Sunday 2nd September
Terry White’s Sunday 2nd XI finished top of their league after a final day trip to chilly Cheselbourne. With a strong bowling attack the home side were asked to bat and struggled to score against the pacey openers, Elliot Baczala ( 2 for 18) and Matt Beard. Terry White then caused his usual problems taking a further two wickets ( for 13) but it was another fine display from Devasia Binoy who struck with regularity and increasing pace and accuracy, returning figures of 5 for 12. With Cheselbourne all out for 74 the result seemed a formality but Swanage were not to have it all their own way, two of the top four batsmen added nothing more than entries to the duck race reducing the captain’s fingernails to mere stumps. Pete Barker batted solidly for 32 helped by Dan (you can’t catch me) White, giving Swanage another easy win and hopefully securing them a position in Sunday Division 3 next year.
Sunday 26th August
On Sunday Terry White’s table topping side travelled to Shillingstone in another must win game. Batting first the home side could not handle the strong Swanage attack and struggled to 79 all out. Elliot and Ben Baczala (4 for 11) proved too good for the opposition, ably supported by Matt Beard and Jem Warner (4 for 9), more on Mr. Warner later. Swanage set about batting with no thoughts of such a small total being any problem, but with the loss of Matt Thomas to a creeper and Pete, I want the duck trophy, Barker (0) Shilingstone began to gain confidence. Dan White once again showed resilience with bat and slowly took the game away from Shillingstone finishing on 35no and ending any chance of a win for the home side. Probably the moment of the game came at the end of Shillingstone’s innings, when debutante, Ms C Bartlett, came to the crease, furnished in a complete set of spanking new equipment, no doubt looking forward to her first ever “go” at cricket. Jem Warner, having dismissed the tail with his skillful, slow and lofty leg spin, decided his opposite number would benefit from a Bob Willis length run up and a pacey delivery, cartwheeling the dumbfounded batswoman’s off stump clean from its perch. As all left the arena scratching their heads, the bowler could offer no explantion for his unchivalrous act but promised he would explain all at the awards evening the following week. Another good win for the seconds who now need 8 points away to Cheselbourne in their final game to secure the title.
Sunday 19th August
The Sunday 2nd XI continued their push for promotion with a win against a weakened Winton side at Day’s Park. Batting first in the midday heat, an athletic Pete Barker (53) and Dan Salmon (77) never looked troubled, stroking the ball to all parts of the ground and running well between the wickets. Paul Norman (49 no) and Dan White (33) continued the theme helping Swanage to post a respectable 233 runs. With some unplayable pacey deliveries from Matt Beard (2 for 5), Elliot Baczala and Ryan Norman, together with some quality spin bowling from Ollie Shrubsole, Winton were never in the game finally being bowled out for a mere 41.
Sunday 12th August
Away to a strong Bournemouth side, the second XI were in need of a win if they were to stay in the hunt for a second successive promotion. Losing the toss, the home side grabbed the pads and gloves on what appeared an excellent wicket for batting. Once again Elliot Baczala and Matt Beard maintained early pressure and an early wicket put Bournemouth immediately on the back foot. Terry White kept wickets tumbling, bowling an excellent length and line, taking 5 for 14 but it was a devastating spell by Devasia Binoy who finally dismissed any thoughts of a big total taking 4 wickets for only one, edgy run. Swanage didn’t have it all their own way with the bat and were soon in trouble with many of the top order failing to deliver. Bournemouth bowled well from both ends making runs hard to come by but a steadfast display from both Dan White and Elliot Baczala saw Swanage over the line in the 24th over for the loss of 6 wickets. Swanage are now top of the table after a steady progression with promotion in their own hands as the season draws to a conclusion.
Sunday 5th August
Terry White’s second XI continued their push for a second consecutive promotion with a home tie against Portland. The opposition won the toss and looked to set Swanage a big score, but with some excellent bowling and tight fielding the home side frustrated the opposition in all areas. Elliot Baczala, once again, proved the pick of the bowlers, consistently hitting an excellent line and length and causing the batsmen problems returning figures of 3 for 10. Pete Barker gave nothing away with the ball together with Mike Wells (3 – 18) who also joined the attack and with Swanage taking all their catches, Portland were contained to 117 all out. Swanage’s batting got off to a flaky start, with the loss of Pete Barker giving the oppostion a hint of victory but with constant boundries from Paul Norman (38) Ashley King (34) and Dan White (29) any hopes of a win for Portland were gradually extinguised. Swanage’s climb up the table continues, with the team only 12 points behind the leaders and a game in hand.
