Embracing the concept of the “Friendly”, and in support of the Youth Policy, Ilchester selected three youngsters to play: Tom and Oliver Marten and James Chalmers. Irrespective of the result, it was hoped that the boys would at least remember having taken part.

Despite a fine day on Saturday, a spot of rain overnight followed by an overcast Sunday morning encouraged Thornford to use the artificial track. In light of the lack of match practice for many of the Ilchester players, this was seen as a good thing! Duly elected Captain for the day by Doug, Colin Smith strode to the wicket, contemplating what to do. He needn’t have worried; Thornford won the toss and elected to bat. In Q’s absence, Paul “The Cat” Chalmers was offered the gloves.

Steve Wade and Doc Marten (4-0-12-0) opened the bowling. Despite each initially having radar problems on a wicket that fell away slightly down the hill – a problem encountered by all but three of the ten bowlers used, both returned steady figures from the opening spell, Steve’s wicket in his second over (Bowled) being reward for their perseverance. At 30 – 1 from 9 overs, neither side could feel that they had the upper hand. Chris Tyler (5-0-27-1) replaced Doc with a mixed-bag of leg- and off-spin. Having beaten the outside edge once or twice, he too was rewarded when the Thornford No 3 danced down the wicket swung and missed, leaving a stumping chance which even Paul wasn’t going to miss. Meanwhile Matt Laverton, a new joiner this year, joined the fray, replacing Steve. He soon had his eye in, causing all sorts of problems for the host batsmen with some banana-like away swing. Matt’s figures of 6–0–25–1 (Colin taking a sharp catch away to his right at cover) would have been much better had he had the rub of the green with some confident LBW appeals. With the score on 85 – 2 at drinks, the match was still very much in the balance.

Colin (5-0-23-1) replaced Chris, and his wicket (LBW) left the score at 86 – 4 from 21.1 overs; Ilchester could feel the tide turning. Unfortunately, that elation was short-lived. The Thornford batsmen took a shine to Doug (6-0-44-0), who had replaced Matt and then Paul (3-0-23-0), who had replaced Colin, rapidly building a partnership of 96 for the 5th wicket. Accepting that a chase of over 200 was inevitable, Colin delighted the youngsters by giving them each an over, whilst Steve returned to finish his spell from the other end. Tom, James and Oliver all bowled well, conceding 12, 7 and 5 respectively. Steve (8-2-26-2) took the last of the 5 team wickets, Chris Tyler taking a sharp catch behind the stumps as Steve found some real pace.

The Thornford total of 211 included 35 extras, of which 28 were wides, justification, if ever there was any, for engaging in pre-season friendlies. A final note for Ellis Roberts, the Thornford Skipper, who closed not out on 61.

Following a wonderful tea (which, by virtue of the quantity of delicious cakes, continued well into the Ilchester innings), Doug and Doc strode to the crease. In the past, a chase of over 200 would have been particularly daunting, but there is a growing sense within the Club that anything is possible. With that in mind, Ilcheste4r made a bright start, scoring at a little over 4 runs per over from the first 8. A change of bowler brought the breakthrough that Thornford needed, Doug (15) edging to first slip. The following over, Doc (16) was undone by a ball that came back up the hill and found the smallest of gaps between bat and pad (41 –2 from 10). Unlike Paul, who was benefiting from 2 months of pre-season nets, it had been some time since Matt (0) had lifted a bat. His lack of match practice was to be his undoing as he was bowled by a dipping, in-swinging Yorker (51 – 3 from 13). Colin joined Paul, and regular calculations identified that the match was still very much there to be won. A partnership of 85 ensued in the next 16 overs before Colin (36) couldn’t quite get to the pitch of a ball from which he was left somewhat stranded by an alert wicket-keeper (136 – 4 from 29). By now it was beginning to get distinctly gloomy, and not just from the point of view of winning the match! When Kyle Bell (0) fell two balls later, the writing was looking to be on the wall. However, with Chris Tyler and Steve Wade still to bat, and Paul still at the crease, there was still hope….. right until Paul tried to pull a ball that barely rose off the wicket, hitting his pads pretty square in front of middle stump for 45 (148 – 6 from 31). Despite a quick-fire 14 from Steve (before he too was undone LBW by a ball that kept very low), the innings soon closed on 156, Chris (0) caught and bowled, Tom (2) stumped (to howls of derision from both home and away support) and James (0) bowled, leaving Oliver unbeaten on 0.

Despite losing by 55 runs, the result was far from dismal. The youngsters each had a bat and a bowl, all three showing commendable spirit against “grown-ups”. To achieve 156 with such a side, and in increasingly difficult light was considered at least a partial success.

The Club looks to the League fixture away at Chetnole next week, seeking to put the defeat behind them, and intent on renewing spirited competition against a team that has become a traditional “auld enemy”.
Oh, and winning!!

“Pie Eater”