Duo star as Uplyme get off to winning start (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Duo star as Uplyme get off to winning start

8:47am Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Cricket By Adam Summers

KILMINGTON 81 (3pts) lost to UPLYME & Lyme Regis 83-7 (16pts) by 3 wkts

STEVE Batey and Dave Norman were the stars of the show as Uplyme & Lyme Regis got their season off to a winning start at Kilmington in the Devon League E Division.

In damp conditions, Lyme won the toss and chose to bowl with Batey picking up 6-24 and Ashley Caddy grabbing 2-13 to help skittle the hosts for just 81 before Norman (32 not out) led the way in a tricky run chase.

Caddy said: “With the wet conditions it was vital to win the toss and thankfully it went our way.

“It was always going to be a low- scoring game but eventually we got there.

“With the ball, it was just one of those days where you just had to get it on line and let the pitch do the rest and Steve did that superbly.

“To pick up six wickets in his first spell of the season was an excellent effort and to get them for 81 was very pleasing indeed.

“We bowled and fielded really well but we knew we had to be disciplined with the bat and Dave ensured we did that after being called up from the seconds after a couple dropped out the day before.

“The last thing we wanted was to give Kilmington any early encouragement so for Dave to carry his bat through the whole innings was just fantastic.”

Uplyme have notoriously been slow starters in the Devon League but Caddy is hoping that trend can be bucked this year as they aim for promotion.

He added: “Last season we didn’t start very well. We only won two out of the first four but then went on to win 10 on the bounce.

“With the football season having finished early this year and most of our players available, hopefully we can begin the campaign a lot better this time around and if we do that we will stand a great chance.

“We finished third last summer but hopefully this year we can go one better or even end the season as champions, which would be fantastic.”

Uplyme will be back in action this Saturday when they host Topsham St James, who saw their E Division opener at Kenn fall to the weather.