Cambridge Jesters v Coton, 27 July 2008

A hot, humid and sticky afternoon on Papworth Village green saw Cambridge Jesters take on Coton. Richard Allison returned from an exotic twitching holiday in the Far East to skipper the Coton team. Immediate Success as he won the toss. After one look at the hard wicket, Coton's opening bowlers Neil Sparnon and George Speller both had ear to ear smiles. The rapid pace of Sparnon put the fear of god into Jesters opening batsmen. They weren't laughing as Speller weaved a swinging ball past the edge of Kennedy, gratefully received by Breward's gloves. It didn't take long for Sparnon to get in on the act as he banged in another fast short ball to A Shone who hopped out of the way but left his bat out there. Matt Harris returning from a knee operation dived low to his right and caught a spectacular catch in the gully. Coton were on top and made scoring difficult for the Jesters. Whilst J Turney rode his luck G Tomkinson was convinced that Sparnon was a "ringer" from the Tucker Premiership!!! Little did he know that whilst a diet of Pasta and sunshine can recharge the batteries, it does not prevent an errant contact lens affecting the radar. Sparnon had to leave the field in order to find some new lenses and adjust the sights.

Coton's newest spin maestro, Dave Scotcher was still nursing the effects of an injury. However he took a stunning caught and bowled, demonstrating a new "barrel" catching technique.........mine's a lager top! A jet lagged but determined Da Costa came to the crease. This is where he stayed throughout the Jesters innings as fellow batsmen came and went. Not before Speller, Harris and Scotcher pulled up lame with "tweaked hamstrings". Further catches were taken by Norton, Allison, East and Coton's newest young talent Oscar ("Haynes") Boatfield.

Jesters all out for 153 in 36.1 Overs

Following a pleasant tea and a game of darts, Coton's openers of Bradbury and Breward took the 'ockey (I mean field!) Whilst the father and son bowling partnership of A Shone and G Shone made run scoring tough for Coton it wasn't until the 11th over when Kennedy made the breakthrough. Bradbury missed a straight ball and Coton were 25 for 1. This bought George Speller to the crease. George was initially dealing in boundaries as his "hammy" was causing excruciating pain. Singles and byes were being spurned, so Speller called for a runner and Bradders stepped back into the breach. Normally when a runner is used, chaos and mayhem ensue. However Breward and Bradbury ran effortlessly between the wickets allowing Speller to wield his blade and runs came freely. Not to be outdone, Breward upped the ante and fours were flowing from both ends. Just before drinks Speller missed a slower ball from Kennedy and his furniture was rearranged. 97 for 2. This soon became 97 for 3 as Norton got a snorter first ball up and trudged back to the pavillion. Quack, quack, quack.

Skipper Allison realised that whilst Coton were well ahead of the run rate, only 57 required with 21 overs remaining, the middle order has "crumbled before". Both Breward and Allison stroked the ball past the infield as Jesters could not stop the boundaries. Fittingly Breward hit the winning runs with a four.

Coton made 156 for 3 wickets in 28 overs. Coton victory by 7 wickets.

Highs:

• Superb fielding from Oscar on his league debut. Another investment in the new youth policy.
• Rapid bowling from Neil Sparnon - (10 overs, 1 maiden, 3 for 32) - Coton's Premiership "ringer" :))))
• Alastair Breward scoring a career best 65 not out.
• Catches, Catches Catches - 7 in total. Must be some kind of a club record. Champagne Catch from Matt Harris. Comedy Catch from Dave Scotcher.

Lows:

• Hamstring injuries to 3 bowlers - are they contagious?
• Letting Jesters get 40 more runs than they deserved
• I can't think of any more - WE WON!

