BOTWCC 2nd XI v Burbage
Saturday 17th May 2008
Having lost the toss for a 3rd straight week, Burton 2s were asked to bat by the visiting youth team of Burbage.
Not a bad decision as it turned out. Openers Mark Russell and Ali Love made hay while the sun did not shine and punished so mediocre bowling on a fairly springy pitch. Russell hammered a very impressive 70 runs and his partners Love (26), Neal (16) and Warne (20) took the game away from the visitors. Another fine batting performance came from the unofficial man of the match, Tom Shipman who hammered a season best 24 at number 9 and was only scuppered in his endeavors when Penton typically gave his wicket away trying to drive a yorker. With the extras at 35, v poor, the innings ended with Burton on 208 all out after 41.2 overs.
A quick tea was taken and the second half got started with the skipper bowling with Chris Langham. Lanky bowled well and took a very useful 3 wickets including a cart-wheeling off peg, a stunning slip catch from Mark Russell and a caught and bowled. Morley was unable to break through as was his replacement, Penton, who both got little from the ball and no assistance from the bats.
Following on from his fine knock with the bat though was Tom Shipman, who out-bowled all other players and returned figures of 7 overs, 4 maidens, 2 for 14. He bowled tight lines from wicket to wicket and in the conditions we were playing in, he did all that could be asked of him. It was almost like watch a mini-version of his Dad. Its up to Tom whether he thinks that's a compliment or not.
Other wickets fell to Adam archer, forcing a catch from golden balls himself, Tom Shipman, to catch at square leg and, incredibly, 2 wickets for Ali (Sally) Love and his medium seaming. What a day!
Still, such efforts turned to frustrations as Burton only needed 1 wicket to win the game and 12 overs left to get it.
But didn't.
No matter how hard they all tried, Penton, Morley, Shipman, Love and Langham returned with no effect. Even attempts to buy a wicket with a succession of pies hurled at the quite disciplined last 2 (who put on 52 runs) were fruitless. No pun intended.
The game ended a winning draw with Burbage on 151 for 8 (they only had 10 players by the way).
The mood was low come the finale, but a least 19 points is nothing to be sniffed at. That many points each week will win any team the league.
Lets see what happens next week, away to Appleby Magna.
Batting
Russell 70
Love 25
Neal 16
Warne 20
Stewart 2
Morley 0
Walker 1
Langham 11
T Shipman 24 NO
Archer 2
Penton
0
Bowling
Langham 9-0-24-3
Morley 11-0-39-0
T Shipman
7-4-14-2
Penton 8-2-24-0
Love 6-0-31-2
Archer 4-0-13-1