Done the Double - from our special correspondant

Considering that this was only our 3^rd win of the season it was quite an achievement to have done the double over Barrington 2^nd XI. They must be sick of the sight of Ross. On each occasion they batted first and then started to take enough wickets to lull them into the feeling that they should win with Ross remaining unbeaten on both occasions.

Due to various personnel changes the deputy match reporter was also deputy wicket keeper. Well, for a while anyway. Barrington’s ground is on the village green in a delightful setting which was marred only slightly by the presence of an ambulance parked next to the pitch before we started. Unconfirmed reports say that the driver was told that Dave Simmons would be keeping wicket and not fielding on the boundary so they wouldn’t be required. So they left.

Barrington batted first and Robbie Sewell opened the bowling from the car park end. From the start he was getting considerable swing into the right hander which the openers found hard to score from. Scotch opened at the other end and was his normal accurate self. On the occasions that they did middle the ball it was generally straight down the pitch where Dave dived to save his bowling figures for himself. During these hearty opening salvos our stand in wicket-keeper was putting down edges. Well, it’s easy if they come straight to you, but not when someone gets a bat in the way first. (When is Alistair coming back?). After an opening spell from Robbie, Ross came on and kept up the pressure not allowing the scoring rate to rise whilst Dave Scotcher bowled his 10 overs straight through for only 26 runs. At the drinks break Barrington were 47-0. Despite the lack of wickets we thought we were in a good position on a pitch behaving well despite the swing being generated.

After drinks the plan was for Ross and Robbie to swap around from the car park end and Richard Allison and Safwan to make up the 10 overs in short spells from the other end. The Barrington openers decided that they would need to get their runs from that end and started to increase the scoring rate. After a 4^th dropped catch at the wicket the deputy wicket-keeper was finally sacked and Oscar took the gloves. A mighty astute move by the captain which clearly terrified the batsmen who started getting out. Robbie got an inswinger through the defences of one of the openers to be bowled shortly after reaching his 50. Then Ross got the number 3 who had been padded up for over 30 overs then got out for 0. The number 4 was then run out by the deposed keeper in combination with the deputy deputy keeper. Oscar managed to whip the bails off despite a challenging throw. Another duck. The number 5 didn’t look comfortable despite a swish for 6 off Ross over the shortest boundary. He tried the same shot a number of times irrespective of where the ball was pitched and finally sent one very high towards mid off where the ex-deputy keeper was stationed and waiting for a long time before it finally came down. There was even enough time for Scotch to run (yes, run) from mid on to get behind Dave to either cover the catch or administer first aid, whichever happened to be necessary. Neither were necessary and a deserved 2^nd wicket went to Ross. 4 wickets had fallen for 10 runs. There was a short recovery before Robbie came back for a final spell and bowled other opener. A well deserved 2^nd wicket for Robbie in his first full spell for Coton and he finished with 2-32 from his 10 overs and Barrington finished at 146-5. Ross’s 10 overs went for 23 including two wickets, Scotch’s 10 overs went for 26 including 3 maidens. Safwan bowled a couple of loose balls but did well to come back in his 2^nd over. Richard also had a couple of loose balls in his first couple of overs but his 2^nd spell when Barrington were trying to push the rate along was very accurate and made life difficult for them and he finished with 8 overs for 32.

It is worth mentioning that the out fielding was very good. Not something that can often be said about Coton fielding performances, but Dave Hale in particular marshalled the longer boundary all by himself for the whole innings.

After a fine tea Daves Simmons and Hale opened the batting. The Barrington opening bowlers were both getting considerable swing making scoring difficult. However, the Barrington keeper obviously had considerable sympathy for the keeper’s union and let a few tough takes go past and a lot of the early runs were via extras. Dave Hale got a very good slower inswinger and was bowled for 1 early on. Richard Allison also got a good ball and we were 12-2. Gabriel came in at 4 and he and Dave saw off the opening bowlers who were then replaced by a pair of accurate spinners and runs started coming, although not very quickly. At drinks the score was 60-2. Shortly afterwards Dave missed a straight one to be bowled for 32 after a partnership of 51. In came Ross and he and Gabriel continued accumulating until Gabriel was also bowled by the same spinner at 80-4. The required run rate was starting to increase and Ross was starting to score more freely. Robbie Sewell kept Ross company while 29 were scored until Robbie was bowled whereupon his Dad, Richard, came in for his debut innings. Unfortunately he marked it with a duck. Never mind Richard – many of us have had the same fate and we’re occasionally getting runs now. At least you were on the field for your little boy’s maiden wickets and runs. This brought Oscar to the wicket with us needing another 36 to win. Ross was going great guns by now even though the overs were running out. He had earlier hit a 6 over the short boundary and then managed to hit another over the long boundary. He also hit 4 fours in his innings. When we needed 3 to win he reached his 50 but we didn’t tell him as we thought we needed him to score the winning runs. We didn’t as Oscar played a few excellent shots including a couple of cover drives, the last of which went for 4 and brought us victory in the penultimate over.

