CLYST HYDON 133 lost to UPLYME AND LYME REGIS 134-5 by five wickets

FOLLOWING a week of heavy rain showers the Uplyme wicket was still drying out on Saturday and, on winning the toss, skipper Steve Batey had no hesitation in asking Clyst to bat.

Clyst started badly when Paul Earnshaw tried a risky single to the ever alert Michael van den Berg and his throw found the batsman short of the crease.

This success was followed up when opening bowler Rhys Davies pitched the perfect ball to remove captain Helfin Wood’s off stump with the score on 13.

This brought together the dangerous Sri Lankan pair of Thevaraj and Harturusingha and they set about restoring the balance.

Aided by some untidy bowling from Dinninson and Davies that contributed nine wides to the total they settled in and stroked a number of confident boundaries. It was the introduction of off spinner Van den Berg that turned the tide.

He had Haturusingha caught by Neil Price and then took a diving catch off his own bowling to get rid of Thevaraj.

At 98-5 Uplyme took control through the accuracy of support bowlers Price (2-35), Whetlor (1-39) and skipper Batey, who led the way returning pleasing figures of 2-7.

The visitors were reduced to 133 all out when Dinnison’s throw ran out last man Abiddin to round off an excellent performance in the field from Uplyme.

The hosts were aware that the job was only half done and the first task was to see off the dangerous quick bowling of Haturusingha.

Rob Thom chose to face fire with fire and he hit three fours and a six before partner Laurie Thomas had got off the mark.

Thom’s innings got Uplyme off to a flying start before he was dismissed for a run-a-ball 20.

The good work was continued by the in-form Mark Brimicombe who smashed five fours and a six in his 30.

There was a hiccup when he was bowled by Thornton and Wellman was needlessly run out for nine but Dinnison (32no) and Steve Batey (10no) restored order to bring the hosts home with five wickets and 13 overs to spare.