Match Report

1st XI vs Winscombe , 28th May 2005

Cheddar 181 for 7 beat Winscombe 177 for 7 by 3 wickets.

Cheddar recorded their first ever league victory over their rivals at Sharpham Road thanks to a wonderful team performance in a tense and closley fought contest. The Cheddar skipper, Luke Parfitt, won the toss and asked Winscombe to bat. It was a decision which he soon payed dividends as in his first over he claimed two wickets. Firstly, the very first ball of the match bowled Clement, as the batsman failed to offer a stroke. Four balls later, near delierium decended on Sharpham as Hunt drove loosley to mid-off leaving the visitors reeling at 0-2. Consolidation was the order of the day, but Aussie Bourke had different ideas as he tried to aim Parfitt over square leg. Sadley for the batsman his bat met thin air, and the ball met his middle stump giving the bowler his third victim. Tooey and the ever dependable Lunn set about resurrecting the innings, but futher dissapointment was in store for the batting side when Parfitt collected his fourth wicket, bowling Tooey and leaving them 34-4. What followed next was an intriging passage of play as Bawden and Lunn produced a wonderful rearguard and set about posting a healthy total against all the odds. The going was certainly slow to begin with as the Cheddar bowlers and fielders allowed no let up, but as the final overs were in sight with wickets in hand the batman, now well set, began to chance their luck. Cheddar continued to work hard in the field, and there was no let up in their enthuasim, but they had to applaud a wonderful batting display by the pair as they added 125 for the fifth wicket. Lunn was the first to go for 67 and then was quickly followed by Bawden for 66 and Bailey giving John Tullett two well deserved wickets. When the Cheddar batsman took the field they knew a good start was needed. Veal and MacRae looked in little trouble as they moved onto 40, but then the Aussie MacRae had a decision go against him and was back in the pavillion for 19. Cheddar don't like to make things easy for themselves, and with this in mind Veal ran himself out in the next over for 20. When Callow then chipped one to square leg off Ham it was the homeside who suddenly had to produce the fight back.Buttler and Waite took the score along to 84 before Buttler was caught behind off Pollard, leaving Waite to continue what is rapidly becoming his trademark innings. He was abley supportaed by Gary Balkham as they both mixed dogged defense with crisp attacking strokes. The innings suffered another wobble when Waite was bowled for 54 and Dan Parfitt joined Balkham at the crease. The pair took Cheddar to within sight of victory, but in what seemed like the final straight Balkham fell lbw to Lunn. The scene was set for Mattly Loughlin on debut to take Cheddar home to victory as he started timing the ball right from the off to stedy the nerves in the pavillion. Despite losing the wicket of Parfitt, Loughlin (14no) and Terry Clark (7no) saw Cheddar home in the final over with 3 balls remaining.