MATCH REPORT
T&K took a Friendly XI just into the South Hams under the leadership of Mike Etherington to take on a Friendly XI from Stoke Gabriel – note to the captains, please inform the scorers and the sole umpire of any changes to match regulations otherwise they get very grumpy!
The toss was uncontested and T&K batted first. Bobby Western and Harry Passenger were soon back in the pavilion thanks to the bowling of Harriett Duke not that Evo wants to make too much of it! Josh Thompson and Harry Baxendale both subsequently retired not out on 52 and 50, Mike Etherington also just run out of overs and was 48 not out at the end. Ms Duke was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 8 of her 4 overs – Chris Harrison also finished with 2 for 38. T&K finished on 217 for in their 45 overs! A big thank you must go to Steve Waters for leading by example, Bobby Western again and Matt McCann for sharing the square leg umpire duties with Ian Western who should get special thanks for doing both ends. There was a long spell of Western and Western umpiring together – has young Bobby got the bug!
Stoke Gabriel got off to a reasonable start reaching 66 before losing their first wicket. Although at one stage there was nearly drone stop play as although he should have been fielding, Matt McCann wanted to play with his new toy. However, with it grounded, the spinning trio of Harry Baxendale, Bobby Western and Matt McCann himself then dismantled Stoke Gabriel with 6 for 19, 3 for 33 and 1 for 4 respectively – Stoke Gabriel were all out for Nelson in just 37.5 overs. The best of their batters was Isaac Whittington with 41.
On the spectator front only Gordon Avery ventured out the Bay to a new ground for him just like it was for Evo. That saying, Phil Sturman was again in attendance so he is up to speed for scoring for the 2nd XI next weekend.
One note of caution from the Keeper of the Balls aka Evo. With only one match having used pink balls pre-season, unless there is a serious amount of work done the 1st XI mightn’t be compliant in terms of spares come 1st June. To negate the risk as far as possible, controlled knocking in will be essential. Therefore co-operation from players will be absolutely essential!
With Pre-Season out the way the serious stuff starts. The 1st XI away to Bridestowe and Belstone CC 1st XI, the 2nd XI home to Chagford CC 1st XI and the 3rd XI away to Exwick CC 2nd XI. The newly formed 4th XI have their blank weekend first up.
However, before the opening Saturday of the league season, there is the club’s Opening Night this Friday with at least two representatives of another local sports club which Evo has forged links with from all accounts a representative of another organisation might also be present.