This week Ashburton 2nd XI hosted Paignton 4ths in a big game for both sides with Ashburton in 4th and Paignton in 2nd. With what was looking like it would be a rain affected game bowling first would be preferable however with Skipper Phil Pascoe losing the toss Ashburton were put into bat.
Skipper Phil Pascoe and AJ West went out to open for Ashburton with J Lander (0 for 30) opening for Paignton. The pair got off to a good start before AJ (9) was bowled by S Collins (1 for 19) leaving the hosts 42 for 1. In came Westy to join Phil at the crease with these two capitalizing on the good start to get Ashburton to just over 100 by drinks. However the rain came putting the game on hold. To try and avoid losing too many overs an early T break was taken.
After T the game managed to resume however it was reduced to a 35 over game. Going back out Phil and Westy wanted to continue their run fest which they did until Phill got out agonizingly on 49 with Ashburton now 125 for 2. Dawlish was next in hoping to keep the momentum going. Paignton then managed to peg back Ashburton getting Dawlish out for 16 then a controversial wicket of Westy which bounced for the 3rd time on the stumps but the Paignton umpire was adamant the 2nd bounce was after Westy’s (64) front foot. After this wickets fell regularly with Ashburton finishing on 180 for 7 from their 35.
A wet slow outfield meant 180 from 35 was a defendable total but by no means guaranteed so Ashburton would need to bowl well to win this crucial game. Westy and Lambo (0 for 23) opened the bowling. They got Ashburton off to a great start keeping the runs low and with Westy taking 3 for 24 leaving the visitors 25-3 couldn't ask for a much better start. However, opener J Holland and S Collins started to make a come back with Holland anchoring an end with Collins having a swing. AJ West (2 for 30) finally managed to make the breakthrough getting Holland (24) caught behind. Shortly after Dawlish (2 for 16) got Collins (40) out taking the game away from Paignton with them 88 for 5 with 13 overs to go. After this the remaining wickets fell regularly with Paignton all out for 111. Nat Saturly took 2 for 11 and Jack Lewis took 1 for 2.
After the game Phil said “A great win today keeping Paignton below 120 and not aenabling their 3 batting point, the league is still really tight and anybodies race…
Welcome to the newbies Harry and Nat, great guys and great to have u with us, contributing with bat and ball… A rain interrupted first half that didn’t phase us, milestones passed westy 500 league runs this year already (sorry westy couldn’t remember the other one, please advise😂🤣😂).
A sprinkling of Wickets for westy, Dawlish and Nat plus others.
As a team we won again due to spirit and pressure, we have the first by the bucket load, we create the second by bowling and fielding well as a side, no gaps.
Finally it was like a military manoeuvre and a sight to behold watching 11 players working as a team dropping the protection nets after the game, thank you.
We go again next week”
Next week Ashburton travel to play Hatherleigh 3s
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