TIPTON St JOHN v HARBERTON         8th MAY 2010

 

·        Played at Tipton

·        Toss won by Harberton

·        Tipton          262 for 8 wickets in 40 overs

·        Harberton     89  for 9 wickets in 29.3 overs

·        Tipton won by 173 runs

 

On a bitterly cold, windy day more associated with midwinter rather than the cricket season, 2 teams clad in thermal underwear and 3 sweaters minimum braved the elements to play out a very one sided match dominated by the Tipton players.

 

Batting first, Tipton set about the wayward Harberton bowling attack, getting quick runs probably  in an attempt to keep warm. Oakey (1 for 41) did get an early breakthrough when Dawson (10) drove straight to Shephard off his bowling. With the score at 28, this brought Bugler to the wicket to join opener Tolley.

 

What followed was a massacre as 7 of Harberton’s 8 bowlers were smashed around the field as the pair scored 135 in just 16 overs. The combination of the class of Tolley (77) and raw aggression of Bugler (121 including 16 fours and 5 sixes) was lethal. They did ride their luck as several catches fell just out of the reach of the fielders. When Tolley surprisingly played on to his stumps off Shutt with the score at 163, Tipton were looking to a score of 300 against hapless Harberton. Septuagenarian Tony Hawtin, playing his first game for 2 years, must have been regretting his return, when with score at 230 for 2 wickets he was handed the ball by captain Owers.  Remarkably Hawtin  dismissed Bugler with his fourth ball – a beautifully floated slow ball which the batsman chased and missed to be stumped by Oakey. A batting collapse followed as Tipton were Hawtinised as the returnee captured 4 wickets for 18 runs. Pike joined in the fun picking up 2 late wickets as Tipton collapsed to 262 – surely a match winning score.

 

The cold weather had taken its toll with Alexander and Owers hobbling into tea having pulled various muscles while fielding.

And so to Harberton’s reply! The start could not have been worse as Channon (3-11) in his first over dismissed Rothwell and Tobias for ducks, while Shutt and Alexander followed soon after – dismissed by Williamson (3-16) –Harberton 13 for 4 wickets. Only Pike (39) was able to cope with the accuracy of the Tipton bowlers, an innings that spared the Harberton blushes as the team was dismissed for a paltry 89. Hero Hawtin was left stranded unbeaten on 6 as Tipton cruised home winning by 173 runs.

 

What was said by captain Owers to his team behind the locked doors of the Harberton dressing room after the game can only be imagined but the team sheet for the next game should make interesting reading!