Back to winning ways - a grand day in Weston Colville

This week’s venue for the Coton Cricketers was Weston Colville, deep in the wilds of South East Cambridgeshire. It was a beautiful day and the match was played on one of the nicest grounds that we have played on in the last few years. A white picket fence surrounded the playing area and with the hedges and trees beyond it was an idyllic scene of English Village Cricket (until the players got there). I’m sure Richard would have found something to watch in the foliage had he been there.

From the team that succumbed to Wilbrahams, Dave Simmons, Richard & Ross were unavailable, but Captain George was back and Adam was available again (although sadly, his shoes were not) and Sam stepped in following a couple of late scratches.

We lost the toss, and were asked to field first. We had noted the very short boundaries straight of the wicket and protected those at both ends. Like The Fellowship of Ring we had 9 to start the game, so the rest of the field were deployed around the bat to prevent runs (“one ring to stop the single…”). Eschewing the shoeless-ness of Hobbits, Adam scrounged some walking shoes from Gabriel: I hope the latter has some strong odour eaters. Anyway, George took the lack of fielders out of the equation by forcing the opening bat to play on: 0-1 in the 1st over.

Rad had now arrived at the ground. He had been delayed by a bad accident on the M11. Surely even the police have spotted the correlation by now? Saturday morning, Coton cricket, Rad on the road, crash on the M11: you think they would close it down just in case. While Rad was applying war paint, adding padding and whatever else he does in his pre-match preparation our other straggler Rob McCorquodale arrived and took to the field.

George was bowling with control and aggression from the top end whilst Neil was wanging them down (his technical description) from the other. George soon picked up a 2nd wicket when the ball was spooned over his head and Sam took a fine catch running around from mid on. Neil was frustrated by a series of close misses and edges that – with the short boundary – flew away for 4 or in once case, 6. At least the regular searches for the ball in the bushes and beyond gave him a chance have a lie down, catch his breath and work on the tan.

The remaining opener finally got one top edge too many and skied the ball to a charging Alastair behind the stumps: 50-3, quickly scored on a ground where we thought we may be looking at chasing 200+.

Neil – refreshed from the regular hold ups in play – delivered a fast full pitch. The ball steepled into the air again and Neil let out a stentorian howl of “Neil’s…..”. We all looked aghast. Surely Neil has more faith in his fielders than to call for a caught and bowled when the ball is on its way to the wicket keeper? Apparently not. As Alastair safely gloved the ball we all proceeded to give Neil advice on his recent eye surgery. He should really ask for his money back!

This was the breakthrough we needed. 3 more wickets fell while Weston added just six runs: two to Scotch (who had replace George) and a further success for Neil. At this point Scotch had two runs for two wickets off three overs, both of those runs being wide. The 2nd wicket was completed courtesy of a very nonchalant catch by Adam in the gully.

Adam (can I play with my shirt over my shoulders?) replaced a perspiring Neil and joined in the fun with two quick wickets. The first removed a young Westonian who had just played an exquisite cover drive that drew nods of approval from assembled wizened fielders (some of whom hadn’t played as good a shot in 30 years or more). The second removed the plucky junior that had come in at number 11. Sensing a kill, Gabriel moved in to stand at arms length from the quivering young chap who obligingly prodded the ball into his hands. Really – we should report him to the Child Welfare Officer! In between these, Scotch had picked up a 3rd wicket. Weston had gone for just 90 runs in a little over half of their allotted overs with the wickets spread between the four bowlers. The catching was much better today than last week’s debacle, only a difficult C&B to George not sticking.

After tea, George and Gabriel marched out to the middle. George looked like he wanted to win the match inside 10 overs (on a promise, perhaps?) but succumbed to a catch off a loose shot in the 3rd over. Gabriel (“not quite a fantastic as The Fantastic Mr Fox”) Fox settled into his role as the sheet anchor and with Alastair pushed the score along and it was something of a surprise when Alastair played on. The bowling had not looked very threatening but two down soon became three.

Rob McC took Gabriel’s exhortation to “get well forward” to the spinner a little too far. The expert on the opinion on the side line was that Rob would either smack the bowler into the street, or get out. As it happened, by the time the ball nestled into the keeper’s gloves Rob was standing close to the bowler and Scotch after thinking long and hard (just how far was he out) gave the stumping.

Sam now joined Gabriel and contributed 11 to a quick partnership of 11 whilst Gabriel continued to admire the match going on around him. Adam was next up – having put his shirt on – and reeled off some fine shots including one drive that was probably even better than the one that we drooled about earlier.

Gabriel departed after another obdurate display of holding the innings together. It was exactly what was needed in the circumstance. As Neil pontificated: we have lots of “batsmen” that can score a quick 10 (“can” is important here, it contrasts nicely with “do”) but we have been lacking someone to play longer innings – now we have that person.

Adam was joined by Rab and the game was soon over – won by 5 wickets with 11 overs remaining. In the last partnership of 16, Rab made a gallant 0 not out.

So: fine bowling (& fielding) all around and a solid batting performance with Adam top scoring with 22 (not out) and Gabriel providing 21. The win moves us up one place (above NCI) and next week it’s on to Wilbrahams for the return. This marks the half way point in the season. How will we fare in the second half?