2009

EYMET v. ANGOULEME
24th May 2009 Report by ‘Tiger’ Tim Smith

On a blistering hot afternoon Eymet hosted a depleted Angoulème side - sadly only nine of their team turned up.

Eymet batted first, losing Simon Palmer early on with only 5 on the board. Captain David Horlock and new batsman Tom Hinds steadied the innings, putting on 28 for the second wicket before Hinds was caught for 9. Luckless Sam Harrell, keen to make up for his missed innings at Bordeaux after injury, was caught behind having added just 1 to the total. At 34 for 3, Eymet were in desperate need of a few runs on the board but the Angouleme attack was fast and accurate. Marcus Swift was next in and set about the Angouleme attack, hitting a succession of fours and a mighty six before succumbing to an lbw decision, having scored a lively 22.

With the score at 62 for 4, Bill Rhodes joined Horlock, who had been guarding his wicket like a binge drinker hanging on to his last can of Special Brew. Sadly, only 1 run on, David’s can was confiscated by a Special Constable – leg before for 22. Then both Bill and Martin Smith also found themselves with one-way tickets to the dressing room. Sacré Bleu! Eymet had slipped from 62 for 3 to 78 for 7.

A score under 100 was looking a distinct possibility at this point but thankfully there was a little wag in the team tail. Tim Smith and Chris Farrell added a useful 21 for the 8th wicket before Tim, his ambition sadly outstripping his ability, was bowled trying to hit something really hard. Jacob Harrell, son of Sam, joined Chris in the middle but it was not long before Chris, having made a useful 17 (including a towering 6), was caught behind. Jacob, who looks like a very promising cricketer, made 4 before going out lbw. Only 4 it may have been but it was 3 more than his father’s score – young Jacob will no doubt point this out during their post-match analysis. Alan Coombe was the batsman left not out, having made 4. So Eymet’s final score was 110.

Angoulème soon found themselves in trouble at the hands of Alan ‘The Cobra’ Coombe . In a devastating 3rd over, as hot and fiery as a Barrow blast furnace (Furness?), removed 2 of their top-order batsmen in successive balls, one caught behind by Tim Smith, the other – their feared number 3 Arshad Shah - falling to an lbw decision. At 14 for 2, a close game seemed on, and so it proved to be.

Usman and Saeed added 36 runs for the 3rd wicket, and thereafter wickets fell at tantalising intervals – thanks in great part to an aggressive bowling spell from Simon Palmer - until Angoulème found themselves with 15 runs to make and one wicket in hand - Eymet were within touching distance of a win. However, Angoulème’s Shakhil, protecting his weaker batting partner, batted intelligently for his 37no and eventually steered the visitors through a tense few overs for victory in the 31st over.

Due to a very mediocre batting performance by Eymet, Angoulème scored a well-deserved victory with only 9 men. The home side failed to drive home their numbers advantage and paid the consequence, registering their second defeat of the season.

Angoulème 111 for 7 (Shakhil 37no, Saeed 28, Palmer 11-3) (31 overs) beat Eymet 110 runs (Horlock 22, Swift 22, Esan 26-3) (37.2 overs)

Statistics Corner:

Batting: So far not-out all this season Alan Coombe leads the batting averages. In second is David Horlock with an average of 35.

Bowling: Martin Smith leads (season to date average 2). Simon Palmer is second with an average of 3.7 thanks to his performance against Angoulème.