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Banwell and Churchill Win a Game That Looked Lost

After the opening pair of Fairall and Pearson struggled to make in-roads on a track which was always going to favour the bowlers it was Dom Bush coming on first change who struck to remove Ball (9) and so break the opening partnership. Ewbank (19) and Owens (10) continued Chilton Polden’s progress in a scrappy period of the game before both being out in quick succession to the re-introduced Fairall (10-1-48-2). The low batting scores belied the actual total, various forms of extras by now totalled 23! Although various batsmen managed to get going for Chilton Polden, when they had been reduced to 124-9 with middle order wickets for Bush (11-3-33-3), J. Biggs (8-3-20-3) and Pearson (12-1-39-1) it seemed that a modest total would be their lot. J. Hedges had other ideas; his hard hitting 47 made the game look very different before D.Pye (1.2-0-5-1) had Mogg LBW to end the innings at 160.

As the week’s rain had made the wicket very soft 160 looked a challenging though possible target but within 23 overs Chilton Polden believed they had the game won. A tumble of wickets removed the top of the B&CCC batting order and left them in a mess at 57-6. Hedges (12-4-22-4) had used the unpredictable pitch well to remove; Eckett (7), Borrett (2), Watson (0) caught off a ball that bounced so slowly out of the track that he’d played his shot a mile too early and Bebber (2) with a ball that popped up to take the top corner of the bat and balloon to a short fielder. From the other end Short had bowled his first spell with pace and removed Pye (7) with a ball that stayed very low. And then the game changed. Mike Adams and Jim Fairall took advantage of the changed bowlers to steadily work their way out of the problem. Steady scoring gradually quieted the Chilton Polden excitement and, after what has, in the circumstances, to be described as a magnificent partnership of 108, they brought B&CCC across the finish line in the 44th over. Mike Adams (67 no) had accrued his runs with cleverly placed shots while Jim Fairall (44no) had taken advantage of anything slightly wayward to smite to the boundary. B&CCC were left to celebrate a great turn round and Chilton Polden, still bottom of the division, could only wonder how they had lost a game they had appeared to have in their grasp.

Dave Pye (B&CCC 1st XI captain)

1st XI team for Saturday v Chilton Polden away - meet to leave the rec at 12.40...
D. Eckett, C. Langley, D. Pye, M. Adams, D.Borrett, M.Bebber, R.Watson, J.Fairall, D.Bush, J.Biggs, J.Pearson

B&CCC beat Peasedown St John, B&CCC 225-7, PSJ 107 all out from 30.5 overs. D. Pye 81, M. Adams 36 NO, J Biggs 12-2-44-5

1st XI v Peasedown St. John - Saturday 2nd July Meet to leave the Rec at 12.30

Eckett, M. Biggs, D. Pye, Adams, Borrett, Bebber, M. Pye, Watson, Langley (or R. Hathway), J. Biggs, J. Pearson

Banwell and Churchill Go Top!

It all started well for Banwell and Churchill when Dom Bush caught M. Windsor off the bowling of Fairall from only the third ball of the day. Fairall’s aggressive bowling, combined with the tidy accuracy of Pearson, was to bring further success as Pearson (6-2-10-1) bowled Wales and Fairall (8-1-24-2) and Bush repeated the first dismissal to remove Meadows and so reduce Spaxton to 16-3 inside 11 overs. D.Pople and Spaxton’s new recruit, G. Reardon, then set about reviving the batting side’s fortunes with a stand of 73 which included some excellent hard hitting by the left handed Readrdon but, when Bush bowled him and then Pople in successive overs the back of the innings was broken and the Spaxton tail was fired out by Bush (9.4-1-32-5) and J.Biggs (8-0-31-2), Spaxton having accumulated 103-10 from only 31.4 of their allowed 45 overs.
Having bowled Spaxton out quickly, B&CCC had to bat for 12 overs before the tea interval. Eckett and M.Biggs made steady progress through this session and it looked as though they had made it through the tricky little session only for M.Biggs (7) to fall caught by Bellinger of the bowling of youngster T.Williams two balls before tea. After tea came a change of momentum as Dave Pye put bat to ball from the off, rode his luck and accumulated 35 before being bowled by a swinging delivery from McKenzie. That left B&CCC 82-2 with 19 overs in which to get the remaining runs. The job was completed with reasonable ease as Eckett (32 not out) and Borrett (10 not out) chose balls to score from sensibly and so prevent Spaxton from accumulating any more points.
The maximum 35 points accumulated proved enough to see Banwell and Churchill go top with Winscombe having a surprise loss against Wembdon Wyverns. That victory sees Wembdon go above Spaxton into fourth place in division 8, Winscombe dropping to third behind Temple Cloud.

