Somerset League 2nd XI Div Four SW: Brent Knoll (34) 193-5 bt Mark (11) 122 by 71 runs

HAVING been forced to cancel the previous weekend's first game of this season through lack of players, Brent Knoll Seconds' captain Nigel Statton was apprehensive at the time of the toss on Saturday as only nine of his team had arrived at Somerset Court.

Mark captain Brian Edwards chose to field, even though he had only ten players, because the wicket looked as if it could only improve, with the sun shining on it and drying even more.

Brent's new, but very experienced opening pair of Colin Stringer and Tony Trickey started quickly, getting to 20 in the third over, and continued to score quickly until Mark's opening bowler J English was replaced.

D Greenwood struck in his first over, having Trickey caught for 30 with the total 67. He dismissed Barry Whitcombe (2) in his next over and things were looking as if they might swing back towards Mark, as Alex Nicolaides came to the wicket, having put his A-level revision to one side.

He started slowly, but Stringer was looking as if a 50 was within his sights. They batted together for 20 overs, putting on 91 runs, until Stringer (59) was bowled by the returning opener P Davis.

Nicolaides was joined by his captain Statton and was soon celebrating his first 50 in only his second season. With Brent chasing 200, Nicolaides (55) and Statton (15) were both out and there was not enough time for new player L Cannard (1) and R Driver to get the runs. Brent Knoll finished on 193-5.

Due to new playing restrictions, the Mark reply started with Brent using Ray Macbeth and P Gilpin as the opening bowlers. They had restricted Mark to 16 when, in the seventh over, Macbeth took the wicket of skipper Edwards (12), caught by R Driver.

Driver showed his class by taking two more catches before having to go to work, having stood in at short notice. Wickets then fell rapidly, with Gilpin and Macbeth striking in consecutive overs.

Nicolaides, Stringer and Statton joined the attack with varying degrees of success. The Mark innings was ended by Macbeth dismissing B Gowan (17) for his third wicket as they were all out for 122.

Well played to both teams and it was great to see seven players under the age of 15.

8:55pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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