Cheriton Fitzpaine 204 for 5

Charing Cross 186 all out

IT'S 50 years since a team from Charing Cross, London came to play cricket at Cheriton Fitzpaine, a fixture always anticipated by both sides.

This year's game was no exception, good fellowship, good game.

Cheriton  won the toss, decided to bat first and sent the trusty old combination of Mike Foan and Blight Jnr. (Peter) out to face the opening bowlers. Scoring was slow, as both Vin and Hargrieves bowled a very tight line.

With seven overs gone, Cheriton had mustered only nine runs. Peter decided it was time to up the rate but after a few lusty blows managed to feather an edge through to the keeper to bring the Cheriton captain to the crease.

Charles took a while to get the pace of the wicket, trading mostly in singles and miss-hits. Mike was starting to open up when he fell LBW to the impressive Stratton for 33. Ben Coe hit a quick fire 54 (five fours and four sixes), completely out scoring the skipper.

With them retiring once they has secured their half centuries Steve Stentiford had a chance to build himself an innings. This he did with some success, guiding us in to the 36th over before falling to a very slick stumping.

During his sojourn he had been joined by Brent English and then briefly by Robbie Keight, making his bid to retain the Duck Race with his 100th Career Duck! Well done Robbie!

Carl Steele was in the side for his bowling, but proved that he can also wield the willow setting a new career best for Cheriton as he and Jim Cutler took us to tea and total of 204 for five from our 40 overs.

Cheriton used eight bowlers in all, well, seven and Brent. Jim Cutler and Carl Steele bowled well with scant reward, though they did keep the scoring down. Catches were held off Robbie and Andy Hartley to make their figures look respectable while Ben Coe made a welcome return and snagged his first wicket of many this season (we hope).

I was slightly unfair to Brent earlier, he actually managed to land several and was richly rewarded, proving that miracles are still happening.

Blight Snr. (Maurice) bowled an over and was asked to bowl a second but declined. Why, I am not sure, but he did bowl at them in the first game 50 years ago, so we let him off.

With the pressure on to score runs the lower middle order tried hard to up the rate but were thwarted by some good fielding. Only 20 needed off the last over, two wickets in hand and Mike to bowl.

Just the sort of finish we wanted and Charing Cross almost did it. No 11 went for a suicidal second run off the third ball of the last over and was beaten by Ben's accurate throw to leave them just short.

A great afternoon and a fitting 50th anniversary. They promise to be back next year, fitter, leaner and less tired.... we shall see!

Forthcoming fixtures

Sunday, May 17: Home v Geriatrics 2.30pm; Tuesday, May 19: Home v Met Office 6pm; Thursday, May 21: Away v Crediton Inn 6pm; Sunday, May 24: Away v Victoria Park Seconds 2pm; Monday, May 25: Home v Wombats (touring team) 2pm; Thursday, May 28: Home v Erratics 6.15pm, Sunday, May 31: Home v Bideford Seconds 2pm.

Sunday, May 10

Cheriton Fitzpaine CC

v Errattics CC

It was a lovely sunny day at Hayne, though the Easterly wind was a lazy one. As is normal with the Errattics there were some late arrivals who had managed an impromptu tour of Mid Devon on their way to the ground, but by 2.20pm we had the full compliment.

The home Captain won the toss and was persuaded to bat.Mike Foan and Peter Blight donned the pads and set off to the middle to open the Cheriton Innings. Scoring was slow as both Burrows and Ellis bowled immaculate spells.

Burrows only went for 25 runs in his 10 overs and also picked up the Errattics' only early wicket when he bowled Peter off the edge.

The change bowlers could not quite keep to the standard that the opening bowlers has set and Mike and Jeremy Tricks set about building the total.

Jeremy, in particular, was very severe on anything dropped short and the pair put on 168 for the second wicket before Mike was caught off what turned out to be the penultimate ball of the innings. Ted Brigden had the unenviable job of going out to face a single ball and finished on a creditable one not out.

Jeremy was stranded just six runs short of his hundred when the declaration was made at quarter to five.

Tea was taken with the home side reasonably happy with their total of  193 for two, but in the knowledge that they would have to bowl well to win the game on a flat track.

Ted Brigden and Will Carr started the innings with the ball against Mileham and Ferro for the Errattics. Ted's economy was largely due to bowling so wide that the batsmen could not reach the ball while poor old Will bowled close enough to be hit to all parts.

Both openers scored freely and Mileham was unlucky to pop an edge up to Brent English at point on 21 to give Will a bonus wicket. In the mean time Luke Bennett had replaced Ted from the New Pavilion End and after a series of wides settled down to bowl a good spell, obtaining swing that none of the other Cheriton bowlers could match.

The movement induced a false shot from the Errattics' No 3 who chipped the ball to Brigden at Mid-off.

His wicket brought Cook to the crease, and Cheriton's problems really began. Cook (like his Father before him) is a batsman of some class and this he proved in an innings of 76 that took his side to the brink of victory.

Robbie Keight and Carl Steele suffered as Cook and Ferro dominated the bowling. With the writing on the wall the Cheriton Captain took pity on the bowlers and brought himself and veteran opener Mike Foan on to bowl.

This had a dramatic effect with Mike taking the wicket of the big hitting Cook almost immediately. Cook had offered only one chance before being tempted down the wicket by one of Foan's gentle off breaks,

Steve Stentiford completing a comfortable stumping. Mike also accounted for Keedwell and with the home Captain bowling Squire the Errattics were suddenly five down and there were signs of nerves in the dressing room, but the ever-present Ferro smashed a six off the second ball of the 33rd over to seal a well deserved victory for the Exeter side.

Result: Cheriton Fitzpaine CC 193 for 2 dec. (J. Tricks 94, M. Foan 68) Errattics CC 199 for 5 (M. Cook 76, C. Ferro 70*, M. Foan 3-1-12-2)

CS