Pembroke power sends Exeter packing
First Division cricket took centre stage in a clash between Pembroke and Exeter on an overcast Wednesday afternoon at Pembroke sports ground. The home side, further proving themselves a veritable force in the division, amassed a good total batting first, and then worked efficiently through the Exeter line up to ensure a comfortable victory.
Batting first, the home side wasted no time playing themselves in with captain Geoffrey Baines leading the initial charge, amassing 43 runs at the top of the order. Baines set the stage for Michael Hills’ rapid 25 runs, resulting in a great start for Pembroke. After the fall of the first wicket, former Pembroke captain and man-of-the-match Nick Warrillow stepped to the crease.
He would exit only after posting a brilliant 60 runs for the home side, an innings during which he dispatched any bad balls with ease, and remained ever-patient all the while. Pembroke stood at 103 runs off twenty overs with the loss of just one wicket, appearing to be on the way to an insurmountable total for the day.
But Exeter fought back, taking four further wickets and not allowing Pembroke to increase the run rate any further, although the home side continued to score steadily and finished with a solid 210 for 5. As thunderclouds raged nearby, Exeter took their turn at the crease, under pressure from a substantial first innings total from Pembroke. The composure of Exeter’s Jonathan Heath offered an uplifting start for the visitors though, as he fought off tough deliveries from the Pembroke bowlers.
Pembroke’s Tom Bullock and Will Heald bowled spin against Heath and company to start the afternoon, and, despite occasional inconsistency, were hard for the batsmen to handle. Pembroke also stymied any Exeter hopes to increase the scoring rate with impressive fielding, preventing either batsman from keeping the score ticking over adequately. Despite several boundaries from Heath from expansive shots, Exeter could never truly pick up momentum in the match.
Bullock took three wickets to Heald’s two to peg Exeter back, with Heald especially effective in the early part of the innings, nearly bowling the Exeter openers on several occasions. Alex Puxley continued to press Pembroke’s advantage, taking three wickets of his own and all but putting away the Exeter side. The rain came down late in the match, drenching both the pitch and lessening the chances of a comeback for the visitors.
Though each batsman contributed to a patient effort at reaching the target, Exeter failed to gain the spark necessary to outrun a superb Pembroke side. Exeter fell at 142 runs, 68 short of victory.
18th May 2006