Match Report:

Cheddar 3rd XI vs Wells, 28th May 2005

Wells 2nds 71 all out lost to Cheddar 'A' 86 all out by 15 runs.

20/20 cricket came to the home of Wells CC on Saturday, not that it was supposed to. On a flat, easy going looking pitch Cheddar skipper Salway, confident of his batting line up, chose to throw some willow. Unfortunately the only moving timber for him were his stumps as young Stacey claimed his first wicket in his first over. Instead of a bat, McManus then decided to fetch a sand wedge to the crease and proceeded to chip out of the bunker into the grateful hands of Rall first ball. Barrowman, from the old pavilion end, looked dangerous but Head looked assured as the youngsters' pace appeared well contained. From nowhere however the Wells protégé made one rear just short of a length like an untamed mustang on the range to nick an outside edge and send Wells delirious as Cheddar collapsed to 1 for 3. The ladies of the City were then wowed by the return of "Boyband" Edmonds to the Cheddar side. The scorers were less impressed, despite scoring the first runs of the innings from the bat at No.5, he quickly followed French back to the hutch leaving the away team floundering. Davies decided to follow the trend as Barrowman clattered his stumps from the ground as another golden duck flew home. 25 for 6 and Cheddar were simply embarrassed by the Wells youth attack. In the past Phillips has wagged the tail and he did again to spare some blushes of higher order senior players. By the time he was out no-one really knew how important his 27 would be. The innings showed patience and some glorious shots to the boundary. Barrowman's 4 for 17 and Stacey's 3 for 16 had done the damage as Cheddar struggled to finish on 86. Undaunted, the away side, followed the advice of Yazz and decided the only way was up and when Suraj Wijekoon bustled in and had Stacey caught in the slips the sun started to shine for them. The excitement increased when Wijekoon bagged another and Salway convinced the dangerous Stone to bottom edge on to his own wicket. Barrowman and B. Knight though steadied the ship though and this pair guided the home team past the 50 mark. Having been spilled by the luckless McManus, Barrowman then drove too high to French who snaffled the catch inches from the ground and Salway bagged another 2 balls later. Harry Batt's 12 runs were important to Cheddar but his first victim, captain Knight, was the golden prize as Wells walls began to crumble. Knight the younger showed a steadiness which belied his years though and with the uncompromising Brown the win looked on after all. Cue Batt's second wicket and at 71 for 7, 15 runs to win seemed a very steep hill. Pawing the ground and snorting like a bull who has seen a large red rag waved to him in his own field, Salway steamed in to take 3 wickets in 5 balls (making his tally 6 for 17) and the rest of Wells' ruins collapsed like a house of cards leaving Cheddar the most unlikely of victors. Even better news was that it was only 4.30 and there were several Pubs to visit on the short journey home..if they were open yet!

D. Salway

B Stacey

0

R. Head

Caught b Barrowman

0

K. McManus

Caught b Stacey

0

D. French

B Stacey

6

M. Edmonds

B Barrowman

10

H. Batt

B Brandon

12

P. Davies

B Barrowman

0

M. Amos

Caught b Barrowman

6

P. Phillips

Caught b Brandon

27

S. Wijekoon

Caught B Brandon

4

R. Purkiss

not out

0

Extras

.

21

TOTAL

(all out)

86