Chilcompton Sports 2nd XI 283-4 Barrow Gurney 2nd XI 192-4
Chilcompton won by 91 runs
Chilcompton Seconds travelled to the picturesque Barrow Gurney CC on Saturday, knowing that promotion was confirmed, but needing to match or better Mells’ points total to take the title.
The match start was delayed by thirty minutes due to rain, reduced to 35 overs a side and after losing the toss, the visitors were asked to bat first. The opening pair of Mark Colbourne (58 in 38 balls) and Matt Rivers (31 in 30 balls) took the attack to Barrow Gurney and when the evergreen, Colbourne departed for an excellent half century, Chili had reached 86 in only eight overs. When Rivers departed, Simon Tandy (51 in 55 balls) joined Tom Hancock (106no in 75 balls) and both batsmen smashed the ball to all corners of the ground, in a 3rd wicket stand of 147, to help Chilcompton Seconds to their biggest total in memory.
Tandy played well in the supporting actor role to the Oscar-winning century of the classy Hancock, who finished the season scoring 320 runs in only 7 innings, with an Average of 80. A quick cameo through gully by Dave Travis (11 in 6 balls) entertained the enthusiastic First XI players in the grand stand, and the innings closed on 283 in their 35 overs.
At tea, the unconfirmed news filtered through, that Mells had only managed three bowling points so the equation was simple, in that Chilcompton needed to win and take six wickets in the process.
Chilcompton started the game with Sean White and Mark Easterling taking the new ball and the Barrow batsmen were continuing the theme, with the run rate at the high level of eight runs per over. White took two wickets, to give the visitors hope, and he finished with 2-36 from his six overs, as the run rate dropped. Jon Loud and Clive Christer tried their best to induce a false shot, but Barrow Gurney looked well set to stand firm at the halfway stage. The introduction of Jon Burgess and Matt Rivers reaped two quick wickets but Forge and Brace were well set and even managed to avoid falling victim to the vicious spin and flight of Miles Hadrill. The Barrow pair added 54 runs in the last 10 overs to frustrate the visitors as they reached 192-4 in their 35 overs to give Chilcompton victory by 91 runs.
The final league table made the victory seem like a defeat, as Mells took one more point than Chilcompton on the day and won the title thanks to more wins in the season (even though both teams finished on the same points). In hindsight, Mells deserved their title, playing great cricket through the Season, including doing the double over Chilcompton, and both teams will commence their historical rivalry in Season 2020.
In summary, it was an excellent Season for the Legends, who were ebulliently led by Skipper, Jonty Burgess, and his able VC, Adam Marshall. The side played cricket the right way thoughout the Season, with a superb team atmosphere, and at the end of the Season won some fantastic games from the jaws of defeat.
Dave Travis