Broadstone II vs. Portland Red Triangle, 19-5-2002

Grey clouds hung over the Delph, welcoming the visitors from the sceptred isle, on a chilly day in Broadstone. The writer was wearier than most after being, (borrowing a phrase from Doidge) mentally raped by Jones' and Jan's "Tales from the Doctor's Examination Room", on the journey to East Dorset. 1st team wicketkeeper, Dave Blackman, who had originally turned up as a spectator, was added to the side after John Dixon had not been picked up in Weymouth.

Dave Males took the mantle of leadership, as usual skipper, Club Captain Graham Elenor (who, lest we forget, took a quite sublime 3/11 off just 7 overs against Suttoners, then followed that with 5 overs and 4 maidens, picking up 1/1 against Ibberton) was away on a unscheduled holiday to sunny Tunisia. The new captain won the toss and put the home side into bat on a hard, flat, but damp wicket, which looked like it would aid the bowlers.

Davey and Ryan opened the bowling, with Jan opting for seam-up in his first spell, and this yielded a wicket early on, as he bowled Broadstone's opener, with a tempting ball at half-volley length on the leg-side. The younger of the Thoem's came in at no.3, but the wily Males, tinkered with the field setting a trap on the offside. JR duly snatched his wicket when he offered a simple catch to Scott Males, after Thoem had taken the bait. Munday, a Broadstone 1st team player, came in at 17-2, and helped to anchor the innings as he hit a lusty 35.

Doidge came on for Jan and his left arm over the wicket medium pace, was at times difficult to play, but he was unable to make the breakthrough, but only conceded 19 runs off his 6 overs. At the other end, the Captain brought on his son in place of Ryan, for an effective 12 overs (split over 2 spells) and he finished with figures of 3/38, including the wicket of the opener who had hit a steady 32, with Neven taking a neat catch behind the stumps. Jones replaced Doidge, and steadily increased his pace during his 5 overs, but although he briefly threatened the Broadstone lower order, he too was unable to get a wicket, though kept it fairly tight, giving up only 17 runs.

Davey returned, this time bowling his customary left arm off breaks, bewitching Munday, and eventually cleaning him up. The Broadstone tail then collapsed as Ryan returned at the other end, finishing with impressive figures of 4/27. The hero of last week's match against Ibberton, Richard Stewkesbury, was not called upon to add to his 5-wicket haul. Broadstone ended on 139/9, though Triangle should have picked up maximum bowling points, if only Blackman had claimed a simple run out on the last ball.

Jan Davey opened the batting with the Captain, but after last weekend's knock of 153, he was out for a very disappointing 6, bowled by Cummings without offering a shot. Ben Doidge then came to the middle, but started very slowly indeed, and was still on a potential duck after an excruciating 24 deliveries. He finally got off the mark, slashing at a wide ball and edging it through the slips for four. During this time, his partner, Males, had also fallen to the deceptive medium pace of Cummings, and was back in the pavilion for 13. Jones then joined Doidge, but he too found scoring difficult and eventually got off the mark 14 balls later, copying Doidge's shot, edging through the slips for 2. Jones then became Cummings' third victim, as he tried an outrageous drive, trying desperately to get the ball off the square, and his middle stump went flying.

Luckily Doidge had found his scoring touch, and was hitting out against the Broadstone attack, moving quickly into the 30's. After his impressive knock of 41* against Weymouth the day before, Dave Blackman helped Doidge to move the Triangle total along, providing able back-up as the youngster filled his boots. Blackman though, was suffering at the other end, as he too found scoring runs difficult against a fairly average bowling attack. He succumbed to Broadstone's Captain, John Thoem, and was bowled around his legs attempting to sweep the leg spinner, out for a gritty 11.

Thanks to the hard-hitting Doidge, having hit 2 mighty sixes in his eventual 75*, (but had been dropped twice), Triangle only needed just over 20 runs for victory, when Dodson came to the crease. He immediately looked to finish the job quickly, hitting a boundary on his fourth delivery. Kev looked set as he swept Thoem for another 4, as Doidge continued his march to an impressive innings, but Dodson didn't take into account the umpiring of Jan Davey. Dodson was on his way after being dismissed by Hall LBW, which even from the sidelines, looked as if the ball had pitched outside leg stump. John Ryan came unexpectedly to the crease, and hit a quickfire 7 runs, leaving Doidge to secure the win with a drive for 4, with nearly 10 overs to spare.