Coton v Romsey Town, 17 May 2008
Amazing. Warm weather all week except for Thursday night at nets when we all got soaked, and Saturday morning when the kids were rained off too. I knew I was tempting fate when I put the tent up. Idiot. And Cardiff lost the cup too. Pah.
Cottenham II v Coton, 10 May 2008: Coton Care Bears feast in Cottenham Woods... erm Rec!
On a sweltering Saturday in Cottenham Woods, well the ground was surrounded by trees, Coton put in a tour de force performance to beat Cottenham II's by 105 runs.
After winning the toss Cottenham decided to make use of any possible moisture in a pitch that looked decidedly green and put Coton into bat. However someone forgot to tell the Cottenham bowlers that to make good use of the pitch, the ball needs to land on it!!! Coton's openers Chris Cooke and Neil Sparnon seemed to have little trouble working the ball and runs came at more than 4 an over. Perhaps the runs were flowing too easily as a mix up in the calling led to Sparnon being sent back by Cooke. With a turning circle akin to the QE2, Sparnon was left high and dry as a rapier throw from Jack Upton ripped leg stump clean out of the ground. George Speller strode purposefully to the wicket buoyed by a high scoring innings vs Remnants in midweek. Cooke continued to score with nonchalant ease whilst Speller ably supported and Coton passed 50 runs after 11 overs.
Cottenham realised they needed a bowling change and Nick Davies certainly delivered. Spinning it both ways and generating more bounce than either opening bowler, Davies proved too much for Speller catching him LBW on the front foot. Cooke found himself a more than capable partner in Dave Hale. Who despite some early scares from Davies relished the opportunity to despatch the Cottenham bowlers to all corners of the ground. Cooke reached his 50 as the sun beamed down relentlessly. Asked if he needed a cloth to wipe away the sweat, Cooke replied "I need a bucket"..........Pre-season training in the Plough didn't prepare the team for this. Flagging in the "Tenko" conditions, Cooke holed out on 69, leaving Hale to pick off the bad balls. Allison gave Davies his 2nd wicket and when Hale was bowled by Richards on 40 runs, the Coton innings began to stutter. Kaye fell cheaply whilst Messrs Norton and Bradbury dug in as run scoring proved difficult. East steadied the lower order as Paul Bradbury hit his first four in 3 seasons. Alas the glory was short-lived as he holed out soon afterwards. Dave Scotcher and Ed Darling didn't trouble the scorers. Coton all out for 171 in 40 overs.
Following some good banter at Tea and Rad's Razzle audition
(see picture), Coton set about bowling Cottenham out. If ever there was a game of 2 innings this was it. Maybe it was overhead cloud cover or the good length being served up to the Cottenham openers Brett and Griffiths, but neither of them lasted long. Speller swung the ball like a yo-yo and took the first 2 wickets, whilst Cooke exacted significant bounce. When Cundell was Feng Shui'd by Cooke, Cottenham were in disarray. It was left to Davies, surely Cottenham's best player, to try and put a semblance of a Cottenham innings together. When Coton Skipper Richard Allison decided to give the opening bowlers a well earned rest, Cottenham were 20-4. It did not get any easier for Cottenham as Neil Sparnon "bent his back" and had Shadrack hopping at the crease. After alot of "chuntering" from Shadrack and a Pontingesque outburst, directed at A East, the Cottenham bat was in the hutch when he popped up a "dolly" to East. Justice served.
With Sparnon relishing the extra bounce in the pitch, apart from a pee roller that dismissed Davies, it was left to Coton's new master of spin, Dave Scotcher aka the Care Bear, to clean up the tail. With 4 wickets for 12 runs, it was certainly Care Bear's best figures. Cottenham all out for 66 runs. Coton victory by 105 runs.
Highs:
After winning the toss Cottenham decided to make use of any possible moisture in a pitch that looked decidedly green and put Coton into bat. However someone forgot to tell the Cottenham bowlers that to make good use of the pitch, the ball needs to land on it!!! Coton's openers Chris Cooke and Neil Sparnon seemed to have little trouble working the ball and runs came at more than 4 an over. Perhaps the runs were flowing too easily as a mix up in the calling led to Sparnon being sent back by Cooke. With a turning circle akin to the QE2, Sparnon was left high and dry as a rapier throw from Jack Upton ripped leg stump clean out of the ground. George Speller strode purposefully to the wicket buoyed by a high scoring innings vs Remnants in midweek. Cooke continued to score with nonchalant ease whilst Speller ably supported and Coton passed 50 runs after 11 overs.
