Timberscombe Cricket Club

Timberscombe gained revenge for last years defeat on a glorious May evening beating the visitors by 48 runs. Timberscombe captain Steve Perkins called in the two Weetch brothers from Stogumber as Timberscombe regulars Abbot & Shooter had defected to play for the teachers.

Timberscombe were asked to bat and openers Dave Cook and Tom Sparks found it difficult to score off the accurate bowling of Geoff Dibble and Mctavish scoring only 4 runs in the opening 4 overs, which included 2 maidens. Frustration showed as both were caught trying to increase the run rate. James Weetch was joined at the crease by captain Perkins and immediately gave more impetus to the inning as they both hit sixes to start their innings. Perkins was happy to play second fiddle to the amazing Weetch who after 7 overs retired on 57 hitting 4 sixes and 6 fours. Perkins went onto score 20 before being surprising caught by an acrobatic Abbot off the bowling of Sparks. Paul and Hannah Sparks both scored 12 runs to set the schoolmasters an ambitious total of 142 for victory.

In reply Mike Green looked in good touch before being run out on 19 when Russ Summersgill skillfully deflected a straight drive from Shooter onto the stumps. Timberscombe scented victory and removed the dangerous middle order of Shooter caught by J Weetch bowled by C Weetch and the infamous Abbot caught by P Sparks off the bowling of Phil Dibble who on debut went onto to claim three wickets. Loanee P Sparks then came back to the crease to show that he could actually play in 20 20 mode with a flurry of boundaries to finish on 16 n.o. but Timberscombe claimed the last wicket to close the innings on 93.

J Weetch 57 n.o

S Perkins 20

J Abbott 2 overs 10 runs 2 wickets

M Green 19

P Sparks 16 n.o

T Sparks 3 overs 3 runs 2 wickets

P Dibble 2 overs 7 runs 3 wickets

Friendly Timberscombe v Minehead 14 May 2008

Over 400 runs were scored in an excellent game of cricket played in scorching conditions at Timberscombe with Minehead’s Brian Hamblin bludgeoning 100 runs to set a very competitive total of 219 to win off 40 overs. Timbersombe came close but could only muster 190 for 8 and had to settle for a losing draw. Timberscombe were two players short and Minehead’s captain Ian Buchanan sportingly loaned out all rounders Martin & Drakely to balance the sides. Timberscombe started brightly with Bradley Martin cheaply dismissing the top order of Bowditch and capt Buchanan the latter thanks to a champagne moment from stand in wicket keeper Jez Dibble who made a full length dive to catch the edge. Drakely was also in the action catching Snell off the bowling of Bulpin and Minehead were reeling with three down within four overs. This brought Minehead’s hero Hambin to the crease and with the support of B Rawle (28) and T Cottrell (29 no) Minehead recovered well. Summersgill & Perkins bowled 18 overs in the heat and managed to slow the run rate. Although it was Hamblin’s day as after surviving a couple of tight lbw decisions early on from the bowling of Summergill & Perkins and a couple of very hard caught and bowled chances from Abbot & Perkins he road his luck and after being dropped by Bulpin again from the bowling of luckless Perkins he retired exhausted on 100 runs after running a 3 to add to his 2 sixes and 12 fours. Timberscombe – Bradley Martin 10 overs 52 runs 5 wickets Minehead – Brian Hamblin 100 (ret) In response Timberscombe needed nearly a run a ball and opener Nevada cracked two boubndaries before being bowled trying playing an agricultural shot towards Dunkery Beacon. Dearey opened the bowling and kept it tight will only 9 runs coming off 6 overs for one wicket. Following the unnessarry run out of opener Dibble (who appeared to be still thinking of his earlier champagne moment) came the best partnership of the game with Jason Abbot 74 off 65 balls and Matt Drakely 43 off 53 balls. Both played beautifully with an array of shots to all parts of the ground. Minehead showed their bowling strength by using all ten players but just as Timberscombe sensed victory on came Snell to bowl both Abbot & Drakely in quick succession. Bradley Martin kept the game alive with an amusing 25 off 19 but Ali Lang like his father Bruce found it difficult to score and only amassed 3 runs off the last 7 overs and Timberscombe had to settle for the losing draw. Minehead -Snell 4 overs 15 runs 2 wickets Timberscombe – Abbot 74 & Drakely 43

Lydeard St Lawrence v Timberscombe

Lydeard came out on top winning by 1 wicket in this close fought and tight match. Chasing 194 to win, Lydeard’s local knowledge of how to play on the ground was the deciding factor. S Power led the way with a hard-hitting and canny knock of 76. With other useful contibutions and some good hitting the total was reached with 8 balls to spare with the outcome in the balance all the way. Timberscombe’s bowlers, notably Will Giblett with 3 for 49 and Geoff Dibble with 4 for 38, had worked hard. They were well supported by the ground fielding, which had to be good with such short boundaries. Earlier in the afternoon Timberscombe had been invited to bat. A steady start by Paul Sparks who made 30, and a patient 77 by Joe Shooter, who held the innings together, allowed a platform for Will Giblett to launch a late assualt with a hard hit 41 near the end. Pick of the Lydeard bowlers was Ed White who bowled tighly in both his spells with little joy. Overall a pleasant afternoon’s cricket with a competitive game played in a great spirit.

Scores.
Timberscombe 194 for 4
Shooter 77 (NO), Giblett 41 (NO),Sparks 30
Lydeard St Lawrence 195 for 9
Power 76, Chester 28
Giblett 3 for 49, Dibble 4 for 38.

Lydeard St Lawrence 23 points, Timberscombe 9 points

Timberscombe managed to lose from a position of strength against a modest total playing the recently reformed Williton side. A. Martin opened the batting and top scored with 28 before being blowed by Abbot (3 for 19). The dangerous Strong opened his shoulders for a maximum before being caught off the bowling of Summersgill. T. Maddock smashed Abbott all around the ground for a quick fire 20 and was ably assisted by captain E. Martin who scored 24 not out.

Timberscombe’s reply to Willitons’ 108 all out got off to a pedestrian start as Sparks (19) and Cook struggled to adjust to the pace of the artificial wicket, however Cooks departure led to a collapse as T. Maddock ripped though the Timberscombe top order. Abbott led the fight back with a tempestuous 32 which included three 6s before being dismissed by a fine 1 handed catch from A Martin. Perkins and Hill got Timberscombe within touching distance whilst seeing off the pace attack, however when Hill was caught on the boundary Perkins needed 8 off the last two balls having hit the first for four he couldn’t repeat the feat and Williton claimed a win

Williton: 108 all out A Martin 28 E Martin 24 no J Abbott 3 for 19

Timberscombe 105 – 8 J Abbott 32 P Sparks 19 T Maddock 3 for 5

Golden Ducks: A Lang, G Storey
Ducks: J Shooter