This was a match that swung form one way to another, but finally ended in a narrow win for Tedburn. It started badly for Tipton after they were inserted. A pair of Thayre’s were back in the pavilion by the 6th over having scored a single each.
Dave Thayre was caught at fly slip off Matt Ely and although Sam survived a caught & bowled chance, he did not benefit as was caught behind by Elliott White to give Ely his 2nd wicket.

A good recovery partnership between Luke Phillips and John Buckland saw the swingometer go back Tipton’s way as they added 60 in 10,overs. Buckland gave chances on 32 and 43, but it was Phillips who departed first for 23 when caught by Lindsay Coren at mid-off, Brad Elliott being the bowler. This heralded the swingometer whizzing back Tedburn’s way as 4 wickets fell for 14 runs. In consecutive overs, Pat Smith was bowled by the peripatetic Tom Dowle for 2, Matt Davies was caught behind by White off Elliott for a single and Amelia Bowers-Tolley found Coren at fly-slip off Dowle for 2.

Callum Whittington did not accompany Buckland for too long as he was caught at backward square leg by Dale Bastin off Elliott for 3. Owen Smith was able provide the support needed as the game swung back Tipton’s way. Buckland reached his 50 off 47 balls. After being 92-7 the score reached 150 without alarm, although Buckland found it necessary to hit the ball into the far undergrowth in order to run off for a wee. The 50partnership came in the 30th over with Smith’s contribution being 12.

Just when skipper was considering withdrawing Buckland should he make a century, the decision was made for him when he was caught by Mike Barlow off the returning Ely for 91 in the partnership of 64. Smith’s good 45 minute innings was finally ended when bowled by Mark Allison for 13. Phil Wright had been expecting to be relaxing as scorer after spending the previous two days at the Exeter City beer festival. However, a no-show meant he had to scramble for his pads and join David Birch in the middle. Sadly, however, not for long as after scoring 3 he gave an easy chance to Allison at mid-off to give Ely his 4th wicket. This resulted in Tipton failing to use 6 overs, being dismissed for 166, somewhat a recovery from 79-6

Tedburn’s reply with Mark Allison and Lindsey Coren did not take too long for the swing to start back in Tedburn’s favour. After starting with a maiden, Smith was battered with 6 boundaries in 3 overs and was replaced by John Buckland. It was Birch who made the breakthrough when Allison was caught by Matt Davies at mid-wicket having scored 26 in an opening partnership of 61.
Another 50 partnership took the score to 113 before the next wicket fell in the 17th over bowled by Matt Davies. He took out both partners in his first over. Firstly, Coren gave a very slight nick and was caught behind by Dave Thayre having scored 50 , then took a return catch to remove Josh Parsons for 23.

Mike Barlow hit Phil Wright for 3 boundaries in an over before he suffered an even bigger blow with a hat-trick of chances being dropped in consecutive balls. The sun may have affected Owen Smith at mid-off who dropped a fairly straightforward chance, but with the next ball sailing out towards the safe hands of John Buckland on the mid-wicket boundary Wright seemed certain to get his wicket. Not only did Buckland astound his compatriots by failing to hold onto it, he kindly escorted the ball over the boundary. The next ball was a poor leg-side long hop but was sent rapidly low to David Birch at square leg who did well to get a hand to it.

Tedburn were cruising on 140-3 with still 20 overs left and only 26 needed when the pendulum changed directions again as Davies struck twice in an over. Luke Phillips had to wait ages under a ball hit high by Elliott White (8) at mid-on and safely took the catch to give Davies his 3rd wicket. Davies then bowled Dave Pike for a duck. When 3 more wicketss fell for just 3 runs, Tipton were back in the game at 161-8. Davies took a great catch in the deep off Wright to finally remove Barlow for 29, then Davies bowled Hookway for a duck. With just six runs needed, Elliott tried to end the match with one blow, but this time Buckland was less charitable and took a great catch at deep mid-wicket.
The swingometer failed to make it all the way in Tipton’s favour as Matt Ely and Tom Dowle eked out the final 5 runs needed to give Tedburn a win by 2 wickets. Tipton’s recovery was almost, but not quite as Davies took 5-15 to earn the John Williamson player of the match award.
Statto corner
• Tipton have not fared well against Tedburn in recent years, We have now lost the last 6 and the last time Tipton have won away as in 2009
• John Buckland scored his 21st 50 for Tipton (plus 4 centuries)
• He has now topped 400 runs, the 9th Tipton player to achieve this
• His partnership of 64 with Owen Smith for the 8th wicket is the 5th highest for that wicket. The largest is 79 twix former captains Tim Wright and Pete Drury in 1989 v Plymtree in which Drury’s contribution was 6.
• Matt Davies 5-15 is his best for Tipton and his first 5-for. His three catches in an innings was for the 5th time, matching Dave Thayre with only Bucks ahead of him with 8.