Sturminster Marshall

Pete Tombs

The sun shone brightly on a fine May afternoon, with a strong breeze blowing across the square as Tony Quayle welcomed the visit of Sturminster Marshall to Reforne, duly lost the toss and was asked to field.

Playing on the top pitch ensured there was little room for error as the boundary at the pavilion side was much shorter than usual. Quayle opened with Dan "Fluff" Strong and Tony Morris and Sturminster soon found that a combination of a good batting track and some charitable bowling, from Morris initially, helped the runs flow off the bat. Just as Morris was settling on a good line and length and the runs had dried up, he was replaced with the off breaks of Gareth Redpole.

Strong came to the end of his age-restricted spell and made way for Youth Rep. Callan Laws. The change of bowling brought no respite for Triangle as Warren and Lockwood smashed their way to an opening stand of 87, before Lockwood was run out after a mix-up with his fellow opener left him stranded in no-man's land.

Gardner joined Warren and the pair continued to put the home bowlers to the sword as they added 116 for the second wicket, before Warren was bowled by Bill Gates who finally outfoxed the left-hander who looked on course for a well-deserved century. Gardener rode his luck as Simon Proffitt was unlucky not to pick up his wicket when Adam Smart dropped a skier on the long boundary at deep mid-wicket, and this pushed him to punish Prof in his final over, ruining his previously frugal figures.

Young Will Gage was caught behind by a fine leg-side catch by stand-in keeper Chris Pegrum as Strong rejoined the attack to replace Prof with immediate effect. Sturminster's captain then joined Gardner who soon reached his century, and they added a further 56 as the visitors posted 313/3 at the close.

After a fine Mrs Stewkesbury tea, Triangle got off to another poor start when their captain shouldered arms to a short delivery and watched in despair as the ball kept low and clipped the bottom of his off stump. Aarron Riley was sent in to shore up the innings and saw Gates dismissed when he missed a straight one from Revitt. Pegrum soon followed, playing an expansive shot to Gage but forgetting to hit the ball. Riley was next on his way, hitting a soft drive into the hands of short cover.

Redpole and Tombs then began a brief revival before Gary edged behind off Warren for 15, the first Triangle batsman to reach double figures. A short cameo innings by Laws, including a fine straight drive to the boundary was over almost as soon as it had began when Callan got carried away and was caught at point flailing at a wide delivery. Tombs was steadily scoring in a chanceless innings, but desperately needed support, unfortunately neither Strong and Smart were able to provide it.

"Stonewall" Proffitt stayed with Tombs, grinding out a single run innings that Quayle in his prime would be proud of. He then showed he'd been paying some attention to Kevin Pietersen's recent exploits when he walked down the track as Gage thundered up the hill to bowl. The young bowler soon had his revenge for this display of cheek and produced a fine inswinging delivery to pierce Prof's defenses. He then made short work of Morris who played all round a straight one and Sturminster coasted to victory.

PRT II 3, Sturminster Marshall 20