By OLLIE SMITH
CHARDSTOCK 1st XI’s chase of 316 saw them rack-up a run rate of more than eight an over, as they defeated Clyst Hydon in the E Division East.
Both team captains had significant say in the game, but it was first blood to Clyst Hydon’s Graham Trude, as he won the toss and chose to bat.
Opposing skipper Rob Hutchings struck in his second over, dismissing Grant Johnston for a four-ball duck. That would be the first of six for Hutchings, as he finished with figures of six wickets for nine runs from his full nine-over allocation.
The rest of his bowlers weren’t as lucky, however. There were economies of eights, sevens, and 11s as Graham Trude dispatched the Chardstock bowlers to all parts of the ground.
He and Louis Marks (59) put on a partnership of 130, but when Marks fell, Trude kept going. He ended the innings on 146 not out, hitting 25 boundaries in the 138 balls he faced.
Hosts Hydon finished on 315 for seven, the only other Chardstock bowler to take a wicket was Nathan Copp, but not before he had been hit for 73 runs!
Ed Pyman and Martin Langford opened the innings for Chardstock, and they were also the ones to close it.
Langford’s innings was a controlled 128 from 145, he hit 18 fours and two sixes in his knock.
Pyman’s innings started off as a regulation knock, he reached 50 in the 23rd over, from 43 balls. His next 42 balls went for almost 100, as he accelerated exponentially.
With two to win, and Pyman needing six to reach 150, he hit a maximum to reach his maiden 150, and complete the remarkable run chase.
Victorious captain Hutchings believed the total was never out of reach.
“It was a great ground and wicket, so it was a lot of runs but we felt like it was a gettable target,” said Hutchings.
“Graham [Trude] batted exceptionally well to marshal his side to a good total. Very clean hitting.”
At the interval and chasing 316, it would have been very easy for Chardstock heads to drop, however Hutchings said that wasn’t the case.
“There was some form of a motivational team talk.” He then went on to joke that: “It [the team talk] was likened to a Churchillian call to arms.
“After two overs of our innings, the opposition claimed they were 50 short of par!”
“Ed Pyman’s batting was a pleasure to watch; there was a lot of clean, consistent striking. He chose the correct ball to attack.
“Martin was the perfect foil for Ed, elegantly going up and down the gears.”
Hutchings had plenty of praise for the hosts, Clyst Hydon, too.
“Clyst Hydon were great hosts and as usual it was a pleasure to play against them, despite the result they played to enjoy the day.”
