Super Steve spurs Uplyme to victory (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Super Steve spurs Uplyme to victory

8:39am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Lyme Regis By Adam Summers

SHALDON OPTIMISTS 136 (3pts) lost to UPLYME & Lyme Regis 137-3 (20pts) by seven wickets

STEVE Batey was the guiding light for Uplyme & Lyme Regis as they continued their 100 per cent start to the season with a seven-wicket success over Shaldon Opt-imists at Mill Lane.

The all-rounder picked up 3-28 and then scored 45 not out as the hosts made short work of a Shaldon side that many onlookers are tipping for promotion.

Uplyme skipper Ashley Caddy, who also played another major role with a knock of 49, said: “It was another great all-round performance.

“Shaldon are seen by many as a top side. They scored 264 against Tiverton & Bickleigh the previous weekend and beat them by 200 runs but we bowled brilliantly and our fielding was fantastic.

“We held all our catches and never let them gain any momentum at all.

“In the end we got them for 136 and even then we knew it was still not going to be easy.

“We didn’t get off to the best of starts, losing our two openers to ducks, but Steve and I then came together and just batted sensibly before Rob Thom came in and helped knock off the winning runs.

“That is now three out of three and everything is looking pretty good at the moment.”

Todd Ballman (7) and Jay Tuffnell (25) got Shaldon off to a solid start with an opening stand of 30 but when Batey dismissed both of them and then added the wicket of Seamus McKenna (9) it completely turned the tables.

Will Blackmore (1-25) and R Holmes (5-29) then waded in with further wickets as 42-3 quickly became 95-7 before Dave Hansford (13) and Jamie Day (27) produced a late rearguard action to give Shaldon a chance.

They put on 34 for the eighth wicket before Holmes and Dunford mopped up the tail to leave Uplyme chasing 136.

On the face of it, that looked a comfortable task but when Mark Batey and Dave Norman fell to Mark Couch (1-42) and Carl Woolnough (1-26) respectively, the pressure was on.

Thankfully for the hosts, Batey and Caddy then stepped up to the mark and produced a patient stand of 95 before the latter was eventually trapped leg before by Chris Whitehead, just one run short of a half-century.

The Optimists continued to battle in a desperate bid to force another breakthrough but Batey and Thom stood up to the barrage and methodically picked off the remaining runs to secure Uplyme victory in the 23rd over.

Next up for Caddy’s high-flying side is a trip to Upottery on Saturday.

He added: “Against Shaldon, we had three players missing from the week before but the likes of Will and Rob came in and did a fantastic job.

“Everyone is contributing at the moment and the aim now is just to try and keep that momentum going for as long as possible.”