Dave Pye (B&CCC 1st XI Captain)

Banwell and Churchill 1st XI v Wembdon Wyverns (away)
Biggs and Son – Bowlers Extraordinaire!

After the rain of the previous 24 hours it was only the artificial track and the long grass of the outfield at Wembdon that meant that the game could be played at all. On the other hand, it was exactly these factors that meant that this was never going to be a high scoring game.
Having been put in to bat by Wembdon, Dave Eckett and Mark Biggs made steady progress for Banwell and Churchill, accumulating at a rate of just over 3 per over until Eckett (25) was eventually caught at extra cover of K. Rowles. The unpredictable nature of the wicket was illustrated by the next two balls, D.Pye cutting the first from above shoulder height and then having the next shoot past his shins from a ball that pitched in much the same place! No surprise then that, as B&CCC pressed on to get the 170 they’d set themselves as a target, there was a steady flow of wickets. M.Biggs (52) and M.Bebber (23) finished as the other principal contributors amongst the final total of 167-8.
J. Rawles and G.Lowe started brightly for Wembdon; Rawles riding his luck as a couple of sharp chances went to ground. The quick bowling of Pearson and Bush proved difficult on the artificial surface but their extra pace meant that the ball disappeared across the now dry outfield when the batsmen got hold of one. Captain Pye decided to bring the slower bowlers into play and they changed the game.  After removing Rawles in his first over, J.Biggs bowled accurately and cleverly to complete a magnificent spell of 12-5-19-2 whilst M.Biggs introduced at the other end returned figures of 12-5-26-4. By the time that they’d completed their bowling the match was Banwell’s to keep, with Wembdon needing 68 runs from the final 7 overs. Some magnificent hitting from youngster J.Lowe (36) backed up by some sharp running made for a closer finish than had looked likely but the accurate bowling of Pearson (10-1-37-0), combined with a fine fielding display leading to three run outs in the later stages, meant that Banwell ran out winners as Wembdon finished on 155-9.
And for the record – Dave Pye does not recommend trying to bat with what various of the team diagnosed as a migraine! Let’s hear it for paracetemol!

1st XI v Wembdon Wyverns away. Meet at The Rec for 12.30

M. Biggs, D. Eckett, D. Pye, M. Adams, C. Langley, M. Bebber, N. Wilson, D. Bush, R. Watson, J. Biggs, J. Pearson

Match Report Banwell and Churchill 1st XI v Winscombe 2nd XI

It was Jim Fairall’s debut. After ‘signing’ for Banwell in the winter and making an impression in pre-season training, Jim had been injured since just before the start of the season. After B&CCC had won the toss and elected to bowl on a drying pitch, Fairall and Bush opened the bowling and successfully restricted Winscombe’s scoring. The Winscombe batsmen were looking set though, so it took an excellent ball from Bush to bowl Vowles (11) and so break the stand. Dom Bush struck again two overs later, bowling Andow (9) but Sage and Bailey then settled in for Winscombe until Bailey (23) was run out by a direct hit, again from Bush whilst attempting a rapid single. The Winscombe innings then revolved around Bawden (53 not out) but a steady progression of wickets, especially after the reintroduction of Fairall (11-1-32-3) meant that Banwell retained sufficient control to restrict Winscombe to 200-9 from their 45 overs. Mark Biggs was again a major factor in keeping the runs down, collecting final figures of 12-3-32-1.
Banwell’s innings did not get off to a good start. Mark Biggs spooned a catch to short extra cover and Dan Borrett missed a straight long hop to be bowled by Warren leaving B&CC at 16-2. Dave Eckett and Chris Langley did much to restore confidence however, their partnership of 57 keeping pace with the required run rate until Langley followed smashing a six over the leg-side boundary with getting bowled by Mayne next ball for 23. So, at 73 for 3 in the 20th over, all was definitely there to play for. The momentum was just swinging Banwell’s way when, in the over before drinks, Eckett (42) was bowled by Mayne (9-0-2-43) to restore parity. There followed a singles spree as D.Pye and Bebber applied pressure to the Winscombe field by committing to running everything where they had a fighting chance of getting in unless there was a direct hit. It was therefore inevitable that one of these batsmen would be run out and so it happened when Bebber (20) failed to make a second after Bailey reacted very quickly after initially mis-fielding. Nick Wilson (25 not out) then joined Pye (62 not out) to complete the run chase, Wilson batting more steadily than usual as B&CCC were confident that the total was within their grasp despite the effective bowling of S. Warren (12-0-42-1).
Banwell therefore close up on Winscombe in the battle for promotion, Winscombe remain top but have played one game more than the chasing pack. It should be an interesting game when Winscombe host Temple Cloud next week.

