NDL Division 2 v. Lynton & Lynmouth (h)

Incorrigibles 160 all out (E Reader 45, R Bowden 41, A Spice 3-22), beat
Lynton & Lynmouth 81 all out (T Jones 33, M Vaggers 3-9, J Hope 3-18) by 79 runs

Just like at Sampford Peverell, this was an eventful match for the Witheridge first eleven, with veteran Dave Gooding once again at the forefront. Batting first, the Incorrigibles innings started in the worst possible fashion as Ed Pincombe got a scratch on the first ball of the innings, and then Russell Hilton was run out for a single just 2 overs later. James Hope also fell cheaply, caught and bowled for 7, and expectation was once again on Ryan Bowden to get us up to a defendable total on what was, it has to be said, a benign Gratten Park wicket.

Chris Crook joined him for the first phase of rebuilding, and the pair put on 28 for the fourth wicket. Ryan looked to be coasting, until he was the victim of another fine caught and bowled for 41. The best partnership of the innings came courtesy of the youngest man in the team, Ed Reader, and the oldest man in the world, Dave Gooding. Ed stroked the ball through the offside nicely, but the shot of his innings of 45 was a brilliant lofted four over long-on. Gooding's knock on the other hand was all about resilience and grit over technique. Felled by a top-edged pull shot, and having to have his heart restarted before rigor mortis set in, he resumed his innings to make 14, and put on 54 with wicket keeper Reader. For spectators, the innings could only have been likened to watching seal pups being clubbed to death with pencils.

The belated arrival of Andy Crossman, who had been out sillaging, before he was out in the middle, before he was out caught, brought 25 brisk runs, before Ed Strong ensured the Incorrigibles innings ended in the same way it started, with a golden duck.

If 160 all out was a disappointing effort with the bat, then the bowling was much better. Alex Elston returned from his injury lay-off and showed that he still has more pace than any other Witheridge seamer, taking two wickets for two runs in four overs, only conceding runs via an outside edge through the slip region. Ed Strong, for once, could not find his length and failed to utilise the new ball properly, bowling too short and negating his biggest asset, the outswinger. It was the medium pace of James Hope, and debutant Melanie Vaggers, that captured the wickets, as they shared six between them. James found himself on a hattrick, as Al had earlier, and produced a yorker which Toby Hayward jabbed down on, squirting a fast, low skimming chance to Ryan Bowden at first slip... who put it down! In truth, it was a fantastic effort diving down to his right, but nonetheless a fine. Hayward was later removed by Mel for a duck, when he dollied an easy catch to the walking wounded, Dave Gooding, at square leg.

Lynton & Lynmouth never looked capable of chasing down the Witheridge total, and Ed Strong returned to hit the top of off to finish the visitor's innings with 81 on the board. A seemingly clinical display, although the batting will need to fire for the first time this season if we are to overcome the sterner challenge of Beaford away, this coming weekend.

Scorecard

NDL Division 2 v. Heathcoat (a)

North Devon League Division 2

Heathcoat v. Witheridge Incorrigibles

Heathcoat 307-6 (C Small 100, G Clatworthy 50, R Hilton 4-54), beat
Incorrigibles 146 all out (R Bowden 54, J Parr 52, J Drew 4-6) by 161 runs

At change of innings at Knightshayes, news began to filter through that Les Rendall had made an unbeaten hundred at Nomansland against The Men Of Rackenford. He later went on to pick up five wickets in the visitor's innings.

With the spectre of Les's hundred hanging ominously over an under-pressure batting line-up, only half-centuries from Jason Parr and Ryan Bowden saved Incorrigibles from complete embarrassment. Jason was fluent throughout his innings, and particularly dismissive of Martyn Williams left-arm spin, using his feet well to play a succession of lofted drives in the arc from long-on to extra cover. Ryan was not as fluent as usual, but still saw off the main threat posed by quicks Matt Hague and Chris Small, whilst compiling 54 from number four in the order. After Jason was bowled leaving an inswinger from Small, the rest of the order fell away quickly. Russell Hilton edged to slip for his second duck in three NDL innings, and the only other score into double-figures was from the helmetless Dave Gooding, who smashed three fours with such power that if he was black you could be forgiven for thinking it was Viv Richards out there batting.

Earlier, Russell Hilton bowled through the pain barrier to collect four wickets and keep Heathcoat in check just when they appeared to be heading towards a total in excess of 15,000. Ed Strong opened well with the new ball along with Parr who, with a more attacking field, may have picked up a wicket or two in his first spell. Most of the Heathcoat batsmen got in, with overseas player Small making a ton before being removed next ball by Hilton. Despite a relatively decent fielding display, including yet another superb catch from Ed Reader, diving forwards and across to pouch Guy Bucknell, who snicked off against a slower ball from Russ, and Ryan Bowden bowling his offbreaks with good pace and bounce, Heathcoat were able to ammass 307. In the end this was just out of reach for the Witheridge side, who fell an agonising 161 runs short of victory.

