1:40pm Sunday 22nd August 2010
HOLFORD travelled to Exmoor on Saturday to play Bridgetown, but left empty-handed after a sixty-run defeat that strengthened the hosts' push for a top-three finish.
Following heavy rain in the days leading up to the game - and the threat of more to come that evening - the match took place on Bridgetown's artificial pitch, and was reduced to 30-overs a side before the start.
Hoping to make most use of the dry pitch and Holford's temporary dearth of fielders, Bridgetown won the toss and batted, and made a strong start with both Mike Matravers (39) and Kenny Cross (30) looking in commanding form.
However, the introduction of left-arm spinner Will McKegney altered the complexion of the innings, reducing the run rate and taking wickets on his way to figures of 3-24 from 9 overs.
With only Louis Smith (27) of the middle and lower order making any sort of contribution, Holford were happy to restrict Bridgetown to 155-8 from their allocation.
In reply, opener Charlie McKegney was at his imperious best, finding the boundary all around the picturesque ground, in spite of Tom Gliddon's (3-29 from 9) wickets at the other end.
However, as has so often been the case this season, McKegney's impetuosity got the better of him, playing one shot too many to find the long-on fielder and falling for a belligerent 39.
At 82-3 after 15 overs, Holford seemed perfectly placed to win the game, but the introduction into the attack of the wily Doug Sherring soon disabused the visitors of their hope, by taking a wicket with his first ball and proving almost impossible to get away as the predicted rain started to come in.
Sherring's breakthrough triggered a collapse of England proportions, Holford losing their last 7 wickets for 13 with the veteran finishing with the remarkable figures of 3-5 from 3.3 overs; Holford dismissed for 95 in the 22nd over.
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