Hemyock Cricket Club

It was a new season, new captain and new era for Hemyock CC on Saturday. Inevitably the Bank Holiday combined with Hemyock Football Club's backlog of games in hand to offer new skipper John Hurley some major availability issues ahead of his first game in charge and the fixture was in serious doubt on the preceding Thursday when only seven players made themselves available for the game.

But Hurley battled on and eventually recruited ten men to travel to Kenn, on the outskirts of Exeter, to kick start Hemyock's 2009 campaign. But he would have to play without three of his main bowlers - Josh Essex, Nick Allen and Pete Kittow.

But at least the sun was shining!

Hurley promptly won his first toss and asked the hosts to bat first. Both Kenn openers fell to the same combination of being caught by wicket-keeper Andy Perrott, bowled by Alex Baird as they slumped to 27 for 2. There was some respite from Koeller (34) and Newberry (17) who took the score to 71 and at the half way stage Kenn were well set at 76 for 3. But they then slumped to 90 for 5 and Hemyock were thinking of a modest total and early finish. There followed some useful contributions >from Parsons (20), Chislett (23) and Fowler (18) and the innings closed at 178 for 9. All Hemyock's bowlers put in a good shift with Alex Baird taking 3 for 32 and Derek Hart the pick with an excellent spell of 4 for
47 from his 13 overs.

The old timer also enjoyed two 'champagne moments'. His one-handed catch to remove Newberry from his own bowling was only bettered by another one handed catch - again off his own bowling - to remove Parsons.

But Hurley would have been satisfied with his team's efforts and his only concern the 33 extras conceded, including 22 wides!

Hemyock's response needed to be positive, but Sam Morgan departed with the team score still in single figures. Baird helped himself to 22 runs and he and the new skipper took the score to 64 before Baird edged to the Kenn 'keeper. Hurley (37) looked set but he joined Baird in the pavilion five runs later and Perrott quickly followed as the visitors slumped to 82 for 4. Steve Jennings came in at number four and played some attacking strokes but two more wickets fell at the other end and the game was slipping out of Hemyock's reach at 107 for 6 and Kenn needing only three more wickets to win. A quickfire 23 from Adam Welsh changed the game. He was out trying one attacking shot too many and the game was finely poised at 135 for 7. Hart followed up his fine bowling with a dogged innings of 14 not out supporting Jennings who would battle out until the end and scoring his first 50 for Hemyock in the first game of his second season with the club.

It was all getting very nervous for both sides and the Hemyock players were relieved when Jennings hit Fowler for 4 to pass the Kenn total handing the visitors a three wicket win with 10 balls to spare. Jennings finished on 58 not out and hit nine 4's and one 6 in the process. For Kenn there were three bowlers who shared 2 wickets each - S Wonacott, M Wonacott and Fowler.

So a good start to the season, all things considered, and John Hurley was happy with his teams efforts and 19 points in the bag. But the word after the game was that he would not be getting carried away by one win!

Next up is Newton St Cyres, who beat Cullompton in their first game, at the Recreation Ground. Hurley can expect some players to return and some to drop out for that game but will hope for another win to cement Hemyock's winning start.

Best regards, Steve Jennings