It was also noted that Ed Pincombe also said something funny at some point.

Scorecard

NDL Division 2 v. Shebbear (a)

North Devon League Division 2
Shebbear v. Witheridge Incorrigibles

Incorrigibles 137-3 (A Crossman 45, R Hilton 40, H Landymore 2-21), beat
Shebbear 135 all out (O Wickett 36, J Chappell 35, B Franks 3-19) by 7 wickets 


A difficult week for the two captains. Other commitments elsewhere meant that we were only able to raise 20 players between us, so it looked as though we would both play with 10. A late cancellation by Victoria Park, however, meant we were able to take a full 11 to Shebbear for the first XI game, with Ed Strong and Les Rendall making welcome additions to our bowling attack. Ed Hosegood volunteered to stand down as he had pressing work at home. Thank you to everyone who was willing to turn out.
 
Winning the toss yet again we decided to bowl, hoping that the soft pitch and damp outfield may give us an advantage. And a low slow pitch it turned out to be. The two experienced Shebbear openers struggled against some accurate bowling by opening pair Ed Strong and Ben Franks. With 24 on the board, skipper Andrew Bryan missed a swinging full toss from Franks which hit the stumps, before a couple of useful stands put Shebbear in a position to reach about 180 with still 20 overs to go. Les Rendall eventually trapped Wickett, the other opener, LBW for 36, and with an injured Russell Hilton bowling well at the other end, the runs started to dry up. Ben got their number three Chappell, who was beginning to look dangerous, for 35. Then a cameo bowling appearance by our skip, bowling his weird mixed bag of slow wind-assisted outswingers, nipped out their middle order. Ed Strong finished things off with a wicket he deserved for his opening spell.
 
A subdued Andy Crossman and Ed Pincombe led the chase, but runs were hard to come by and Ed fell to an excellent ball that nipped back and clipped his off bail. Enter Russell Hilton, always looking the part but usually unable to deliver. The pair put on a steady 60 or so with hardly a boundary in sight. The unusually quiet Crossman didn’t hit a boundary for 27 overs, before dispatching successive fours and a six. Russell advanced to the 40s and looked a certainty for a jug, but fell LBW, and Andy Crossman was caught for 45 shortly after. Double jug avoidance!

Jittery times remembering the 2nd team collapse the week before and still needing 36 off 13 overs, the experienced Jake McDonald and Ben Franks steadied the innings, and the Franks stamp of finishing the innings with a six won us the game with five overs remaining.
 
Overall we played very well with some excellent fielding by all, especially Mark Reader who threw himself around to save several boundaries, breaking his glasses in the process! Also well done to Ed Reader who kept for the whole innngs with no byes or extras. The only blemish on our fielding performance was the skipper, who dropped a sitter of Ben, before claiming the wicket of the same batsman himself two balls later...

Scorecard

NDL Division 2 v. Halberton & Sampford Peverell (a)

North Devon League Division 2
Halberton & Sampford Peverell v. Witheridge Incorrigibles

Halberton & Sampford Peverell 255-5 (J Mayes 120*, G Maher 63, R Bowden 2-40), beat
Incorrigibles 168 all out (J Parr 91, N Dean 3-27, G Maher 4-43) by 87 runs

Previous years have seen Incorrigibles' much anticipated first game of the season involve a batting collapse at Barnstaple and Pilton. It was a relief then that we found ourselves a bit closer to home this year against local rivals Halberton & Sampford Peverell. 

Veteran Dave Gooding's tenure as first eleven skipper did not start well as drinks arrived midway through the innings and we had still not broken the opening stand between Chilcott and Mayes. He would also later be fined for face-planting on the boundary and imitating EA Cricket dives. Mayes went on to score a century, although he was clearly caught behind in the sixties but not given. There was also a rapid half century for Aussie Greg Maher, who dispatched Jamie Tapper's offspin for 32 runs in a single over. All the bowlers, excluding perhaps George Greenway, found it difficult to stem the runs on what is a small ground, whilst the fielding was typically early-season.


The chase began in turgid fashion, with Jamie Tapper in particular being subdued by the gentle swing of Nick Dean, who picked up three for 27. The only batsman to show any intent was also the only one to prosper, as Jason Parr racked up 91 (including seven sixes), before being bowled, coming down the wicket and missing a full toss from Dean. The next high score was Tapper, with 16, as the innings closed on 168 all out.


Full credit must go to the hosts for producing a pretty decent pitch and outfield, in what had been some horrendous wet weather leading up to the game.

Scorecard