Well, last weekend again saw some very good results - though we're still seeking that illusive perfect weekend!
The 1st XI posted probably their best win of the season, with an exciting last over victory away at Wimborne & Colehill CC. The hosts batted first and put a good score on the board, making 263-7 in their 50 overs - a total they would have been hoping to be able to defend! However, the Stalbridge lads got off to a good start as Stu Sweatman (69) ensured that they were always up with the required rate. When he was out, the momentum was maintained by Eddie Clements (31), Alex Sullivan (48) and Ben Ladd-Gibbon (25). A mini collapse then left 38 runs required from the last 2 wickets with 8 overs remaining, but Si Sweatman and Andy Dikey took the total to 260 before a run out allowed Steve Forshaw to stroll to the crease to stroke the winning boundary with 3 balls to spare! To chase 264 to win a game in 50 overs is a fantastic result, especially away from home, and leaves the team with a good chance to post a winning season with three games left.
The 2nd XI had a much more comfortable win, thrashing Broadstone 3rd XI by a massive 176 runs! Stalbridge put up 255-8 in their innings, John Sullivan top scoring with 50, and Frank Turrill hitting an excellent 46 (58 extras from the Broadstone bowlers also helped!!). After an fantastic spell of accurate fast bowling from Harry Woolway and Robert Knight, Broadstone were in trouble at 3 wickets down (including the loss of their key batter, Big Bad Barry, who was undone by a brilliant bouncer from Knighters!). Frank then carried on from his batting to star with the ball, returning 4 wickets for 17, supported by a miserly 3 for 6 in 9 overs from Fred Chant, as Broadstone tumbled to 79 all out.
Our young 3rd XI once again came unstuck against a strong opposition playing adult cricket on fast and bouncy artificial wicket for the first time. Batting first, only John Arter got going with 17. A total of 75 all out was never going to be enough, and Puddletown got them for the loss of 2 wickets picked up by Chris Meikle and Julius Guthrie. It is another experience gained for the youngsters!
The Sunday XI experienced a rare tied match in their game. Swanage were poised for a huge score at 157-1 and their Aussie smashing it everywhere, but he made the fatal mistake of taking on Richie Brown for a quick single and paid the price! The rest of the batting crumbled as Captain Knighters fired them out with 5 wickets in 3 overs, supported by 2-29 from Simon Ryall. Swanage finished on 206-9. It is fair to say that the batting was a bit of a one-man effort, as Chris Hedges carved the attack to all parts, but with 6 needed to win off the last 4 balls he holed out to long-on for a magnificent 136. Cameron and Julius somehow scampered a couple of twos, and then a bye to the keeper off the last ball, to level the scores at 206-7, Cameron finishing with a vital 14 not out, the second highest score!!
One date for your diary - this year our Annual Dinner & Senior Presentation Evening will be held on Saturday October 12th at Stourton Caundle Village Hall. Details of tickets will follow soon.
Have a good week!
PS One correction from the list of Junior Awards in last week's news: Harrison-James Sweatland won the Under-9 batting award and George Perkins was winner of the U-9 all-rounder award - not the other way round, sorry for the error!