Romsey Town v Coton, 18 July 2008

On a windswept but sunny afternoon on Fitzwilliam College ground Coton fielded a youthfull team - Away to Romsey Town. With the opening bowling of Speller and Scotcher, Coton kept it tight. Speller quickly took the edge and Breward dived low to his right for a classic bowlers wicket. Speller and Scotcher worked in tandem as the Romsey team found the opening overs tough to score from. Romsey's number three batsmen was determined not to give his wicket away and the running between the wickets put pressure on the Coton fielders. The partnership between Dennis and Owen put on 60 runs. Billy Haynes took 2 wickets and proved a handful for Romsey. Ross Chandler bowled 10 very accurate overs on the bounce. Speller came back on and took 2 further wickets as did Scotcher. Coton fielding was athletic and helped restrict Romsey to 159 for 9 in 40 overs.

This surely was a gettable target on a lush Fitzwilliam outfield. Paul Bradbury and Ross Chandler opened up to some very frugal bowling from Gopal and Jordan. The first 3 overs were maidens. Bradbury got on the board with a 4 as did Chandler but the going was still tough. The scoreboard started to tick along nicely until Chandler was stumped by some lightning work from the Romsey Skipper/Keeper. The game seemed to change quickly as Bradders followed quickly into the hutch after missing a straight one. Breward didn't trouble the scorers(not the only player to get a duck on the day). Coton's spirits were lifted as Speller and Hale began to score freely. On the last ball before drinks Speller wafted at a wide one and the Romsey keeper gratefully accepted. East got a goldie and Coton's innings was on the slide. Hale also went with the score still on 68. Paul Norton and Dave "all-rounder" Scotcher decided to show the top order how it should be done. The pair put on 28 valuable runs and earned Coton a much needed batting bonus point. When Scotcher was caught in the slips, Norton was left to shepherd the tail. I think talk of paying a "fiver" for a "six" proved too tempting for Coton's younger players as both Adam and Billy struck out for a coconut. Norts was left stranded (nice Red Inker though!) as Pete also went for a goldie. Coton all out for 98 in 36.2 overs.

Highs:

• Coton's new youth policy - good to see Billy and Adam lively in the field and taking wickets
• 3 wickets and 19 runs for Dave Scotcher - Coton's new "All-Rounder" in more ways than one. :))))
• A crucial run partnership from Paul Norton and Dave Scotcher - No and Go sound very similar Norts

Lows:

• Runs, runs, runs - let's get our team "mojo" back and score some.....
• 5 Ducks - Let's bat ugly and tough out some runs.
• Waiting 10 seasons to play a league game on a College ground - only to fluff it.

Coton Crusaders v Cambourne v Abington, 5/6 July 2008

Well, we had two matches last weekend.

On Saturday we took a young team (almost all 9 or under) to Cambourne and played a 13-a-side kwik cricket match against a team which boasted mainly 10, 11 and 12 year olds! In the Circumstances Crusaders put up a good and enthusiastic show, but were thoroughly beaten! Looking on the bright side, everyone seemed to enjoy the game and the U9s are learning lots about how matches work.

On Sunday Ross and I took an older team over to Abington. Abington you may remember provided our first opposition (all of 1 month ago) and soundly beat us. Anyway, a 14-a-side incrediball match started at 10.15 and Coton took to the field. I have to say that all of our team bowled well and fielded well - the team was unrecognisable from that first match and we resticted Abington to 258.

The Coton response started badly, with a number of wickets falling in the first two overs, albeit mainly to blond-haired Ollie - a county player! But Coton had strength and depth in our batting (which is more than can be said for the adult team!). Gradually we pulled ourselves back into the match. With the final pair (William & Hugh) walking to the wicket we needed about ten or so to win. What ensued was a mixture of sublime strokes, quick scampering and absolutely bonkers running between the wickets - in about equal measure. The scoreboard couldn't keep pace with the frenetic activity. By the time of the final delivery we thought we were ahead, but then a catch was spooned back to the bowler. Abington went potty - they thought they'd won - but then slowly the mechanical scoreboard started to move. A Hush decended, and eventually the scoreboard stopped, on

259

It took a while for the combined intellect of Coton kids and parents to work out the implications of this, and then all hell broke loose - Coton Crusaders win by ONE RUN!

