued to bowl well to Bull and Captain Sam Acres as the run rate began to fall following Olley’s departure. Dan Heath was introduced and an eventful first over saw Bull slam 3 boundaries in consecutive balls, before a beautiful in cutter exacted the perfect revenge, bowling the home side’s number 4.

This started a devastating spell for Dan, who was using the uneven dusty pitch to his advantage as the ball nipped and turned consistently. Fricker became the next victim, bowled for 1 before number 7 “Sags” was drawn forward to a ball that turned away. Wicket-Keeper Paul Heath, alert enough to wait for the batsmen to over-balance, and claim a stumping.

B.Sweet was the next to fall as Dan continued his rampant assault, again finding the stumps as the batsmen genuinely had no idea how to handle the spinner. Finishing his 8 over spell with 5 for 30 and with Badshot Lea reduced to 112 for 8, the groundwork had been completed.

Noteworthy at this point is between the 3 members of the Heath family, all 8 wickets, all 3 catches and the stumping had fallen into their hands, giving the scorebook a very neat look. Jack Bromley however had other ideas, taking only 1 and a half overs to dispose of the final two batsmen Glenn taylor taking a smart catch from Joe Bull, who seemed intent on getting caught, already having given 3 chances in his 9 ball innings, and Cotton, caught by Paul Heath to end the hosts innings on a rather paltry 118.

Once tea had been consumed, Jon Ford and Glenn Taylor set about chasing down the total set to them. Unusually for this pairing it was Jon who flew from the traps with 3 consecutive boundaries from Cottons bowling.

The score continued to incease at an impressive rate as both batsmen scored freely from Jones, Cotton and Tom Bull, 64 runs were scored in the first 10 overs as Pyestock pressed for a confident and early finish. In the 11^th over however, Jon was adjudged LBW from the bowlig of Bull to end his innings on 26.

Jack Bromley replaced the outgoing opener and after a settling in period, continued where Jon had left off, making the result of the match more of a formality than a contest. The boundaries flowed and Glenn brought up his 50 as the total marched towards the winning post. Aptly it was the man himself who bludgeoned Smallbone for 4 bringing victory to Pyestock with the small matter of 19.2 overs remaining.

It was an impressive performance from a pyestock side, who seem to over the worst of their injury crisis, with Neil Butler and Dan Heath bowling well, Next week seems a return to hosting matches after a 9 month layoff as Peper Harow becomes the venue against Raynes Park Former Pupils CC.

Badshot Lea CC 118 All Out (D.Heath 5 for 30)

Pyestock CC CC 120 for 1 (G.Taylor 56*)

Pyestock CC won by 9 wickets

Pyestockcricketclub.co.uk Man of the Match: Dan Heath