Temple Cloud Seconds won for the second game in succession under Vice Captain, Rich Appleyard. Winning the toss and batting first on the best track of the season so far always looked like a good decision.

University friends, Tom Haydon and Toby Ingram, opened up for Temple, looking to set a solid platform. Unfortunately, Ingram mistimed a straight drive-up high up in the air, to be caught and bowled easily by Parsons for just four runs.

Skipper, Appleyard, looked to lead from the front, promoting himself to bat at number three. Riding his luck and taking risks paid off in the end, despite being dropped on at least four occasions as he finished with his top score of the season so far, run-out for 83.

This unselfish approach was backed up well by opener, Tom Haydon, who started slowly but soon accelerated through his fifty and 100 to score a stylish swashbuckling 127, excellently caught by N. Mortimore in the 38th over out of forty.

A tanned George Veater – who flew in especially for the game from Croatia – ran, hurried and scurried well at the end of the innings to finish with a quick-fire 22, leaving Temple on 265-3 at the tea interval.

Horrington, who were top of the league, knew they had to start well to have a chance of overcoming Temple’s large total to win the game and stay at the top. Runs and extras proved easy to come by for the first few overs, as Horrington got themselves ahead of the 6.6 run rate.

Slowly but surely, Temple’s bowlers found their lines and length as T. Ingram, R. Appleyard and G. Flinders all bowled tight spells. The pressure was on Horrington’s openers to keep up with the run rate, as Temple kept it tight with their mix of athletic youth and ancient experience in the field.

Postman, Billy Garrett, produced two excellent deliveries, knocking the bails off to get Temple right back into the game. Pick of the batsmen was T. Wood, who scored sixty, opening the batting.

A lightning-fast stumping and run-out by Nick ‘the cat’ increased the pressure still further. George Veater took a fantastic cloud-high catch out on the boundary as Horrington pushed for the win. In the end, Horrington came up twelve runs short as Temple won a great game to move up a place to sixth position in the League.

Next week’s League game sees Wembdon Third XI visit Temple Cloud for a 1.30 p.m. start; any spectators welcome. Nets practice on Thursday, 9th August at 6 p.m., all welcome.

John Doel