Cottenham realised they needed a bowling change and Nick Davies certainly delivered. Spinning it both ways and generating more bounce than either opening bowler, Davies proved too much for Speller catching him LBW on the front foot. Cooke found himself a more than capable partner in Dave Hale. Who despite some early scares from Davies relished the opportunity to despatch the Cottenham bowlers to all corners of the ground. Cooke reached his 50 as the sun beamed down relentlessly. Asked if he needed a cloth to wipe away the sweat, Cooke replied "I need a bucket"..........Pre-season training in the Plough didn't prepare the team for this. Flagging in the "Tenko" conditions, Cooke holed out on 69, leaving Hale to pick off the bad balls. Allison gave Davies his 2nd wicket and when Hale was bowled by Richards on 40 runs, the Coton innings began to stutter. Kaye fell cheaply whilst Messrs Norton and Bradbury dug in as run scoring proved difficult. East steadied the lower order as Paul Bradbury hit his first four in 3 seasons. Alas the glory was short-lived as he holed out soon afterwards. Dave Scotcher and Ed Darling didn't trouble the scorers. Coton all out for 171 in 40 overs.
Following some good banter at Tea and Rad's Razzle audition
(see picture), Coton set about bowling Cottenham out. If ever there was a game of 2 innings this was it. Maybe it was overhead cloud cover or the good length being served up to the Cottenham openers Brett and Griffiths, but neither of them lasted long. Speller swung the ball like a yo-yo and took the first 2 wickets, whilst Cooke exacted significant bounce. When Cundell was Feng Shui'd by Cooke, Cottenham were in disarray. It was left to Davies, surely Cottenham's best player, to try and put a semblance of a Cottenham innings together. When Coton Skipper Richard Allison decided to give the opening bowlers a well earned rest, Cottenham were 20-4. It did not get any easier for Cottenham as Neil Sparnon "bent his back" and had Shadrack hopping at the crease. After alot of "chuntering" from Shadrack and a Pontingesque outburst, directed at A East, the Cottenham bat was in the hutch when he popped up a "dolly" to East. Justice served.With Sparnon relishing the extra bounce in the pitch, apart from a pee roller that dismissed Davies, it was left to Coton's new master of spin, Dave Scotcher aka the Care Bear, to clean up the tail. With 4 wickets for 12 runs, it was certainly Care Bear's best figures. Cottenham all out for 66 runs. Coton victory by 105 runs.
Highs:
- Chris Cooke's majestic 69 runs
- Dave Scotcher's career best figures of 4 -12
- 10 Coton players and our 12th man (well done Mitchell) in the Cottenham pub afterwards
- 2 "close in" catches from A East
- Swingin' all the way home
Lows:
- The lower middle order and tail scored only 20 runs between 7 players - NETS PRACTISE THIS WEEK GUYS...........PLEASE. :)))
- 6 dropped catches - mmmmm need I say anymore?
- A Crazy, Drunken Woman in the Plough afterwards.....we could not shake her......
Remnants v Coton, 7 May 2008
On a beautiful early summer evening Coton racked up their first win against Remnants for many a year. Inserted on the usual Fitzwilliam belter, new boy Ross Chandler was flummoxed for an early season egg, but the ship was quickly righted as Senthil and George got the measure of some very friendly bowling.
There was a scary moment when George (picture - pre hideous disfigurement - right) top edged a full toss straight onto his forehead. Despite lots of blood, it was not so serious as to impair his rugged good looks and he was able to keep wicket later. Clearly shaken and in charitable mood, skipper Chris promptly chipped a dolly to Coton legend Jim Schwabe before Neil joined Senthil at the wicket. Several overs of block/bash/suicide singles ensued and with the odd interval for a run out (Mitchell), slogging (Norts) and self immolation (Pete), Coton reached the giddy heights of 147 for 9 off 15, (8 ball) overs.
Chris was soon tearing in and quickly removed the two openers. With Billy and Ed keeping it steady from the other end and wickets for Senthil, Mitchell and new boy Ross, Remnants never really threatened.
An excellent win and a perfect evening culminating in a swift half as the sun set. The summer starts here.
Coton v Over II, 3 May 2008
Despite a warm sunny day, and a warm glow in the aftermath of a junior coaching session attended by no less than 28 children, the Coton pitch defeated Dave's efforts to prepare something that wouldn't be a mud heap after 4 overs. Chris, Neil, Mike and Paul still managed to see it through till closing time though. It's good to start the season in traditional style eh?
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