07/08/2022
Tipton St John is a superbly organised – and run – village cricket club that continues to resist League Cricket (not that there is anything wrong with League action, but there’s much to be said for the ‘pressure off and fun/fun/fun’ of good old fashioned cricket played between two teams who are both looking for the same thing out of the contest – to have honest all-round fun as opposed to the ‘must win’ cricket that comes with league points at stake.
So, in homage to Tipton and, in particular to the wonderful cricketing scribe that Tipton CCs Phil Wright certainly is – we here re-produce, word-for-word, as report on their recent meeting with Bakers – one of many such games in a busy schedule for the Tipton players.
Over to Phil to bring you the ball-by-ball action…….
This was one of those games that will stick long on the memory where a poor batting performance was rescued by some accurate bowling and kamikaze batting by the opposition when only 85 runs were needed to win
Tipton lost the toss yet again and were asked to bat first by Bakers captain Phil Priestley. Phil Tolley and Ben Kidson opened, facing Matt and Steve Bassett. Kidson hit a boundary in Steve Bassett’s first over, but was bowled by him in his next so departed for 5. This Bassett took the important wicket of Phil Tolley in his 3rd over as Tolley missed the ball and was trapped LBW for 4.
The score had been 20-1, but 6 wickets then fell as only 18 runs were added. It is easy to say from the sanctuary of the scorehut, but some of the Tipton batsmen seemed to be in a bit of a hurry instead of trying to consolidate after a poor start. There is no blame on Harri Stone who was bowled for 0 by Steve Bassett trying to defend. The Bassetts were rested after each bowling 4 overs and conceded 10 each.
John Buckland gave Joe Poustie the charge and failed to make contact with the ball, but wicket keeper Dan Lowton did and as he was well out of his crease exited stumped for 4. Adam Gibbins defended well for 6 balls, but then managed to chip a ball from Poustie to Stuart Jose at mid-off.
No. 3 Dave Thayre had witnessed the carnage of 4 wickets falling at the other end, but he became the 6th to perish, very well caught by Steve Bassett at square leg off Joe Poustie. There was no addition to the score when Luke Philips, who had started brightly, but was bowled by Stuart Jose for 5.
Tipton’s innings was in tatters at 38-7. The newspaper correspondent to the Sidmouth Herald had decided he would send a report of the Vancouver Islanders match instead of reporting on this carnage. Although Tipton’s lowest score of 23 had been overtaken, 38 was still in 5th lowest and would equal the occasion in 1990 when that was enough to beat Bristol team Yeoman by 16 runs!
Matt Davies and Sam Stone to the rescue. You never see Sam’s face in photos of him batting as he is always head down when defending. This he does rather well. Davies was also content to defend, unless that is a short or wayward ball was presented to him. Poustie (3-10, same as Steve Bassett) made way for Ben Rushton and Mike Lloyd as the Tipton score crept upwards. At drinks, it had reached 50, still very inadequate.
At this stage, Davies started to take advantage of the fast outfield and added 5 boundaries with some great running between the pair to try and keep Davies on strike. Just when a deserved 50 partnership loomed, it was snatched away as Davies holed out to Phil Priestley at mid-on off the returning Steve Bassett. However, the partnership of 46 is in equal 8th place for the 8th wicket, tying with Ian Cook and John Williamson in 1986, but well short of the record, 79 between Tim Wright and Peter Drury (his contribution was 6) v Plymtree in 1989.
This wicket fell with the score on 84, and sadly no more runs were added. Sam Stone’s gallant stay at the crease was ended when bowled by Poustie. His lengthy duck lasted 27 balls and 40 minutes, but enabled Tipton to grind themselves out of the mire. The discussion between Channon and Wright to play out the remaining 12 overs by defending the straight ones and hit the wide ones lasted just two balls as Channon‘s off stump was destroyed by Steve Bassett as he went for a bit of a heave ho.
