Shaldon versus Yelverton

Yelverton Bohemians overcame previously undefeated Shaldon Optimists on a overcast day at the Hazeldown Oval. Winning the toss and batting first, Yelverton quickly fell to 18-3, before the combination of captain Richard West and Pete Lojszczyk dug in, seeing off the Shaldon opening bowlers, and then accelerating, reaching the Yelverton 100 just prior to drinks being taken. After a brief spell of further attacking batting, both Lojszczyk (60) and West (47) fell in quick succession. Geoff Brain (19) and Hadleigh Scott-Kirk came together to rapidly progress the score, with Scott-Kirk scoring particularly well, scoring 58 off only 39 balls. Yelverton were eventually bowled out for 232 in the final over, which was felt to be a par score, with short straight boundaries and a quick outfield. With the wind behind him, Lojszczyk (3-33) got off to the perfect start, having Karl Blackburn caught by keeper Luke Julyan off his second ball. He followed this up with a bowling Todd Ballman in his second over. The other end, however, was allowing some easy runs, the Yelverton bowlers struggling with the wind and slope. The introduction of spin bought more joy, however, with Rich West picking up some quick wickets, including a well held catch again by Julyan. With the score 92-8 the Shaldon lower order had a period of resistence, before West took a fifth wicket (5-37), and the final wicket by Geoff Brain (1-3) for Yelverton to win by 43 runs.