We are no longer in the relegation zone. Not that it means much as we weren’t in the relegation zone at the end of last season and got relegated, but it is worth bearing in mind that none of our remaining games are against the top 3, so we should continue to climb the table if we play as we did in this game. This was a good result against a good team and particularly pleasing as we were missing some key players. It was great to be on the right end of a close, exciting game.

They also serve who only stand and wait

(at deep cover - apologies to John Milton).

As with many things in life writing the match report can some times be a joy or a some times a burden. When we win, or play well, or there are champagne moment words flow, but after disappointing defeats like this one the words are much harder to come by.

For the 2^nd time this season, Milton came to The Rec, the first occasion having nominally been their home game which was relocated as their 1^st XI had bagged the home ground. For the 2^nd time this season we contrived to lose. I missed the first game – sort of – but played this time. For more than half of the match we looked likely winners but somehow let Milton back into the game and eventually take it away from us. “Taking your foot off the gas” and “(not) keeping the foot on the throat” are clichés often applied to situations like this. I wouldn’t resort to them as a rule but they seem appropriate here.

Let’s get the weather report out of the way first. It was overcast and windy at first – with a short shower that didn’t force us off – improving as the day went on and ending in pleasant sunshine for the post-game socialising.

We batted first. There was a debut for another of the promising youngsters that are coming through the junior ranks: Robbie Sewell. Alas, like many batsmen before him he was duly “Cotoned” by the last ball of the 1^st over and he popped a catch to mid wicket. This brought Alastair to the crease to join Dave “Head Case” Simmons who had just been exchanging pleasantries with the nurse who had attended him at Addenbrooke’s after his unfortunate incident a few weeks ago.

Dave and Alastair moved the score along steadily with a mixture of aggression and watchfulness. The occasional ball was keeping very low from the footpath end making a call under law 24.6 a distinct possibility. It was quite a surprise when Dave was out as both batsmen were looking very comfortable. Ross came to the wicket and didn’t look to be in as good touch as previous weeks.

Alastair was still unmovable although he was having more difficult penetrating the field now. Ross was next to depart, bringing Gabriel in. With the luxury – for once – of not opening and not coming in during a headlong batting collapse he unleashed several fine shots and played with a degree of freedom hitherto only seen in the nets. It was a little unkind to suggest that the “real” Gabriel had been tied up, hidden in the bowls club and replaced by a lookalike.

We are pretty sure that following advertisement in the Cambridge Evening News is a hoax.

Missing: One stolidly reliably opening batsman. Answers to the name Gabriel. If found, please return to Coton CC, The Coton Recreation Ground, Cambridge.

As with Dave, it was something of a surprise when Gabriel was out but he had seen us towards our highest total batting first this season. Adam Bradbury entered the fray and hit some nice looking shots. Best amongst these was a cracking drive that clattered into the bowler’s family jewels causing him to collapse in a heap, grovel in agony for a few minutes and disappear from the attack. This may not have been a good move as his stand in promptly dismissed Adam.

Rads was run out without facing, surely the most cruel of dismissals. His noble sacrifice allowed Alastair to continue batting – that he was still there has somewhat been lost during the Adam/Rad incidents.

Dan joined Alastair and provided a couple of lusty blows as we reached 151-6 in the 40 overs. Alastair had been in for 39 of the 40 overs providing 62 invaluable runs to the cause.

When we fielded, Ross employed the fast/slow tactic that George utilised successfully last year. From the top end Matt Chandler turned in his best display for Coton with a fast, hostile spell. The run in was smoother, the length fuller and the result much better. Scotch was his usual reliable self, with a wicket in his first over and a gradual strangulation of the scoring rate. Towards the end of his third over a Milton batsman put one in the air to Scotch’s right. Time stood still as Scotch took off, flinging himself horizontal towards the ball. He missed, but the attempt was truly awesome. I am sure reports of tsunamis in Grantchester and Cambridge were greatly exaggerated.