Steve Bassett ended with great figures of 5-10 whilst Joe Poustie took 4-17.
Bakers seemed to have an easy task to knock off 85 runs at just over 2 and over. However, I think they thought they were playing a 20 overs match as several players perished to unnecessary shots.
Phil Priestley and Ben Jenkins opened, but were both back next to the pavilion before the end of the 3rd over with just 3 runs on the board. Matt Davies bowled Priestly in his first over for a duck, then Jenkins drove a ball from Mark Channon to John Buckland at silly mid-off who, as John does, held the catch, his 22nd of the season.
Stuart Jose got off the mark with a boundary off Channon, but then had a rash shot that skied the ball to mid-wicket where Adam Gibbins had to retreat a few yards to take the ball above his head. In the next over Mike Lloyd was bowled by Davies having a wild swipe for a single leaving Bakers on 12-4, so all of a sudden Tipton fielders felt all was not lost. Graeme Whalen and Andy Harvey-Barnes steadied their ship for a while adding 18 in 5 overs until Channon got through Whalen’s defences and bowled him for 12.
After taking 2-20 in 6 overs, Davies was replaced by Phil Wright at the river end. Having conceded runs at a rate of 6 an over in recent matches although taking 12 wickets in the process, anything could happen! It did, as after his first over yielded just 2 runs, 4 wickets were to be added to his tally and virtual holes in Paul Williamsons cap. Again though, he is grateful to some great catches by fielders.
His first victim was Dan Lowton who was not content with the singles he was accumulating and tried to hit the ball over the top. He skied it high to mid-wicket where the safe hands of Phil Tolley gobbled it up so Lowton departed after scoring 9. Andy Harvey-Barnes did not take heed of the folly of attacking Wright’s balls being directed at off stump. His hit across the line went high to the left of square leg where Mark Channon was in occupation. He took an excellent catch after making up 10 yards to his left, so now Bakers were 55-6 with still 30 runs needed. AH-B departed after scoring 24, the top score of the innings.
Only 2 more runs had been added when Phil Tolley took another brilliant catch at mid-wicket. Ben Rushton (1) was the unlucky batsman as he hit a ball from Wright hard to Tolley’s right. He stuck out his right arm and the ball obligingly stuck in his hand. This was Tolley’s 11th catch of the season and the 7th off Wright’s bowling.
Whilst all this swishing and catching was going on, John Buckland was engaged at the Ottery end. He bowled a fine accurate spell, opening with 2 maidens. Perhaps the batsmen thought it would be difficult scoring off his bowling so attacked Wright’s. Mike Bassett was next to gamble and lose, but this time it was all Wright’s own work. After scoring 3 singles, be drove a ball hard back down the wicket. In self-preservation mode, Wright held onto the catch at head height and Bakers were 59-9 still needing 26 to win.
Joe Poustie and Steve Bassett then batted very well and as there were still 12 overs remaining they took no risks. Buckland continued to shave the off stump whilst Wright probed unsuccessfully for his 5th wicket. The partnership survived nearly 8 overs taking the score to within 14 runs of Tipton’s total when Buckland finally got a deserved wicket. An edge onto his stumps saw Steve Bassett bowled for 6 with Joe Poustie not out on 5 as Bakers were all out for 70, so Tipton got their first win against Bakers at the 5th attempt.
Buckland bowled one ball short of 7 overs and conceded just 4 runs for his one wicket. Wright’s 4-21 takes him to 998 wickets for Tipton so close to the magic 1000.
Due to David Birch’s absence, Wright has slipped into the lead at the top of the wicket takers for the season which has turned into an interesting 5 horse race. Mark Channon is the outsider with 23, but hot on the heels of Wright’s 35 is David Birch with 34 with Matt Davies and John Buckland with 29.
The recipient of the John Williamson player of the match award was Matt Davies with his match winning innings of 40 to go with his bowling figures of 2-20.
Perhaps a report of this match will go to the Sidmouth Herald after all…
