4:21pm Sunday 18th July 2010
Bridgwater seconds got back to winning ways with a crushing defeat of Frocester at the Parks with a 97 run victory.
Frocester won the toss and chose to insert Bridgwater, who started positively, but lost Ali Witts (9) with the score on 21 in the 5th over.
This brought Andrew Skidmore to the crease to partner Mitchell Windsor, a move which saw Windsor take the initiative with some classic drives and cuts.
As both battled hard for their side, Skidmore played the supporting role, Windsor raced to 44 from 60 balls, before he was caught pulling a long hop to square leg.
With a good platform in place at 68 for 2 from 16 overs, skipper Scott Sealey entered the fray, and in a period of consolidation, both Bridgwater batsmen worked hard to keep the scoreboard ticking.
With 20 overs remaining some impetus was required and Sealey led from the front as he opened up, hitting the boundary on regular occasions, particularly down the ground and against the short delivery.
The captain reached his 50 for 58 balls, and supported by Skidmore the pair put Bridgwater in a strong position before Skidmore was bowled for a well made 44 from 96 balls, with three fours and 2 sixes.
Sealey continued to caress the ball to the boundary in a high class innings, which was to come to an end in the penultimate over, caught for 83 from 82 balls including seven fours and 4 sixes.
The remainder of the Bridgwater batting was led by Scott Clapp (12no) in their quest for quick runs, and the home side finished well placed on 223 for 6 from their 45 overs.
After a wonderful tea, Bridgwater looked for a massive improvement on last week's bowling performance and Tim Gogoll and Scott Clapp did not disappoint as both settled quickly into the groove bowling a good line and length, getting exaggerated movement in the air and off the seam.
Gogoll bowled a high-class spell from the Park Road end, and picked up the first wicket, which was followed by Clapp having the dangerous Tom Ellis caught behind by Tom Pople.
Skidmore continued his fine game with two run outs, as Frocester failed to identify him as a more than useful fielder, and at 65 for 4 at drinks, Bridgwater were well in the ascendancy.
Dan Andison and Chris Singleton both bowled tidy spells, Singleton picking up one wicket, however it was the introduction of Skidmore's off breaks that finally broke the back of the Frocester batting.
In his first bowl of the season, Skidmore obtained large turn and bounce, as he picked up 4 wickets, 3 bowled and one well caught in the deep by Windsor, as Frocester eventually subsided to 126 all out in 39.4 overs.
Skidmore finished with 4-24 from 6.4 overs, Gogoll 1-16 from 9, Clapp 1-16 from 7, Ed Habberfield 1-17 from 5 and Singleton 1-28.
The seconds would like to thank scorer Chris Cowley, umpires Les Smith and Raymond Windsor and match ball sponsors TMB Patterns LTD.
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