S Brent 231 all out (45 overs)
Yelverton 3rds 123 all out (40.3 overs)
Scorecard
After a two week break South Brent were back in League action as they hosted Yelverton Thirds who arrived with a much changed side to that faced back in May .
Malpas and Oglivie opened up on a wicket that runs didn’t come freely on, but put together a useful opening stand of 51 before Oglivie was trapped LBW. New man Dave Lewis helped steady the ship again before Malpas chipped one to mid-wicket 8 short of his half century. New batsman Carnell, in his first game of the season, fell second ball to leave Brent 68-3 and finding things much tougher than the earlier fixture between the two clubs.
Chris Daniel came in, and had to battle hard early on to keep his wicket against some inspired spin, but then settled in and the 50 partnership with Lewis was reached as the second and third batting points were secured. Lewis was caught looking to reach the boundary, but his 56 had made a big difference and allowed Saunter to come in with more freedom. He chipped a quick 16 before falling to leave the score 167-5. Injured Cranch batted valiantly with the aid of a runner to push the score towards the 200 mark, and when the final batting point was secure Daniel fell for 58 as he released the shackles and started to try and hit big, knowing the main job was done.
In true Brent style the tail struggled again, with just 2 runs between the final three batsmen, leaving Cook 15 not out as the last wicket fell on the last ball of the innings. 231 was a defendable score – but opening bowler Rob Willoughby took a nasty blow to the hand when batting and was replaced in the field by 12th Man, Matt Dardis – down at the ground supporting the team ahead of his expected return from injury the next day.
Yelverton came out conscientious but fairly untroubled early on, with their opening pair also recording a 50 partnership. The required run rate was building, and scoring 232 looked unlikely, but Brent needed 10 wickets to get the bonus points win they wanted.
Skipper Lewis brought himself on and bowled good tight lines, and the slow rate finally got the better of the patient batsmen as Scott Malpas got his reward for putting the ball in good areas as both openers fell trying to score – keeper Carnell taking a stumping and another high catch for Daniel.
Malpas kept on going, taking a caught and bowled chance then bowling another victim himself to leave Yelverton 75-4, and give Malpas very respectable figures of 4-29 from 9 overs. Sean Beaven then got in on the act achieving an extraordinary feat of taking 3 caught and bowled wickets to take 3-33 and at 92-7 Lewis was able to rotate his bowlers to allow Rich Saunter and Jake Harvey-Dodderidge some overs. Both responded well and took a bowled wicket a piece and finally Yelverton succumbed to 123 all out.
S Brent 231 all out (Daniel 58, Lewis 56, Malpas 42) bt Yelverton 3rds 123 all out (Malpas 4-29, Beaven 3-33) by 108 runs. S Brent 20 pts, Yelverton 8 pts.
Another good win for Brent to keep the pressure on the league’s top two. Next up – Kenn 2nds at home on Saturday 15th July.