The first bowling change saw Ross taking over from Matt who had put in 7 excellent overs. We had Milton on the rack. 4 batsmen back in the hutch for about 30 runs we had to be favourites for the win.

Milton’s ringer, Chetan, had a nervous start but always looked ready to attack the bowling. After the excellent returns from the two previous games, Ross was a little off colour this time around. Not that he bowled badly but as the partnership built we were looking increasingly ragged in the field and Milton started to claw their way back.

Replacing Scotch after 10 overs at the footpath end, Adam Bradbury then produced a fine display of spin bowling that belied his tender years. This was alas not supported by the fielders or the umpires. On behalf of the guilty parties, Adam, you are owed several beers: a shame you can’t collect on this debt until the 2016 season. Dave Simmons in particular had a torrid time at deep square leg. Perhaps conscious that he wasn’t wearing a helmet Dave was under perpetual assault, the climax coming when he superbly held a catch only to stumble partially over the line resulting in a 6.

Adam’s spin caused difficulties both to the batsmen and Alastair behind the stumps. Chances went begging: this wasn’t helped by the umpires missing a blatant edge behind.

It’s worth commenting on the different styles of slow bowling offered up by Scotch & Adam:

· One is young & fit. The other, err, isn’t.

· One spins the ball, the other utilises changes in pace, angle and flight.

· One has a long future in the game…

Adam finally broke through the 5^th wicket and the balance swung again. Ross had asked Rob to be ready to bowl in attempt to change things around and grab a wicket but after Adam’s success the skipper seemed ready to change his mind. Rob, having thrown his toys out of the pram, was ready to sulk off to the cover boundary but Ross was swayed by the pathetic look in the former’s eyes and let him have a bowl.

The conditions looked ripe for swing and so it proved. After a first ball 4 (an inside edge), Rob beat the bat with 5 successive deliveries. One was LBW (only it wasn’t, village rules applied) and the others evaded the stumps but didn’t result in a wicket. Two similar overs followed (without the 4) before Ross returned.

Adam – who had been putting in a tremendous shift in the field as well – was taken out of the attack and Robbie Sewell got his first bowl. Left arm pace brought a new variety to the Coton attack and after a couple of nervy deliveries Robbie showed great promise for the future.

Nevertheless, Milton had now gotten ahead of the scoring rate and edged across the line with a couple of overs to spare and 5 wickets in hand.

It was a close game but one that we could and perhaps should have won given our starts in both innings.

Next week it’s a trip to Hertfordshire without our top scorer to take on 2^nd in the league Barley. Should be a piece of cake (or several pieces of cake, an assortment of sandwiches and a pork pie). Roll on Saturday.

If...

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss...

Rudyard Kipling probably wasn’t thinking about cricket when he wrote his poem in 1909. But he could have been.

In my mind, cricket stands apart from any other major sport in being moved forward by a series of decisions all of which could irrevocably change the entire course of a game.

“If I had played forward to that ball...”

“If I had changed the bowling one over sooner...”

“If we had scored 20 more runs...”

“If I hadn’t moved a fraction early...”

“If Milan hadn’t been injured...”

“If George could have stayed ‘til the end...”

“If I had worn my lucky socks...”

The fact of the matter is we ran league leaders Steeple Morden very close last Saturday and came away from a game that we lost – narrowly – quite uplifted, feeling we had put in a good performance.

On a warm sunny afternoon in deepest South Cambridgeshire we welcomed back George Speller who was on leave from being married for at least part of the afternoon. Like many recently-weds before him, George may be coming to the realisation that shoe shopping and visits to Homebase to look at kitchens is less fun than playing cricket on a Saturday afternoon.

We got to bat first and the aforementioned George opened with Milan. Prior to the match we had come up with a scheme to speed up the run rate at the start of the innings by removing Gabriel’s kit from his kit bag and hiding it. He set off on a mad dash across the Cambridgeshire countryside to recover it. Meanwhile George deposited the ball into an adjacent building site. As this was all fenced off and locked for the weekend the Steeple Players decided to mount a reconstruction of The Great Escape. After lifting part of the fence clear of the concrete supports one of the team belly crawled underneath to recover the ball. Despite suggestions that he may be better off staying there he returned to the field of play. All it needed was for George to roar back onto the pitch over the fence on a motorbike to make the scene complete.

