Devon C East

Bridestowe v Stoke Gabriel

THE home side won the toss and chose to bat first, with a damp outfield, but covered pitch, resulting in a lack of swing for the Stoke bowlers.

Tom Fogerty and Gary Sizmur got Bridestowe off to a flying start, with both batsmen striking numerous boundaries before Sizmur (17) was bowled by Ansley with the score on 47.

James Ewen and Tom Fogerty negotiated a couple of breaks for rain, which meant the game was reduced to 40 overs per side. They soon upped the pace, and ran well between the wickets to keep the score moving at close to a run a ball. Fogerty hit a six off Lewis to bring up another half century. He then sent another over the boundary the next ball and then hit a two before he lobbed a full toss straight back to Lewis to depart for 57.

Mark Fogerty departed quickly as he edged Withington behind, but Ewen and Nazir Khan continued to score at a good rate. Ewen struck Seb Ansley’s last over for 16 to spoil his otherwise impressive figures of 1-38.

Ewen also reached his half-century with a six, as he swept Bullock into the hedge. He then tried to scoop Tolley (1-55) through the vacant fine leg, but missed the ball and was bowled for an important 60 for his side.

With overs running out, wickets tumbled at one end, but Khan continued to smash the ball around at the other.

Young Stoke Gabriel leg-spinner Bullock (4-43) bowled excellently at the death, and was rewarded with four wickets for his efforts.

Khan became the third batsman to bring up his half century with a six thanks to a huge blow which nearly made the bottom hedge. He finished on 56 not out to cap a fine innings for Bridestowe.

The home side finished with an imposing total of 230-9 from 40 overs.

Stoke Gabriel’s chase started in sedate fashion, as neither opener chased the required rate, which was climbing well past a run a ball. It soon became clear that Stoke were playing for batting points rather than the win, with few attacking shots offered in the first 15 overs. The score was at around two runs an over but both batsmen looked relatively solid at the crease.

Economical spells from Sizmur, Tom Fogerty and Chris Lavis all went unrewarded, and it took a change in the bowling to get the breakthrough, as Dan Fogerty dug in a short ball which stayed low and trapped Lewis lbw. Khan then took two wickets in two balls as Parker was trapped lbw for 23 and Seb Ansley edged behind to Mark Fogerty’s first ball.

Khan then picked up a run out thanks to a great throw from the boundary by Mark Butler, to leave Stoke in huge trouble at 45-4.

Alex Jopling (2-14) bowled some  tight overs of leg spin and soon had his first wicket as Tolley top edged a sweep and Phil Hatton took a good catch at slip. He had another next ball as another top edged shot was taken by Ewen at short leg. Neil Griffiths (1-21) came on to bowl some tempting swingers and almost had a wicket straight away as he put down a tough caught and bowled chance. He did get one in his second over as Ewen took another simple chance at silly mid-off.

Doug Ansley then smashed a few boundaries to make the total more respectable before Dan Fogerty (2-10) returned to remove Horsburgh caught by Jopling. Fittingly it was Khan (4-18) who got the last two wickets by bowling both Ansley and Rooney.

This was probably one of the Bridestowe’s best team performances of the season, with three men passing 50, and every bowler hitting their lines and lengths from the start.

It was a great way to say goodbye to Naz, who unfortunately needs to return to Sweden before the end of the season. He has been excellent with bat, ball and in the field, and has helped the young side move to the next level in their performances. He finished with 31 wickets from 14 games, at an average well under 10, and has overtaken Gary Sizmur this week to be the league’s top wicket taker.