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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
On a surprisingly soggy Devonian day, the BCF XI took on the Torquay 3rd team on the County wicket, and triumphed by 40 runs in another thrilling match in the 21st Annual Match.
Having won the toss, skipper Alec Toll elected to bat first on a hard, well-prepared wicket. In tandem with Ian Eggleston, the opening pair racked up a 100-run partnership in just 14 overs, the ball flying to all parts of the ground, a huge six from Toll into the rugby stand, and one from Eggleston out of the ground on to the main road. The run-rate slowed down when Toll was dismissed by Morris for 42, Eggleston more subdued as a steady drizzle changed the condition of the pitch.
After a short rain-break, normal service was resumed, particularly when Bortolotti joined Eggleston. The opener looked set for only the 3rd century in BCF cricket history, but was well-stumped by a sharp piece of work from ‘keeper Yeo for an aggressive 82. Bortolotti, accompanied by Martin compiled an entertaining stand of 50 in just 6 overs, before the vice-captain was run out by a direct throw. Attempting a suicidal single off the last ball of the innings, Buckley and Bortolotti somehow completed 2.5 runs before the carnage ended with the latter’s dismissal for a masterly 66. The innings closed on 272 for 6, 23 runs up on Toll’s pre-match requirement.
After tea and traditional team photographs, the home team prepared their assault on the weakened BCF bowling attack. Opener Andrew Yau (ironically a strong chess-player at 14) launched into the friendly deliveries served up by Mason and Baranga, and with equally violent support from Rice, the pair chalked up 102 off only 13 overs – matching BCF’s effort.
Guest player Sean ‘Bombay Express’ Alom (from the local Indian restaurant) provided the breakthrough, having both Rice and home skipper Trefor Thynne caught by ‘keeper Bortolotti. Yau was not to be restrained, however and compiled a brilliant century containing 12 fours and a six. He threatened to win the match single-handedly, but a diving catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Webster turned the course of the match the chess-players way. Martin and Buckley produced a miserly spell of accurate bowling to restrain the Torquay middle-order, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Eggleston earned himself the ‘Man of the Match’ award, taking three late order Torquay wickets to end a fine performance. With the sun firmly setting on the horizon, the visitors completed another memorable victory in the gathering gloom with the clock hands showing 8.30 pm.
Next Match:- vs an Edinburgh side on Sunday 27th July. Bring your whites!!
I Eggleston st Yeo b Daymont 82
A Toll ct D Rice b Morris 42
B Jervis b Wooton 22
G Bortolotti run out 66
A Martin run out 13
Poobalasingham ct L Rice b Hollingsworth 5
S Buckley not out 0
Kumar did not bat
D Mason did not bat
S Alom did not bat
N Baranga did not bat
Extras: (b9, lb 3, w 12, nb 4) 42
Total: 272 for 6 wickets (40 overs)
Hollingsworth 5 – 0 – 38 – 1
J Rice 4 – 0 – 32 – 0
Morris 8 - 0 – 52 – 1
L Rice 8 – 0 – 48 – 1
Daymont 5 – 1 – 21 – 0
Wooton 4 – 0 – 20 - 1
D Rice 3 – 0 – 22 – 0
Lear 3 – 0 – 27 – 0
D Rice ct Bortolotti b Alom 28
A Yau ct Webster b Martin 104
T Thynne ct Bortolotti b Alom 4
D Lear b Buckley 16
L Rice run out 7
J Hollingsworth b Martin 7
S Wooton lbw b Buckley 26
R Thynne not out 4
J Rice b Martin 3
G Daymont b Eggleston 0
G Wooton ct Martin b Eggleston 0
J Morris b Eggleston 0
Extras: (b 0, lb 3, w 17, nb 4) 24
Total: 232 all out (36.1 overs)
Mason 4 – 0 – 34 – 0
Baranga 3 – 0 – 28 – 0
Poobalasingham 6 – 0 – 52 – 0
Alom 5 – 0 - 36 – 2
Buckley 8 – 0 – 36 – 2
Martin 8 – 2 – 36 – 3
Eggleston 1.1 – 1 – 0 –3
Kumar 1 – 0 – 9 - 0