An unseasonable gloom greeted both teams as Oddballs faced Wembury Grasshoppers at Cornwood with the Dick Fiddler trophy at stake. Wembury batted first and were in a bit of trouble early on as Tommy Burrows had opener Andy Kings out lbw first ball with Stubbo then having Admas caught behind by Eoin Hewitt with the gloves; Wembury 11/2.

Sexy was next up as he expertly caught & bowled John Acres for 7 before bowling James Walters who looked set for retirement on 20 runs; Lambo finished with impressive numbers of 3-0-11-2. Burrodeo got the next one as Bates top edged it straight back to him for 7 and the Grasshoppers were teetering on 52/5 on the eleventh over.

Billy Dixon and Martin Ward steadied the ship as they put on 30 runs for the seventh wicket, Billy retiring on 25. Having passed the gloves to E-Dogg Eoin then had a bowl and knocked over Ward’s off-peg for 20 before doing the same to debutant Steve Rowe who was on nine. Gibbo and DT kept it tight toward the end and Wembury finished on 123/7; not a huge score, but one that demanded respect as the skies darkened further.

Gibbo and Paul Skeemer got oddballs started at a decent seed, scoring 17 from the first two overs; however, Skeems found another fielder in the mood to take a good grab as he perished for 5 and Gibbo was bowled by Evan Acres next ball for 11. CK went in the next over for 7 and Stubbo was bowled by Acres for 1 leaving Oddballs 26/4 in the fifth over.

Next came a superb “partnership” between Alex passman and Ewan Grewal. The pair put on 33 together (Grewal 30, Passman 2, Extras, 1). E-Dogg was at his brutal best, starting with a six and smashing two more including a huge one on to the bottom pitch to retire on 30 not out in ten balls. AVP was then caught for 2 and Jules Burrows was bowled by John Acres for 12 meaning Oddballs were 76/6 with 6.4 overs remaining.

What then followed was the partnership of the match between Eoin Hewitt and Tommy Burrows; the pair of 14-year-olds put on 35 runs together as they edged the club to the verge of victory. Tommy played with maturity and power as he amassed 17 not out from 19 balls with some incredible running including a three and an all-run four. Eoin started steadily then accelerated as he retired on 25 not out from 27 balls. With 11 needed from the final two overs, DT joined Tommy in the middle and hit a boundary of the penultimate ball of the match to secure the win for Oddballs.

Skipper AVP delegated the collection of the trophy to Eoin who, in fairness, with 25 not out, two wickets and a catch keeping wicket, would have had claims for man of the match in most teams.

Oddballs regain the Dick Fiddler!

Match Highlights
Top Score – Ewan Grewal – 30 Not Out
Best Bowling – Neil Lambert – 2-11
Man of the Match – Richie Porritt