Sunday 29th July
Swanage Sunday 2nd XI, travelled to table-topping Sturminster and Hinton hoping for a good result. The home side, winning the toss, put Swans in to bat and began to pepper openers Dyer and Barker with some aggressive seam bowling. Feeling they had turned up at a Premier League game, both the players struggled with the unusually bouncy wicket but did an excellent job of seeing off the opening bowlers albeit with some tasty bruises. Pete Dyer was first to fall but Barker gained confidence and did an excellent job with the bat making 67 runs. With only Paul Norman (21) and Tom Salmon (10) making any impression in the scorebook, Swanage could only manage 141, although some credit must go to Terry White and Paul Knight who kept the tenth wicket alive thus preventing full bowling points going to the opposition. The Swanage bowlers, had no early luck with the ball with the few chances that the Sturminster batsmen gave, falling safe. Enter Swan’s man of the match Pete Barker, who, having excelled with the bat, continued his one man show. With the opening partnership broken, Barker began to take regular wickets aided at the opposite end by some tight deliveries from the excellent Elliot Baczala. Sturminster were ultimately a better side on the day and despite a fantastic effort, Swanage were unable to contain the home side who ran home winners for the loss of seven wickets.
Sunday 1st July
The Swanage Sunday 2nd XI maintained the maxim that Day’s Park is a fortress to make it three from three on the weekend against Cheselbourne. Skipper Terry White won the toss and elected to bat. Pete Barker (34), Mike Wells (12), Mike Haines (11) and Paul Norman (39*) were all in the runs, with Norman getting great support down the order from Elliot Baczala (19) late in the innings to post very resptable 161-8. After tea, Ryan White (5-8) and his pops Terry (2-8) terrorised the batsmen with pace and dobblers, both supported ably by Elliot Baczala and Pete Richards to bowl Cheselbourne out for a mere 37.
Sunday 17th June
The 2nd XI returned to winning ways thanks to some tight bowling, disciplined fielding and good team effort with the bat. Winning the toss, Terry White put the home side in, on the rather damp looking wicket, hoping conditions would improve. The decision seemed to be a good one with Winton struggling against the Swan’s pace attack, Mike Hernandez (8 overs for 16 runs), Binoy Devasia (2 for 37) Sam Price and Ryan White bowled very well with the home side finding runs hard to come by. Winton realised a total of two figures might not be enough and started to hit out, but Jem Warner’s spin bowling (3 for 28) soon put the brakes on any thoughts of a big total with Swanage containing the opposition to 148 after their 40 overs. With the wicket drying out, Swanage set about the run chase with some confidence, but the loss of the top order once again gave the advantage back to the home side. With only half the runs on the board, Winton’s confidence grew, but a steadying innings by Jem Warner (48),Mike Hernandez and Roger Wilcox slowly pushed Swanage nearer their goal. Still with much to do, Terry White’s tail enders came to crease with no intention of creeping towards the total, smashing the ball to all areas with clean fours and sixes. Ryan White, Dan Beeston and Wild Man Binoy all added valuable runs to the total before a rusty Sam Price decided some early boundaries would get Swanage back to the clubhouse without further ado, a much needed win for the improving side.
Sunday 10th June
Terry White, once again found his side playing in dark and damp weather conditions, this time at home to Bournemouth. With a light drizzle in the air, the visitors were asked to bat, and struggling to put many runs on the board, slowly began to lose wickets. The strong bowling attack led by Mike Hernandez and Matt Beard contained the visitors well leaving the way for Ben Baczala (3/27) Pete Barker (3/24) and Terry White (2/24) to do most of the damage with a stumping from Paul Norman finally dismissing Bournemouth for 148. The greasy surface and slippery conditions, coupled with ball which increasingly looked and felt like a wet pear, made batting conditions extremely difficult for Swanage. Working hard to get the ball off the square the top order struggled but the late replacement Ben Baczala (37) together with Paul Norman (39) and Jem Warner kept the home side in sight of the total. As the conditions worsened, Swanage fell behind the run rate, but a late charge from Baczala and big bat Mike Wells grabbed some valuable late runs. The scorers tried hard and long to decipher their wet scribblings before a draw was finally declared.
Sunday 3 June
Terry White, took his side to wild and windy Portland in anything but cricket weather, looking for their first victory. Winning the toss, Swanage batted first and soon found the conditions to their liking, Paul Norman (67) Mike Wells (52) Pete Dyer (36) and Dan White all batted well and helped Swanage post a healthy 238. Portland came out firing however and kept themselves in touch with some big boundaries, the Swanage bowlers made regular inroads and, helped by 3 runouts, kept themselves in the game as the advantage ebbed and flowed. As the final few overs neared, Portland began to look like favourites but some tight overs from Devasia Benoy and Pete Richards swung the advantage back in the visitors favour. Swanage finally managed to hold off the Portland charge recording a moral boosting win in the last over.
Sunday 12th May
Terry White’s side came up against a strong batting line-up in their Div 4 game against last years winners Ellingham. Matt Beard was the pick of the bowlers and Swanage did well to dismiss 9 of the opposition batsmen, but 208 was always going to be a big chase on such a low and slow wicket. Ellingham made use of the conditions using their slower bowlers to good effect, Mike Haines and Pete Barker started well and got the home side off to a good start but with the run rate climbing and wickets falling, Swanage were soon under pressure. Mike Haines, Pete Barker, Paul Norman and Swan’s man of the match Matt Beard all put runs on the board but never looked like troubling the visitors total finishing on 140 all out.