An absolutely fantastic match with contributions from every player. Also, I have to say, thanks to all the parents (and grandparents) that turned out on both days.

A coaching session this coming weekend will be good, since there is plenty to work on for all age groups, but Chris, George, Ross and I all agree that all the kids are improving as the year unfolds.

See you on Saturday

Coton v Longstowe II, 5 July 2008

If a week in politics is a long time, a week at Coton Cricket Club is an aeon. On a distinctly "green" home wicket on the Recreation Ground, Dave Hale Coton's skipper lost the toss. The Coton innings spiralled downwards from that point on. Chris Cooke gave an edge in the first over. Ross Chandler and Dave Hale went to snorters in quick succession. Paul Bradbury decided it was time to weigh anchor and dug in for several overs but fell on 11. East and Kaye came and went as Breward continued to notch up a score. In Ed Darling he found a partner who was prepared to run for everything and the pair made the highest partnership (30 runs) of either team in the match. When Darling was given out LBW, Breward quickly followed suit. Coton's momentum slowed drastically. Coton struggled to 84 all out.

After Paul Norton's Tea's (I thought they were great fella - Chris wasn't so sure), Coton took to the field with some gusto and immediately put pressure on Longstowe II's. Cooke's rapid pace and accuracy unnerved the opposition. Rewards came quickly as Reynolds was dismissed. It took a dynamic piece of on the run fielding from Billy Haynes to dismiss John Murden. Longstowe wickets began to fall in quick succession as Cooke had his Dander up. Ross Chandler who was very unlucky with several appeals finally got a ball to "roll" under the bat to dislodge the wickets - despite appealing for an LBW. Rob Kay and Dave Scotcher also got amongst the wickets as the game sat on a knife edge. Christopher Burling, Longstowe's fine opening bowler weathered the storm and a dropped catch to stay unbeaten on 12 runs. He received able support from Fox and Gooch as Coton could not take the final wicket. Longstowe II's finished on 89 for 9 in 38.4 overs. Coton lost by 1 wicket.

Highs:

• Billy Haynes superb run out.
• 4 wickets for 13 runs from Chris Cooke - despite some "Egg Roll" Salmanella belly.
• A crucial 30 run partnership from Alastair Breward and Ed Darling
• Alastair Breward top scored with 33 runs (Bradders added a stoical 11 runs)

Lows:

• Runs, runs, runs - let's get our team "mojo" back and score some.....
• 24 Extras - Longstowe's top scorer was Extras with 19 wides, 1 no ball and 4 leg byes. mmmm on a low scoring day!!!!!
• 3 dropped catches - 2 of them could have taken the final wicket and snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.
• Losing a tight game that we could and should have won. The Beer doesn't taste as good afterwards.

Over II V Coton, 29 June 2008, Debut's, Donut's, Yogic Run Out's, 5 For's.......Over and certainly Not Out!!!!

Picture a sunny afternoon on an idyllic village green surrounded by a swathe of wispy trees and you could almost have been at Over on Saturday. Skipper Richard Allison won the toss and put the home team into bat on a decidedly green pitch. The Coton 11 buoyed by their pre-match meal of mini Jam Donuts courtesy of Dave Hale (you need to keep your energy levels up!), immediately began to exert pressure on Over. Both Cooke and Speller kept it tight in the first 6 overs with four maidens as Over battled to 16 for none. In the 7th Cooke got a well deserved breakthrough with an LBW that even Dickie Bird would have given. Skipper Allison decided it was time to "blood" Coton debutante Billy Haynes. As the wind got up it was clear that Haynes had been given the wrong end (or perhaps he had not eaten a donut), as Over scored 14 runs from his first 2 overs. Credit to the skipper and vice captain Dave Hale as they realised this and switched ends for Haynes. This bought quick results as Haynes showed good pace and immediately took an edge. Unfortunately it was not taken but the next over Haynes took his first league wicket as Bradders gratefully received a top edge. At the other end Cooke feasted on a double wicket maiden.

