Sam Pa-tey takes five wickets for Polden

4:13pm Monday 12th May 2008

Somerset League Div Six: Chilton Polden (31) 122 bt Baltonborough (14) by 31 runs

POLDEN got their season off to a winning start under new skipper, French aristocrat Gavin Pa-tey. Put in on a slow, damp wicket and with a slow outfield, the home side found runs hard to come by.

They lost openers Sam Pa-tey and Paul Kennard with only six on the board. John Ball and Gavin Patey pulled the innings around against some very good seam bowling by A Barrow, adding 36 before Ball fell for a patient 13.

Craig Matthews and G Pa-tey looked to be in control until A Steele had Patey caught for a good 25, then Matthews fell to a good catch for 17. After Steve Pinder had chipped in with 12, three wickets fell quickly and at 89-8, Polden were in dire straits.

Then Steve Matthews (15 no) and Wayne Collard (13) added 30 priceless runs for the ninth wicket on a difficult batting track before the innings folded on 123, a decent total in the conditions. Barrow impressed with 4-27, well backed up by A Steele (3-19) and D Lewis (2-34).

Baltonsborough found scoring just as hard against some fine quick bowling by openers Sam Pa-tey and Craig Matthews and were soon 26-4. This became 36-7 and, apparently, game over, but A Steele (16) had other ideas.

He and skipper A Barrow (20 no) chipped away at the Polden total and put their side back in the game on 80-8. But change bowler Pinder did the trick, getting Steele caught and bowled, while Wayne Collard dismissed I Garrett (10) to a great catch from Paul Kennard.

In the end, Polden ran out comfortable winners. Sam Pa-tey bowled a superb spell of 5-20, Matthews took 2-32 and Pinder 2-26.