Longparish 2nd XI vs South Wilts IV
Saturday, 19th July 2008 - 2:00 pm
Longparish 2nd XI: 125 All Out
South Wilts IV: 117 All Out
Match Report
In football terms a genuine “six pointer” between 2 sides near the bottom of the table. Captain Jackman lost the toss and Longparish were asked to bat. Openers John Young and Warren Bonathan making steady progress against a young, energetic and voluble South Wilts side. John Young the first wicket to fall lbw for 14 with the score on 37. Martin Bearpark came and went for 5, before Bonathan shared in a partnership of 36 with William de Cani who was adjudged lbw for 21 to the leg spin of 13 year old Tom Cowley; Bonathan passing his fifty shortly afterwards before succumbing to the bowling of Mynott. Justin Jackman added ten before being bowled by Cowley, Matt Jackman falling to a fine catch in the covers shortly afterwards to the same bowler. Steve Benco suufered the same fate as Captain Jackman, and Matt Paice was out lbw to a ball that hit him in the box, All rounder Paice genuinely aggrieved that the Umpire considered his legs to be the same length as the stumps. The astute South Wilts captain choosing wisely the end at which to bowl his crackerjack junior leggie who ripped out the Longparish middle order with 5 for 15, Mynott also taking 3 for 30 as Longparish were dismissed for 125 in the 32nd over.
With batting conditions improving all the time, it was important that Longparish made early inroads to the South Wilts batting line up, 13 yr old Brad Aldridge providing the early breakthrough in the fifth over with the score on 12. Matt Paice eager to avenge the injustice concerning his length of leg bowled a superbly economical spell of swing bowling; not moving the ball extravagantly but just enough to fox the batsmen he picked up the wicket of Greathead in the 8th over. Backed up by some athletic fielding Longparish restricted the South Wilts reply, but were desperate for more wickets. First change bowler, Adam Seidman, his mind in turmoil as to the role he should play, timorous tweaker or nastie fastie, opted for the second option. Kicked off the sight screen, bent his back and picked up two quick wickets. Matt Jackman bowled his customary miserly overs from the other end before Aldridge came back for his second spell; bowling four maidens on the bounce one of them containing a wicket, his spell of bowling coupled with Seidmans aggression and Paice’s guile, piling the pressure on the South Wilts batsmen. Seidman taking another two wickets to finish on 4 for 32 from 12 overs. Aldridge 2 for 13 from 8.
With the last man in and South Wilts requiring 9 from the last three overs, Matt Paice struck again to take the final wicket of the match, Steve Benco taking a difficult catch at deep square leg with the sun in his eyes to secure an exciting victory for Longparish by 8 runs.