11:23am Monday 14th September 2009
By Mercury sports reporter
Cockspur Rum National 20/20 Cup – National Quarter Final Bridgwater Red Sox 112-9 lost to Bournemouth CC 113-6 by one run BRIDGWATER Red Sox’s national final day aspirations fell by the closest and cruellest of margins as they lost by a single run to Southern Area champions Bournemouth at the Parks on Saturday.
After putting the visitors into bat, the Red Sox produced a very good bowling performance during the crucial six-over fielding restrictions, reducing Bournemouth to 24-4, with the excellent Chris Skidmore (2), Callum Haggett and Jason Kerr all clean bowling their victims.
Bournemouth skipper Craig DeWeyman and Steve Ridley rebuilt the innings moving the score onto 77 before the former fell to Steve Davis’ canny off-shin as he returned superb figures of 1-11 off his four overs.
Mike Coles was unusually expensive but the returning Kerr and Haggett kept things tight at the death as the Bournemouth batsmen scrambled for every run in the face of yet another committed display from the Red Sox fielders.
Kerr bowled beautifully to finish with 3-24 but crucially the last ball of the innings was smashed for six to lift the visitors’ spirits.
The Red Sox got off to the worst possible start losing Haggett off the third ball leaving Mitch Windsor and Steve Davis with a rebuilding job to do, and this they certainly did moving the score to 43 in the ninth.
The dangerous Davis moved smoothly to 23 before pulling a poor full toss straight to the grateful hands at midwicket.
The Red Sox could only add one run in the next three overs losing Kerr and Coles - both run-out for ducks.
The hosts were in deep trouble at 45-5 after 12 overs but Andy Hallaran soon got things moving again as he took the game to the dominant Bournemouth bowlers.
After Windsor was caught at cover for 19, Hallaran and Andy Skidmore thrashed a quick 35 between them off the next three overs before Hallaran fell for 29 off 17 balls.
Stu Butt kept up the momentum to leave the Red Sox needing 14 off the last two overs, and nine off the last, but the Red Sox were to fall agonisingly short as they just couldn’t get the crucial boundary needed, falling one run short.
The excellent Skidmore finished on 20no and the frustrated Butt on a gutsy 12no as the pair left the field to a warm reception from the huge crowd.
Match scores: Bournemouth CC 113-9 (20 overs) C DeWeyman 36; S Ridley 20 Jason Kerr 3-24; Chris Skidmore 2-20; Steve Davis 1-11; Callum Haggett 1-19; Mike Coles 1-31.
Bridgwater Red Sox 112-6 (20 overs) Andy Hallaran 29; Steve Davis 23; Andy Skidmore 20no; Mitch Windsor 19; Stu Butt 12no.
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