1st XI v Winscombe - Home - Meet by 1.15

M.Biggs, D. Eckett, D. Pye, C. Langley, D. Borrett, D. Bush, M. Bebber, J. Fairall, R. Watson, N. Wilson, J. Biggs

Disappointing Drops Cost Banwell the Game

With no Jeremy Pearson in the side, Banwell and Churchill decided to put Temple Cloud into bat and then hope to chase down the runs. It could have been a really good decision – but several dropped catches in the first few overs saw Temple Cloud skate away to 50-0 when they could just as easily have been 30-3 or 4. The ball just wouldn’t stick in the fielders’ hands. It eventually took an upheld LBW appeal to dismiss Wilton for 24, and when Campbell, the other Temple Cloud opener, had to retire hurt for 27 shortly after there seemed renewed hope for Banwell and Churchill. Mark Biggs settled in to a highly effective spell of bowling, another great return of 12 overs for 28 runs. Still the catches wouldn’t stick though, three went down off Mike Pye though he did trap Appleyard LBW for 18. Langley and John Biggs took two further wickets at the end to leave temple Cloud on 236 for 4 off their 45 overs.
On a batsman’s pitch with a short outfield B&CCC were optimistic that this was a target they could reach. Mark Biggs was soon rattling up the runs, but was bowled off his bat and pad for 24 when it looked as though he would successfully lead the run chase. There followed a remarkably accurate spell of bowling from Flinders 12-1-1-35 which produced the pressure that Temple Cloud needed to see Dave Pye and then Mike Adams return to the pavilion for low scores. Dan Borrett started a rally with a quickfire 20 and this was followed, after a sensible ‘getting himself in’ start by some excellent hitting from Chris Langley who eventually collected 49 before being bowled by Head. Dave Eckett had provided a backbone throughout but he also fell to Head (LBW) in the run chase at the end, for a sensibly collected 68. It was not to be though, the fall of Eckett signalled the end of the run chase as Head managed to bowl the 43rd over for only 1 run. B&CCC had to settle for collecting the 10 batting points with a final total of 207-7.
Dave Pye (Banwell and Churchill 1st XI Captain)

1st XI v Temple Cloud (away) June 4th - Meet at the Rec to leave for Temple Cloud at 12.45

Matt Bebber, Dan Borrett, Mark Biggs, Dave Eckett, Mike Adams, Dave Pye, Chris Langley, Dom Bush, John Biggs, Nick Wilson, Reece Watson, Dave Eckett

Hard Fought Victory for Banwell and Churchill 1st XI

It was not looking like a good toss to lose. The All Saints pitch had a springiness to it that suggested the new ball would be lively, the weather was damp and there was every chance that the game would only be completed if the team batting second were bowled out. There was not a chorus of appreciation when Dave Pye returned to the dressing room to announce the toss was lost and Banwell were batting. To add to the situation it was at about this point that the remaining two members of the team completed the lengthy journey and arrived at the ground – Mark Biggs decided that, despite the journey he would do his normal opening job. Ten minutes later Mark was regretting his decision, caught in the slip cordon trying to dispatch a bouncing wide ball being his fate. B&CC were 2 for 1, and Mark finally had a batting average after being out for the first time this year!
There followed a rapid partnership of 83 between Langley and Dave Pye and, although Pye eventually fell to a well taken catch by S.Trott running in from the mid wicket boundary for 43, by 20 overs B&CC were looking in control, at 93-2, which had become 135-2 by the 30th. There far followed far too much entertainment! Langley holed out at mid-off for 61 , Dom Bush was run out by a half marathon and Mike Pye soon followed; run out though attempting the 10m horizontal dive! 157-5 from 35 overs. Worse, Mike Adams’ steady knock was halted at 33 when he missed and S.Trott hit: 168-6. Enter Nick ‘Artillery’ Wilson again, ready to repeat last week’s heroics except for having done a 65 hour working week. The timing wasn’t quite there but 27 runs came and, with contributions from the lower middle order, notably 14 not out for Luke Flannigan on his debut, a total of 210 was amassed from the 45 overs. Surely enough?
In a remarkable spell of accurate bowling, delivered to take full advantage of the spring in the pitch, Bush and Pearson restricted the All Saints’ openers to just 19 off the first 10 overs and, when the batsmen attempted to accelerate, Bush had Nunns caught when still on 0. There followed a steady accumulation of runs, All Saints never quite gaining the ascendency, whilst B&CCC could never be truly comfortable and at 129-4 in the 33rd over it was distinctly game on.  Mike Pye had removed Wallace for 25, M. Biggs had taken the other two, but it was Biggs’ dismissal of Draper for 26 to make the All Saints position 130-5 that turned the game back Banwell’s way. Although the remaining batsmen all contributed, B&CCC always, just about, had the momentum and so, when openers Bush and Pearson returned they were able to restrict All Saints to a final total of 194-9.
So, B&CCC have finally dropped an available point, but now sit third in the league. There follow potentially tough fixtures against Temple Cloud 2s (away) and Wincsombe 2s (home), the other two teams currently in the top 3. Why not come along to watch – with free entry it has to better value than driving all the way to Cardiff to watch the Sri Lankan batting collapse!
Dave Pye (1st XI Capain, B&CCC)

1st XI v All Saints away 28th May - meet at B&CCC at 10.30am!!!

