Cavaliers vs Crewkerne

The Cavaliers lost their unbeaten record as careless batting and bowling cost them dear. On a hot day with a good track skipper Axon decided to bat a decision which may come to haunt him at the season end. Stephenson and Axon put on 23 for the first wicket until Axon edged an expansive looking drive to slip for 18. Val Simillien joined Stephenson and they proceeded without alarm to 68 until Simillien chased a wide on and departed for 13. Stephenson soon followed for 33 including a number of trademark drives. Ryan Marsh and Ben Coomber then set about rebuilding the innings just when it looked as they were on their way Coomber was then out for 45. Barry Jones and Max Phillips then departed leaving the Cavaliers in a spot of bother at 150 for 6. With Ryan Marsh setting anchor John House came in for a bright cameo of 28 including two sixes. Marsh then fell soon after for 39 leaving Tom Walsh 5 not out and Ben Redwood 3 not out to achieve maximum points and a decent enough score of 209.

Crewkerne’s opener Briggs and Lawrence started well with Briggs hitting a number of drives until he fell to a corker from Tom Walsh for 16. Lawrence soon followed and after Gould went for 26 the Cavaliers were confident. The familiar failing of extras conceded was still proving to be a problem as Rowswell produced some lovely shots and Palfrey rode his luck being dropped twice to take the score to 150 without further loss. Tom Walsh then got the breakthrough dismissing Palfrey and after Rowswell followed for a well-made 57 it looked as though the Cavaliers may hold on. James and Gould then inched their way towards the Cavaliers total until James fell for 10 off the last all of the 43rd over after John House and come back with a fast penetrative spell. With 7 needed off the last two overs Ben Redwood was unable to stop Bending hitting a four and two leaving the visitors needing two off the last over. It wasn’t to be as Gould cut House away for 2. In a tight game the difference was the extras conceded with Crewkerne conceding only 10 and the Cavaliers 38, 28 of those wide’s and no balls meaning 28 runs given away and almost five overs of extra balls, lessons need to be learned if the Cavaliers want to maintain their promotion push.