30th August

On Saturday Swanage 2ndXI played host to Corfe Mullen in their final Division 4 encounter. The visitors batted first and were soon under pressure due to some fantastically economical bowling by Pete Barker and Andy Tillman. The wickets began to fall with the introduction of Mike Nash and Mike Wells who together bowled 14 overs claiming 5 wickets whilst only conceding 30 runs to leave the visitors reeling at 75-5. Despite the visitors lower-order rallying in the last 10 overs, Swans were still able to restrict the visitors to 143-6 from their allotted 40 overs.

In reply, Swans recovered from the loss of an early wicket with an excellent partnership between Tim Ives and Paul Norman. When Norman was dismissed for a solid 25, Swans lost 2 further quick wickets to leave the game in the balance with the score at 66-4. Ives found an able partner in Barker and together they constructed a match-winning partnership to take Swanage to the brink of victory before Ives was unluckily adjudged LBW for a sublime 43. Fittingly, Barker hit the winning runs as he remained undefeated on 27 to secure a comfortable 5 wicket win.

16th August

‘Skipper’ Tillman’s first-ever 5 wicket haul keeps Promotion dream ‘alive’ for the 2ndXI

On Saturday the 2ndXI played host to Blandford in their latest Division 4 clash. Swanage batted first and got-off to an excellent start with a half-century partnership between the in-form Paul Norman and Mike Nash. Norman played some powerful straight drives, while Nash struck some fierce pulls and trade-mark cover drives. When Norman was removed for 31 Swanage lost 2 further quick wickets, however, Nash found an able partner in Pete Barker – together they produced a 65-run partnership at almost 5 an over before Nash was unluckily dismissed for a brilliant 69. Barker remained undefeated on 30 as Swanage posted 163-6 from their 40 overs. In reply, the visitors got-off to a solid start despite the best efforts of Steve Ramsey and Elliott Baczala. However, the game was ‘turned on it’s head’ when Tillman introduced himself and bowled a remarkable spell of swing bowling taking 5 wickets for only 12 runs as the visitors were dismissed for a mere 77 to leave Swanage in pole-position to secure promotion with only 2 games remaining.

Weekend 9th 10th August

Also, on Saturday the 2ndXI continued their push for a third successive promotion from Division 4 with an emphatic 110 run victory over Corfe Mullen. Swanage batted first and got-off to a flying-start with a century opening partnership between the in-form pair of Tim Ives and Paul Norman. Norman played his usual trade-mark powerful on-drives and Ives played some sublime shots all around the wicket. When they both fell in quick succession – Norman made 42 and Ives completed his second half-century in 3 weeks with a well compiled 61, the momentum of the innings was kept-up by Pete Barker who played a ‘swash-buckling’ innings of 42 with some powerful drives and pulls, he was well supported by Cameron Beard – who made a quick-fire 22 to enable Swanage to post a formidable score of 227-6 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Corfe Mullen were soon in trouble due to some exceptional seam bowling by both Steve Kent and Barker. However, the ‘star’ performer was Liam Blake who took his first 5 wicket-haul for the club with his beautifully ‘flighted’ off-breaks to help dismiss Corfe Mullen for only 117.

Weekend 19th 20th July

On Saturday, the 2ndXI played hosts to fellow high-flyers Lytchett in their latest Division 4 encounter. On a muggy, overcast afternoon the hosts skipper Pete Barker won an important toss and put Lytchett into bat. Swan’s opening pair of Elliott Baczala and Matt Beard exploited the conditions brilliantly, both bowling with hostile, swing which the visitors could not handle. Baczala was the ‘star’ performer claiming 4 quick wickets with Beard also taking a brace to leave the visitors reeling 45-6. The momentum was maintained by Barker who also bowled beautifully ‘bagging’ 3 wickets with his accurate seam bowling to help dismiss the visitors for only 89.

In reply, Swans got off to a disastrous start losing 2 quick wickets despite this, the innings was held together by the returning Paul Norman – who batted magnificently, mixing solid defence with some superb, straight drives in reaching a sublime 40 whilst wickets continued to fall around him. When Norman was finally dismissed 15 were still needed for victory, however, Paul Yerby and Tom Salmon guided the hosts to an important 2 wicket victory to leave Swans in 3rd place with realistic hopes of a third successive promotion.

Weekend 28th 29th June

On Saturday, Swanage 2ndXI played host to runaway-leaders Shillingstone in their latest Division 4 clash. The visitors won an important toss and obviously chose to bat first on the hard/bouncy Swanage ‘deck’. The visitors got off to a solid start despite the best efforts of Elliott Baczala and Matt Beard and at 125-4 appeared destined to make a formidable score in excess of 200. However, the game changed when stand-in Captain Pete Barker, brought Mike Nash into the attack to bowl his medium-pace ‘off cutters’. He proceeded to take 4 quick wickets and with the assistance of the returning pair of Baczala and Beard who both claimed 3 wickets apiece and some superb catching by Joel Lowe and Liam Blake, in the end the visitors, were shot out for a below-par 151.

However, in reply, the hosts got off to the worst possible start and were reeling at 62-6. Despite this, Tim Ives played a sublime innings mixing solid defense with some brilliantly executed cover drives and pull shots and in Beard found an enterprising partner. Together they formed a match-winning partnership of 65 before Ives was sensationally caught out on the boundary for a spectacular ‘knock’ of 49 – which included 6 boundaries. This brought Paul Yerby to the wicket and he and Beard guided Swans to a nail-biting victory in the last over by 3 wickets with Beard remaining undefeated on 39. This was an exceptional win against a very strong side.

Weekend 31st May – 1st June

The 2nd XI travelled to Kings Park in Bournemouth and faced a strong Lytchett side. Put in to bat, Swanage were soon in trouble against some accurate swing bowling and despite a 59 no from Paul Norman, the team could only manage 106 in their 40 overs. A good effort from the team in the field created some chances, but it was Lytchett’s day as they reached the total for the loss of only 3 wickets. Andy Tillman 3 for 29, the pick of the bowling. League Position 7th.

Weekend 17th 18th May

Captain Haines won the toss and, together with Paul Norman, put on 49 for the first before being run out. Norms made 25, Joel Lowe 20 then the battling Baczalas, Andy and Pete 44* and 39 rescpectively put on 84 for the 6th wicket before closing at 204 for 6.

Binoy Devasia then took 2 early wickets 17 for 2 off 6 with Matt Beard taking 2 for 21. Pete Barker bowled accurately taking 3 for 23 off 8 straight. Peter Bazala started inconsistently but finished with 13 for 2 off 3 before holding the final steepling catch. A fine win by 40 runs.