Harberton versus Denbury on 11^th July 2010

· Toss won by Denbury

· Harberton 206 for 7 declared (45 overs)

· Denbury 132 all out (44 overs)

· Harberton won by 74 runs

Following Harberton's anti-climatic draw against the Bohemians just twenty-four hours earlier, Harberton's acting capitain, Ben Pyke, breathed another burst of life into the format of the game known as the ‘timed fixture’. The side travelled to Denbury's delightful village ground where dramatic vistas of Dartmoor contrast with the more sobering sight of Channings Wood Prison. Perhaps fearing the worst for his relatively weak batting line-up, upon winning the toss Denbury skipper Simon Hickey elected to take to the field. Once more in this summer of never-ending sun, the pitch was hard yet tinder dry and crumbling in places.

Harberton boasted one of their stronger line-ups for this fixture with each man down to number 9 in the order boasting at least one 'village' fifty. Pyke decisively chose Elliott Buckner and (surprisingly) Toby Tobias to face the new cherry. The opening attack was fast and somewhat hostile. Hickey (4 for 37) charged in, fresh from reconstructive shoulder surgery in the winter and bowling with greater pace than he has for several seasons. Several balls reared over the top edge of the flashing blade before a discomforted Tobias finally edged behind for 2. Buckner (6) never settled and it was not much of a surprise when he spliced a nasty, rising delivery from Hickey to Senior at short-leg. With newcomer Matthews (5) losing his off-bail, again to the fired-up Hickey, Harberton were in the mire at 16 for 3.

Keeper-batsman Ray (12) offered brief support to the intimidating figure of Michael Powell (30), but was to have his stumps rearranged by a beauty from Longstreet (1 for 56), who bowled excellently all day, sadly without much luck. Harberton now desperately needed a stand to stem the slide. David Cook strode out at number six for his first innings in nearly two years. Surprisingly he showed little rust, quickly square-driving a boundary to open his account and keenly looking for any singles that might be on offer. Powell looked in imperious touch, lofting Fraser for six over mid-wicket and generally playing as though batting was merely incidental to life and death. It was a huge surprise to see him nick the slow drift bowling of Leslie when on 30 and set for another gargantuan score.

Harberton are lucky that in Glyn Oakey they have one of the most talented young all-rounders on the circuit. Although lucky to be dropped at square-leg before he had made many, he was quickly cutting and pulling the slower bowlers with elan. In league with Cook, the pair added 63 runs despite neither man ever appearing to take anything more than the odd calculated risk. The partnership was very useful and promised more until the returning Hickey got yet another ball to rear. Cook (34) gloved the ball and expected four runs down the leg-side, but wicket-keeper Moseby took a stupendous one-handed catch.

Momentum could have been lost but it wasn't. Oakey (57) made the joint highest score of his career before being unluckily runout; Christian Buckner (29 not out) confirmed his talent yet again, and Pyke (12 not out) flailed away merrily in the last couple of overs. Harberton's tally of 206 for 7 from 45 overs was a superb effort after such a troubled start.

In the light of the pace and carry that Hickey had extracted from the wicket, Pyke opted to give the 'new' ball to sling-shot supremo Powell. He charged in as though fuelled by copious quantities of a mysterious herbal extract. However, his line and length were generally adrift and the openers could either leave the ball or rock back and pull behind square. At the other end, the wily Shephard (2 for 19) was posing all sorts of conundrums. A low trajectory and purposeful flight were too much for Leslie and Vanderuaal, with both men departing for ducks after hearing a fatalistic crash of ash.

Gamble (16) did not live up to his name, playing few shots but offering the cultured Senior (20) stout assistance. Cook (0 for 18) began his spell of left-arm spin with four wides in an over, but did settle, beating the bat on several occasions, albeit he seemed to lack the killer streak that only comes with regular match practice. Pyke had 9 bowlers to choose from but inevitably he settled on the experienced Goldsmith (1 for 13) to act as partnership breaker. Fresh from an inspired display of in-swing the day before he soon sent Senior packing with another devastating banana ball, before retiring to the outfield after a four over stint.

Denbury were only three wickets down but Harberton knew now that it was really only a question of whether they could take the remaining wickets in the allotted time. For a while, it looked as though it was going to be something of a procession. E Buckner (2 for 25) did his Shane Warne impersonation and bowled Gamble (16) round his legs first ball, Payne (1) was bowled by Pyke's (3 for 17) chinaman, Fraser (22) carelessly ran himself out and Hickey (14) was in manic mode, looking to heave at everything, but he could not clear Oakey at long-on.

Resistance came from Longstreet (28 not out), who looked far better than a number 8. Young Heaver (1) held firm for four overs but number 10, Hopkins (1), in his first game at this level, seemed impervious to the pressure of the situation. Harberton threw everything at him, bowling some men in single over spells, before Pyke desperately brought himself on once more. The looping ball finally did the trick as Hopkins leapt out of his crease. However, he was deceived in length and stumped by an alert Ray. But with three overs to go and Denbury way short on 132, Harberton still had to break the final stand. Few doubted that number 11 Moseby had the desire and temperament to see matters through - did he have the skill though? Pyke was spinning the ball each whichway and seven fielders were gathered like avaricious vultures around the bat. After leaving balls wide of the stumps, Pyke knew he had to make Moseby play. Another chinaman saw him jab at the ball! It carried barely a few inches above the ground but Cook, at silly mid-on, dived forward and snared the crucial chance.

Harberton won the match by 74 runs. A significant margin maybe, but not so in terms of the variable of time.

As Pyke noted in his post-match pub chat, "importantly the performance did not rest on just one or two key individual performances", and this ethic will be key if the side are to reclaim the much cherished Mills Shield from Stoke Fleming, whom they play at Stonehills in just two weeks time.