Shipston seal fine surprise victory (From Evesham Journal)

Shipston seal fine surprise victory

10:00pm Thursday 30th July 2009

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Shipston 203-9, Exhall & Wixford 156 all out.

SHIPSTON recorded only their second win of the season and surprisingly against title contenders Exhall to the delight of the London Road faithful. Not for the first time this year the home team’s innings did not get off to the best of starts as they lost Howard Bentham, caught behind by Scotty Carmichael off Simon Hollands without a run on the scoreboard.

Julian Morris (23) and Matthew Corby added 55 runs before a flurry of wickets reduced Shipston to 59-5,.

Skipper Gary Betteridge and Matthew Pratt both failing to trouble the scorers and Jack Murphy departed for a solitary single.

Steve Kerby picked up three of the wickets and Mike Strong claimed the Shipston skipper’s scalp.

Not many would have backed a home win from this position, however, Phil Hall in just his fourth first team game, showed there is more to his game than being a big hitter and, with Matt Corby added 92 for the sixth wicket.

A timely return to form by Corby was finally ended by Perry on 78.

The rest of the innings was dominated by Hall who notched his maiden firsts league half-century, reaching 65 before John Canning teased him into one big shot too many and Strong made the towering catch in the deep look simple.

Useful support to Hall was given by Evo Shirley (8) in a partnership of 25 and Craig Robins (13) was unbeaten at the conclusion of the innings.

In reply it was Hall again in the action, Murphy holding onto a firm drive by Kerby (4) but after this early success the visitors’ batsmen Matt Gwynne and Charlie Mulraine looked in ominously good form.

Gwynne had reached 21 including five boundaries when Michael Brown’s delivery was caught by Craig Robins.

Having advanced to 93-2 in 19 overs, Betteridge turned to his most experienced bowler Dave Pyne.

He was delighted when Pyne responded by tempting Mulraine (30) down the wicket and Robins, with excellent glove work, made the stumping.

A calamitous run out ensued and Hollands (0) was the player to suffer from the mix-up and when Corby had S Smith (0) caught behind next over, Exhall had slumped to 99-5. Carmichael (36) was then caught by keeper Robins, off Pyne.

The 16-year-old Robins then took his fourth catch and equalled a Shipston first X1 league record of five wicketkeepers victims in a match, held by Mick Sharpe in 2002.

Strong went on to top score with 39 until he was caught at deep midwicket by Murphy and Canning (1) was bowled by Betteridge (2-9) in the 39th over to end the contest and seal a Shipston victory.

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