On a cold, windy day at Corfe Mullen Rec the 2s led by skipper Kev Wrigley went up to inspect the wicket puzzled by where the strip had been cut. With the possibility of a chance for rain, Wrigley was weighing up the options whether to bat or bowl first. Poole would bowl first and would open up with Wrigley and Flynn Rochford. With Wrigley taking 2 early wickets and Rochford doing his best to mix economy and attack with both bowlers finding late movement at points. With the good start to the innings there was a pause in play for a passing shower. At the first change, the bowling got even better with Joe Cornick and debutant Neil Sexton coming onto bowl with Joe taking 1 wicket and Neil taking 2 as well as keeping it at a low rate of scoring. As the seam options came to a close, Dan Winwood and Dave Warboys then came into action as they started to add the option of spin into the game. Dan and Dave both shared 12 overs between each other and took 3 wickets between the two of them. With the last wicket to fall after Dan took a schorcher with a turning ball to the top of off stump making the bat play and miss, skipper Wrigely turned to Lewis Marais to bowl for the last few overs remaining. Lewis made a quick start before the last ball of the over taking the final wicket of the innings for Poole to chase 148 inside 40 overs.
Poole opened up with another debutant of Alex Allum and former 2s skipper Robin Lutman. It was a slow start for Poole, Lutman was caught behind after some juggling skills from Corfe Mullen’s keeper then being taken by the slip corden. Jamie Bennett came in at 3 with the chance to increase the run rate until Allum was also out caught behind this time with no mistakes from the keeper. Bennett was then caught behind after the ball came into contact with his glove. Chris Mitchell came and went, succombing to a full toss just around the waist and caught by Mid On. His departure at 71-5 brought Dave Warboys into bat and quickly got himself into the runs with some elegant stroke play. Lewis Marais then fell for 25 runs as Neil Sexton joined a very confident looking Warboys. Sexton fell for 7 runs at 102-6 with Poole needing the tail to wag to have a chance at turning the game around. Warboys went 12 runs later for a fluent 49 runs to his name. Wrigley, Cornick and Winwood fell in quick succession leaving Poole 33 runs short of a win.
A loss but a few positives for Poole Town 2s who will have Blandford home at Poole Park this Saturday for the next round of league fixtures.
