Tipton St John’s matches at Yarcombe and Stockland have normally been high scoring affairs, but not so on Sunday, both teams’ first game of the season, writes Phil Wright.

Tipton fielders clearly need catching practice as they managed to spill 6 opportunities during the home sides innings.

David Birch took the opening wicket, bowling Neil Fuzzard for a single. Two catches were dropped off both Birch and Phil Wright’s bowling, Ollie Fuller profiting.

Patient batting by Stan Fuller supported lusty hitting by Ollie Fuller. Stan’s innings was ended by debutant Louis Bowen with the aid of a feint snick to keeper Dicky Dawson that few heard, but a sporting ‘walk’ by the batsman helped the umpire. James Mitcham holed out to Dave Alford three balls later for a duck giving Bowen his second wicket.

Alford joined the attack and removed Ollie Fuller for 38with his very first delivery, taking a smart return catch.

The remaining batsmen offered little resistance once Thayre caught Pulman off Alford for 26. The tail was mopped up by David O’Higgins (2-2) and Luke Raistrick (2-1), but Alford took the bowling honours with 3-10.

So a target of just 95 was set for the Tipton batsmen, with Phil Tolley and Keith Collins having first go at the crease. Tolley looked to be in a hurry as he hit two sixes, but failed to reach the boundary going for a third and was caught by Ollie Fuller off Pete Barker for 14.

Both Collins and replacement Al Matthews departed for ducks giving Barker figures of 3-32.

This brought Dave Thayre in to join Dave Alford and the pair hit Tipton out of trouble.

A partnership of 56 was eventually ended when Thayre was caught by Barker off Harry Jobson for 39. With just two runs needed for victory, Alford managed to run himself out for 33, but by then a Tipton victory was assured by five wickets with 20 overs to spare.