CARDIFF ALMOST pulled off a victory against a struggling Exeter attack but fell to defeat by three wickets.
Cardiff were late arriving in Exeter for their final BUCS game of the season due to the game being switched from Llanrumney at the eleventh hour, and as a result discovered that Exeter had claimed the toss and had decided to bowl first.
This looked like an excellent decision after 13 overs as Cardiff were struggling horribly at 8 for 2, thanks to some excellent bowling from Stevens and Shepherd.
Tom Nevin and Chris Plowman pulled Cardiff back into the game with good knocks, and they were backed up by Tim Rowson and Warwick Symcox.
Batting was not easy on the bouncy track, and this was proved by the fact that no batsmen went on to make the crucial big score. The tail offered little and Cardiff were bowled out in the final over for 143.
In reply, Exeter’s openers came out full of confidence, keen to reach the under-par total as quickly as possible, but this confidence was misplaced as opening bowlers Tom Barr and Peter Le Hegarat each claimed an early wicket and consistently beat the bat.
The aggressive Le Hegarat also struck one of the openers in the throat and another batsman on the elbow. Unfortunately, Matt Bennett suffered an injury to his side in his first over after replacing Le Hegarat, so captain Symcox turned to his spin attack of Shreenivas Raju and Chris Plowman.
The spin twins suffocated the previously positive Exeter batsmen and both returned superb figures from their respective 10 overs; Raju taking 1-19 and Plowman 2-5 with 7 maidens.
Tom Nevin then took the wicket of Exeter’s most dangerous looking player with a superb return catch and Barr returned to claim another wicket, leaving Exeter struggling at 120-7.
However, there was to be no dream finish for Cardiff as Exeter calmly saw off the remaining runs with overs to spare.
