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.
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