Over's M Ford proved dogmatic with his deft leg glances and quick running. He found a willing partner in S Friend as Over pushed on to 119 for 6. In Speller's second spell a fine pick up and throw finally managed to dislodge Ford. In his very next over the double act of Speller and Bradbury used a Rugby pass and a mid air yogic swipe to break the bails and claim another run out. Momentum was with Coton. Cooke got angry as a plumb lbw was not given so promptly finished off the tail with some rapid pace and accuracy. Over all out for 149 runs in 37.4 overs.

After another fine tea - no donuts required the Coton innings began with Cooke and Bradbury in earnest. When Stuart Faben opened up with some indifferent bounce it seemed the in-form Cooke would make hay. Alas the next over Cooke skied a simple catch to Willis. Bradbury dug in at one end whilst Speller picked off Faben at every opportunity. George was certainly in the mood to hit big with four 4's and 2 sixes before being caught by friend at long on for 38 runs. Bradbury's eye was in as he grew in confidence and hit his first ever on drive for four runs. The elation got the better of him as he wafted at a straight one only to see the furniture rearranged. Dave Hale and Skipper Allison started to move the scoring rate along before Hale top edged a ball from Wilkinson as Smith from Over started what proved to be a catching spree.

Allison in need of some runs this season, showed he has not lost his guile and timing as he effortlessly flicked 4's off his legs. At the other end East decided to stick around and christen the new bat. The partnership put on a valuable 22 runs before East took on a suicidal single (was Neil Sparnon playing?) and ran himself out. Coton were on 117 runs with 5 wickets remaining and 18 overs to get them in. Previous games have seen Coton's middle order and tail crumble under the pressure. Not today. Scotcher strode out with a target of 4 runs an over. The skipper who was in fine touch holed out to Smith the very next over. Whilst Scotcher stuck to the plan of 4 an over, Norton had not heard the instructions and promptly went for a duck. Billy Haynes showed promise with Scotcher running in a strained manner and called for a runner. Firstly Ed Darling (yet to bat) walked out with permission from the Over team. Chis Cooke saw that leadership was required and padded up. As Haynes was bowled Ed Darling switched positions and Cooke grasped the running mantra. Any nick or nurdle by Scotcher or Darling heard the scream of run from Cooke. The Over opposition were as bemused as Coton's 2 umpires Hale and East - as the Coton trio worked on the shout loudest running policy of "hit it and scarper". When Scotcher (with a "tweaked" hamstring) who contributed a valuable 7 runs, fell on 139 for 9 wickets, to another Smith catch, Pete Brooks was determined not to let the side down. 11 runs required for victory. Ed Darling scampered through for run after run. 7 runs were required from the last 6 balls. When Darling hit 4 runs from the first ball, the Coton bench erupted. Only 3 runs required with 5 balls remaining. 1 run from the next ball followed by Darling and following 2 dot balls another 1 valuable run from Brookes. The score was level with the last ball remaining. Drake tossed up a "moonbeam" of a ball. Darling could not quite get his driver (I mean bat) to the pitch of the ball, but scraped it to backward point and scarpered. Alas the Over fielder Cookson had a dead arm and the stumps were Feng Shui'd. The game was tied.

Matches like this are what makes you realise that summers days are meant to be savoured. Forget the shopping, the Cafe latte's and the activity breaks. Play cricket it's great !!!!

Highs:

• Billy Haynes taking his first league wicket on debut.
• 5 wickets for 15 runs for Chris Cooke.
• Ed Darling making his highest Coton score of 13.
• The Coton Tail finally wagged - long overdue and long may it continue.
• George Speller with 2 run outs in 2 overs - including a Yogic mid air catch and crash from Bradders.
• A friendly drink with the Over team in the pub afterwards.

Lows:

• We didn't win......but that would be nit picking