Plymouth Corporate Officers 142 all out

On a pleasant dry and cloudy day, South Brent hosted Plymouth Corporate Officers.

Winning the toss, PCO elected to bowl first on a green pitch that proved to have a true bounce.

Cranch and Lannin got off to a solid start putting on 17 until Cranch (10) pulled one to mid on, off O'Connel (1-21) in the ninth. Lannin (5) went soon after bowled round his legs by Dennis (1-24).

That was the only inroads PCO would make for a while as the third wicket produced a partnership of 62 between Lewis and Mal­pas.

Lewis looked to be comfortably back in imposing form again, and fresh from captaining Brent's thrilling midweek last-ball victory over Marldon.

Scoring quickly, Lewis ran well with Malpas, pressuring the fielders. Among some powerfully hit boundaries, Lewis hit a wonderful straight six.

Malpas finally fulfilled the promise he had shown in the nets, and his class was obvious. He gave a lesson in building an innings as he played himself in watchfully before playing some lovely drives through the covers.

Lewis (41) was eventually bowled by Sawyers, much to the relief of PCO, who were starting to look ragged.

Joyce looked relaxed as he put on 32 with Malpas, who was looking ever more confident as he continued diligently but punished anything loose.

Joyce (10) was bowled by W Wilson (2-26) and in a refreshing change the Brent batting was on 118-3 with 12 overs to go.

Malpas continued his stunning performance with some forcing drives and quick running. Saunter, carrying a foot injury, was out for a brave seven to the accurate Dennis (1-24).

Glen joined Malpas and together they put on 29 for the seventh wicket with some quick running as the field was spread.

Glen (10) was stumped forcing the pace, and Willougby got a quickfire eight not out.

Having batted for 28 overs, Malpas, the local school teacher, had given a textbook performance and when the bell rang after 40 overs, had finished on 71 not out, Brent's highest individual score of the season.

Top of the class indeed...

Brent's batting had finally turned up and shown its tenacity. Brent finished the 40 overs on an imposing 192 for 6.

After a superb tea by club chairman Cranch, Brent took to the field feeling confident.

PCO were aggressive from the start and got off to a flyer.

Hodgson took some punishment, with his first bowl of the year showing rustiness, but the ever-reliable Willoughby kept it tight from the other end.

PCO's Burnett showed great confidence as he smashed PCO to 35 from only three overs, before Willoughby got his deserved wicket, trapping Sawyers (8) lbw to one adjudged to be hitting leg stump.

W Wilson looked in fine form as he scored quickly. Powerfully punishing anything loose and running sharply with his partner.

Glen trapped the dangerous opener Burnett lbw for 28, but that didn't slow things down as Dennis came to the crease and joined W Wilson with some great running between the wickets and some well timed driven boundaries.

The pair put on 52 as they asserted themselves, and Brent were rattled with the score on 98-2 in only the 14th over – halfway there.

Drastic action was called for, so Brent skipper Glen (1-21) took himself and Wil­loughby off and turned to spin at each end to slow things down.

Cranch bowled superb leggies in tandem with Lewis' accurate off spin at the other end, and with no pace on the ball the scoring slowed right down and Brent wrestled back control.

With pressure back on the batsmen, the wickets started to tumble as Cranch bowled with excellent flight and rhythm.

He clean bowled W Wilson for 35 with one that went straight on and then also clean bowled the dangerous Dennis (35), making it 119-4 in the 20th over.

It proved to be the breaking of CPO as Cranch (4-22 from eight overs) then picked up both T Calum and then P Calum, both lbw with his wily leggies.

Lewis (1-27 from eight), courageously bowling with a broken toe, bowled superb off breaks.

Varying his flight and pace through out, his reward was trapping Trundly leg before for one.

The game had swung back to Brent and on 127-7, young Hodgson (1-47) bravely came back on and got E. Calum (6) lbw, before Willoughby (2-27) bowled S Wilson (6) to finish.

Brent's batting had finally come good and the quality spinners had backed them up. CPO were all out for 142.

The man of the match was Malpas for his masterful 71 not out.Top marks and a shiny red apple!

The match was sponsored by The Turtley Corn Mill.

Thanks to Richard Haines for scoring and Peter Brown and Chris Kelsey for umpiring.