Harberton CC vs Dunsford on 7^th August 2010

· Played at Stonehills

· Toss won by Dunsford

· Timed match

· Harberton won by 3 wickets

· Man of the Match; Matthew Culf

After the fiasco of last week when Harberton expected to chase down a modest total and failed abysmally, skipper Ben Pyke (playing despite a broken finger) took one look at the modest array of talents at his disposal and happily accepted the suggestion of a timed match. The Dunsford openers were watchful as Culf and Goldsmith swung the new ball to some effect and kept the run rate economical. When Yarnell spilled the first catch and twisted his knee quite severely, the spectre of injuries loomed once more. Yarnell left the field for several overs and on his return was soon in the wars once more when one half volley was biffed straight into his wrist.

Fielding errors led to more spilled catches, but Harberton spirits stayed high and when Tobias took a swirling catch out of the sun to dismiss Dudbridge (25) after the batsman had begun to biff Pyke for a few boundaries and build a decent partnership with Sharland, the tide turned and wickets began to fall with some regularity. 13 years old Whitlock bowled particularly well (2 for 18 off 7 overs), taking a superb caught and bowled.

When Culf (3 for 30 from 10 overs) came back for his second spell Dunsford were on the ropes. Pyke had taken the key wicket of Sharland (45) and none of the other batsmen lasted long enough to give Dunsford the kind of total they were hoping for. 136 runs are not very many to defend. However, Harberton were mindful that they had failed to chase down 133 with a better batting line up and the skipper had to tease out two reticent openers from his reluctant team.

Bailey and Culf set to their task with caution and it quickly became apparent that Garforth (2 for 28 from 14 overs) was not going to offer up any easy runs with his accurate away swing. He soon had Bailey (12) and then Alexander (2) edging to the keeper in the same over. Tobias joined Culf and together they dug in. 15 overs later, the score was a healthy 76 and the run rate was not a challenge, but two balls before the drinks break, Dudbridge found Tobias’ edge as the batsman attempted to cover drive the leg spinner.

Kaye (10) played with his natural aggression, clouting two quick boundaries before he lofted the leg spinner to cow corner and was caught. The run rate was healthy, wickets were still in hand with Pyke and Hawtin to come, but the skipper gave young Whitlock the opportunity to play a grown up innings, and play it he did, scoring 24 well placed shots in an innings of maturity. It was a shame he and (man of the match) Culf could not have seen the team home. Instead the steadying and experienced hand of Hawtin (aged 71), and the youthful and talented Sheppard (aged 13) saw them over the line with Sheppard hitting the winning runs Harberton won by 3 wickets with 3 overs left. This time, a much needed victory had been achieved and nobody was sent to hospital.