By now it was clear that Milan was carrying a shoulder injury and after 7 brave overs wincing at every shot, he had to leave the field. We were 26-0 at this stage and moving well but Richard soon came and went to become the first of 6 ducks for Coton. This brought Ross to the wicket to partner George. The latter departed for a typical quick fire 19 but Ross looked immovable as he had in the previous game with Steeple Morden. Partners came and went. Adam edged to the keeper, Gabriel got a horrid delivery that kept low and would have been well down leg but unluckily deflected onto the stumps (I was looking forward to not giving him LBW for once). You would think a Coton player would be well practised on these types of delivery.

Ulassa never found his timing and was palpably LBW playing a cross batted heave to another delivery that hardly bounced, Matt also edged to slip.

Ross’s vigilance came to end for a well earned 33 (top score again) and the tail didn’t last too much longer – or score many – other than a couple of lusty blows from Rob McCorquodale. Gordon was run out and Rob K played a cross batted shot that looped up to square leg. In evident pain, Milan bravely came out at the end to accompany Rob M who was last to go. 86 all out: for the first time in a long time we were well short of using up the overs.

The early demise enabled us to get in 10 overs of the Steeple innings while tea was prepared. This worked for us as it meant that George got to bowl 5 overs before having to return to his shopping trip. Rob K had looked at the team sheet and having noted how many bowlers there were quickly volunteered to stand in for the missing Alastair behind the stumps so as not to be exiled to the boundary again. It had been 20 years or more since he last kept in a league game but he didn’t do half bad (even if I say so myself...)

George and Ross opened the bowling and three Steeple batsmen were back in the hutch by teatime. The first was a patent George caught and bowled, the second a rearrangement of the furniture and the 3^rd an LBW after a handful of other shouts went unanswered. Milan had to leave the field again after about an over so we were one short.

At tea George had to leave, taking the unfortunate Milan back into town, leaving us with 9 men. Ross picked up where he left off before tea, taking 3 more wickets. He should have had a 5^th – and a jug – but was denied by the umpires not giving a catch cleanly taken by a diving Gabriel at short mid wicket (one was unsighted and one wasn’t watching). There was a flare up between Ross and the batsman who probably knew he was out but didn’t walk. Ross had the excellent figures of 4-13 in 10 overs.

At the other end Ulassa couldn’t find his rhythm in a short first spell and was replaced by Richard. Richard went close on several occasions, non more so than when Rob took a leg side stumping. Only it wasn’t. The batsman was so far out that has Alastair been keeping, he would have been able to nip off the field, make one of his roll-ups, smoke the roll up AND get back in time to stump him. But the square leg umpire was again not alert to the situation.

Matt replaced Ross at the end of his spell and Ulassa came back for a 2^nd spell. Steeple were 6 down now and still 30 or more short of the target. The match was finely balanced and neither bowler let us down. Matt was faster than I had seen him before, spearing the ball in at the legs. Ulassa was quicker still and I ended up taking quite a few head high behind the stumps off both bowlers. One ball for Ulassa really took off and required quite a leap to intercept.

The fielding was tight and keen. Ulassa got his body in line for the cause more than once and Adam did some great chasing and returning but the gaps in the field with two men missing were beginning to cost runs.

Two more wickets went - once each to Matt and Ulassa - and with 8 down Steeple still needed 16 to win. The opener had calmly played through this without looking in any real trouble and he was joined by #10. The latter had his fair share of luck but together they made the runs needed to win. The winning runs coming from an edge through the vacant slips of Ulassa. With 11 men, in this position, we would almost certainly had a slip in. If only.

A narrow loss ensued, by 2 wickets after a very intense and exciting game. Ross gathered us for a huddle and we felt – in defeat – strangely elated. A narrow loss to the league leaders with two men short was a good performance and if (that word again) we can produce the same level of energy and commitment against the teams around us in the league then results of the positive variety should not be too far behind.

One final thought on the day: as we took a beer at the village pub I overheard the Steeple players complaining about the pitch quality and the need to put more work in. See, it’s not just us, and we can be very proud of the fundraising and the effort that the team puts in to preparation and maintenance. If you haven’t come down early on a Saturday to help with the preparation, you don’t know what you are missing!

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

See you Saturday!