Comberton v Coton, 7 June 2008

After a humping from Granta IV's the previous Sunday (who wants to play in the Junior I mean Senior Cup anyway!), Coton had another away day at Comberton. The wet outfield, with rather high grass should have made Coton feel at home in the field. Speller opened up with 2 maidens. Alas Neil Sparnon's first over was wayward. Comberton's Captain Hartwright and number 2 batsmen Wick took an early opportunity to fill their boots. The tone had been set for the first ten overs as Comberton were 39 for 0. Luckily for Coton the "lush" outfield (see picture) held the ball and 4's were at a premium. Coton's bowlers were being picked off at 4 runs an over by the opening bats.

It wasn't until the 19th over when Scotcher made a well needed breakthough. Speller dived gazelle like and stretched with his left hand, scooping the ball afore it landed in the green outfield. Wick was gone for 18 runs. Champagne moment nominee. This moment of brilliance lifted the Coton team and whilst Comberton had made a good start, Scotcher had found his groove. Another 3 wickets fell in his next 2 overs. 2 stumpings from Alastair Breward and a tasty catch from Pete Brookes unerved Comberton. Pressure was building at the other end as Richard Allison also found a mean streak. After a run-out and a diving catch from Sparnon, coton were into the tail. A mini revival from Selby and Collins did not last long as Kay and Speller wrapped up the tail. Comberton 136 All out.

When Coton openers Sparnon and Breward took the field, Comberton were more frugal with the bowling. Swift opened with 3 maidens followed by a wicket maiden, picking up the wicket of Sparnon who played on. Speller decided to pick up the pace and ably assisted by Breward the scorers were awoken from slumber. When Breward was run out Dave Hale decided that clubbing of bad balls was the order of the day. Coton seemed in control as the speed of scoring tested the scorers powers of arithmatic. The Comberton fielders were in the ditch, several times.

Alas the good times came to an abrupt end as Coton hit the self -destruct button. First Hale then Allison (goldie) fell in an over from Cook. George Speller lost his wicket in the next over from Swift as panic swept through the Coton ranks. The comedy value to the spectators was all to apparent as the tail were skittled faster than Lewis Hamilton in a Canadian pit lane. Coton made average bowlers look good. All out for 112 in 36.4 overs. 25 runs short of victory. If it were a school report it would read - shows signs of promise, must learn to concentrate and try a little harder!!!!

Highs:

• Superb Team Fielding - Catches, Run-Outs, Backing Up, Support in the Field.
• 3 Stumpings from Alastair Breward - Must be a club record. Must check the statisitics.
• Another 4 wicket haul from Dave Scotcher - Although a club fine should be imposed for "jug avoidance".
• "Champagne Moment" - A superb diving 1 handed catch by George Speller

Lows:

• Woefull Batting - except for George Speller (37) and Dave Hale (29).
• Lack of a middle order batting "plan" - we need to use the nets to gain some confidence
• Umpiring - Everyone needs to do a stint - if you don't know the rules - learn them!!!
• Scorebook - Guys PLEASE let's try and make the bowling and batting add up.......I have "massaged" the figures again this week as the book didn't add up