MATCH REPORT - START OF THE PINK REVOLUTION!
The cricket season starts and surprise surprise the rain gods weren’t being kind. However, Ipplepen and T&K weren’t going to be defeated in what was going to be an interesting match in terms of adapting the match regulations – 30 overs per side with 15 overs using a pink ball and 15 overs using a red ball.
Ipplepen won the toss and not unsurprisingly asked T&K to have a bat. First up was the ball. Tim Western and Chris Kelmere resumed their opening partnership from last season – Kelmere becoming the first victim of Ipplepen’s overseas player, Aiden Phillips for 16 with Western playing his usual anchor role finally falling for 28, the 5th batter out. The match was turned in its head after the 15th over when the ball was changed to a red one – T&K were 76 for 3 but then lost 7 wickets for just 18 runs in 8.5 overs, Phillips at one stage was on a hat trick finishing with 5 for 15 off his 6 overs. One wicket of note was that of Harry Baxendale caught by his cousin Joe Parker off the bowling of Jono Colegate, both formerly of this parish for 4. T&K committed the cardinal sin, on the day of the Pope’s funeral, of not batting out their overs – all out for 94 in just 23.5 overs. Special mention must be made though, of Faiz Ebrahim, Bobby Western (with one proud grandad looking on), Josh Thompson, Ritesh Dabhade and leading by example Harry Passenger for sharing square leg umpire duties – the lack of club umpires must be a concern.
Ipplepen got off to a fast start before T&K debutant, Josh Thompson, formerly of Ipplepen parish removed both openers including Torquay old boy, Matt Beasant who now skippers Ipplepen for 2. Two other Torquay old boys, Jono Colegate and Reuben Stanley then steadied the ship scoring 25 and 15 respectively. Just for a moment the run chase got interesting but an undefeated run a ball 15 by Aiden Phillips saw Ipplepen over the line by 3 wickets with 7.4 overs remaining. The best of the T&K bowlers were Harry Passenger with 2 for 6 and Josh Thompson with 2 for 11. How not batting their overs out came back to haunt T&K.
One consolation, two decent spare pink balls, and Evo might just have a cunning plan (yes he is a fan of Blackadder) to get two more before next Saturday. However, for 2026, serious consideration must be made if T&K play a side from the B Division as some mightn’t be as helpful as Ipplepen when it comes to the pink / red ball issue.
Next up for the 1st XI is a trip next weekend to take on Bridestowe and Belstone CC 1st XI in the DCL – another club who could only progress by amalgamating. Before that though, under the leadership of Mike Etherington, a Friendly XI take on Stoke Gabriel’s Friendly XI and for one Sunday only, Evo will be scoring so he can tick off another ground in Devon he has scored on so still more grounds then his age!
On the spectator front it just didn’t seem right with Pop Latto not being present. One can only hope Pop was looking down from on high and enjoyed what was a close encounter. Those who were actually present though included the grandee’s of Camp Kelmere who as a result of a communications failure hadn’t been informed of the new start time and arrived 3 hours early, the chair of the club Steve Waters and past president Ian Western. Phil Sturman was also warming up for yet another season in the scorebox. It would be wrong though not to make mention of three players from the Glory Years of the mid 1990s who were present, Marcus Green, Mike Pugh and Steve Short who is rumoured to be making a comeback for Ipplepen CC 4th XI this season so he can play alongside his daughter, Flo.