Eymet ‘v’ Damazan, away 1 July 2007

Our League season finished with a high scoring defeat away to Damazan, but enough bonus points were gleaned to secure second place in the League , behind Champions Bordeaux.

On winning the toss Eymet decided to bat on a clear sunny day. The Damazan openers were very steady, conceding only 17 runs in the opening 9 overs as Eymet lost the early wicket of Martin. Harvey eventually broke the shackles with a couple of big sixes into the cornfield. He and David then began to wrestle the initiative back with a big partnership of 121. Harvey eventually fell for a fine 59 which included 5 sixes. David was unfortunately dismissed for 73 in the leg-spinner’s ninth over of an allocation of 8! The innings spluttered but was put back on track by Ian Hull and Josh, with some keen running helped by Josh also hitting 2 big sixes. The innings finished on a high with young Paul depositing the last ball into the lake.

Damazan started their reply quickly, as the Eymet bowlers struggled to come to terms with the slope. Alan Combe had a couple of close appeals before snaring Mike Gear, well caught in the gully by Martin. Marcus Swift then nipped out 2 quick wickets to put a break on the reply. Unfortunately Harvey and Brian Revels were not able to reproduce their ‘meanness’ of previous weeks and Shears and Gagan, both very attacking batters, tore into the change bowling. Paul returned to deny Shears a hundred by bowling him with a jaffer, but the damage had been done, and Damazan coasted home. The good news of the middle order batting contribution was deflated by a disappointing bowling display. Attention now turns to the Cup.

DH.

Eymet 229 – 6 off 40 overs.
Horlock 73, Benwell 59, Hull 16, J.Smith 18* Ellener 2-26.
Damazan 230 – 4 off 33 overs
Shears 94; Gagan 53 not out. Swift 2-35
Damazan (26 points) win. Eymet 4 points.