vs. Alphington CC (H) – Sat. 14th May 2011
Despite the 1st week defeat to Sandford, spirits were high for the 1st home game of the summer. 5 changes were made to the side with Will Grainger, Adam Last, Steve Lewis, Greg Shelton and Aussie newcomer Tom Briggs all being brought in.
Barton were put into bat and immediately put on the defensive losing both Damon Calland to the 1st ball of the game and Tom Briggs (7) by the time the total reached 22. The 2nd of 3 Tom’s (Drake) then joined remaining opener Grainger and not only did they consolidate but they well & truly put the pressure firmly back on the visitors. Will was particularly destructive on anything that was even slightly wayward, reaching his half century in only 39 balls. Will eventually fell but not before reaching 79 from only 67 deliveries (68 of his 79 came in boundaries – 14 fours & two big sixes) with the total on 121. Tom Drake went on to make 32 (4 boundaries & 1 six), his highest score for the 1st team but wickets fell regularly and a total of 173 all out was a long way short of what was being sought after the 20 overs. However, with an ever increasing number of balls keeping low, the atmosphere was certainly not one of huge disappointment.
Adam Buckland marked his first over for the club at home by conceding 11 runs but that was as good as it got for Alphington. The next 10 overs yielded only another 10 runs as both Buckland and Tom Porter struck with the ball. With his very first ball, Tom rapped Dave Haysom on the pads and the opener was adjudged out for 1. 11 for 1 became 17 for 3 with Adam B. trapping Horne in front and Tom P. striking again in his 2nd over having Andy Codling caught smartly at short cover by Aussie Briggs. By the time Briggsy took his 1st wicket for the club (another sharp catch, this time by keeper Greg Shelton), the away side had not just struggled but laboured their way to 37. Indeed, the 50 never came up until the 26th over. Indeed, by the end of the innings, 20 the overs bowled were maidens. Matthew Taylor batted very nicely if slowly reaching 45 (151 balls) before unluckily playing on to the returning and increasingly impressive Adam Buckland. But, as hard as the side tried, Barton were unable to take the final 2 wickets with the game ending in a winning draw for the hosts. Alphington had reached 142 for 8.
For the second week running, the star with the ball was Damon Calland who sent his 17 overs down for the concession of a paltry 25 runs with three wickets thrown in for good measure.
13 points for the draw in the end may have been a little disappointing but it was a marked improvement on the previous week. All the signs are good for the visit of Braunton at Cricketfield Road next Saturday (the 21st).
Barton 173 all out. Grainger 79, Drake 32, Shelton 13 n.o.
Alphington 142 for 8. Calland 3 for 25, Porter 2 for 6, Buckland 2 for 32.
Barton (13 points) drew with Alphington (8 points)