Biggs M, Pye D, Adams M, Langley C, Bush D, Wilson N, Watson R, Pye M, Biggs J, Pearson J, +1 to be notified

Match Report for Banwell and Churchill 1st XI v Evercreech  - May 21st
Hundred Partnership Changes Match

At 118-5 after 30 overs things were not looking great for Banwell and Churchill. Mark Biggs was steadily accumulating runs, but the rest of the top order had fallen away as Ough had lead the Evercreech bowling with accuracy and movement. Granted, Ough himself had not collected the wickets, but his spell of 8-2-17-1 had forced the Banwell batsmen to attempt to force the score at the other end resulting in two wickets each for Reed and White.
So, 5 down, enter Nick ‘Artillery’ Wilson. After blasting 13 off the first over he faced Wilson raced away with a sequence of well placed shots to reach exactly 50 after only 10 overs at the crease – his first ever 50 in club cricket!. Mark Biggs joined with the demonstration of shot making. Those 10 overs yielded a hundred partnership and B&CC were away so that when Ough eventually bowled Wilson the score had flown to 218-6. Dom Bush, down the batting order after his late arrival, kept Mark Biggs company for the remaining 5 overs, this partnership adding a further 44 runs in that time – of which Bush got 7! Mark Biggs finished not out on 113, a magnificent effort on a track where the ball had moved about throughout, and Banwell and Churchill had accumulated a massive 262-6.

M. Biggs 113 not out       N. Wilson 50       D. Pye 22             D.Borrett 17

Although Evercreech mounted a worthy attempt, they were never up with the run rate and lost wickets steadily. Openers G and R White both reached the 20s, Belcher accumulated 30 in brave style batting after returning from hospital where a number of butterfly stitches had been added to his hand – this had been damaged while attempting to stop a ball in the field earlier – and Reed added a lusty 34 not out but, after 35 overs, Evercreech were all out for 177 leaving Banwell and Churchill the winners by 85 runs. All the Banwell bowlers chipped in with wickets but it was Mark Biggs’ day; he led the returns with 3 of the wickets.

Biggs 7-0-36-3    M. Pye 7-1-30-2                   
Pearson 8-0-2-52          Bush, Eckett and Langley 1 wicket each.

1st Team v Evercreech 21st May

Dave Eckett, Mark Biggs, Dave Pye, Mike Adams, Chris Langley, Dom Bush, Reece Watson, Mike Pye, Nick Wilson, Connor Davidson, Juggy Pearson

We will need to meet at 12.30 (at the latest) in the car park at the rec.

Skipper’s Report from: Chilton Polden at Home
An excellent  start for the league season!

Having won the toss and put Chilton Polden in Dom Bush sent their skipper back inside three overs with a swinging beauty that took the edge to provide a routine catch for Dave Pye behind the stumps. Granted, CP got away a bit after this, but athletic fielding and enough really good balls to keep the batsmen alert ensured that Banwell and Churchill remained firmly in the game and just waiting for the break-through to happen. It was provided, in his second over, by Johny ‘Old Tom’ Biggs. Dom Bush rapidly added a couple more and 70-1 had become 75-4; the game had changed. Dom, by now tiring after a 10 over stint, was replaced by Mike Pye (newly promoted to the first team after his 10 wickets in two matches last weekend).

The rout continued. With the first ball of his second over Mike had Kilfoyle stumped and followed this up two balls late by repeating the performance to remove Humphries; 102-6. JB and MP maintained control through the second half of the Chilton Polden innings, each gaining another wicket in the process, before ‘Juggy’ Pearson, re-introduced at the end, bowled lean and sharp to remove the tail. Chilton Polden all out for 148 – and a truly special moment when Dan Borrett performed the 20m sprint crawl to prevent a single!
And then it rained. So – a draw. 22 points accrued but, most importantly, an excellent bowling display and some really focussed fielding.

Dom Bush 10 – 1- 50 – 3                Juggy Pearson 9.5 – 3 – 25 – 2
John Biggs 12 – 3- 39 – 2                Mike Pye 12 – 4 – 31 – 3

1st Team v Chilton Polden 7th May

Eckett D, Biggs M, Pye D, Adams M, Borrett D, Bush D, Woodey T, Pye M, Watson R, Biggs J, Pearson J.

Umpire M Legg

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AGM Date announced

The 2011 AGM will take place at the Football Club on October 2nd at 7.00pm