Match Report Weekly

2ND XI MATCH REPORTS

CONGLETON (HOME) 03/07/2010

It was a second consecutive home game for the 2nd team there was a couple of changes to the line up this week with Giz and Becks returning to the fold. Another sunny day loomed ahead and Evo waddled out for what was probably the longest pre-toss conversation Bredbury had ever seen. It is believed to have centred on the remarkably lush green square Mounty managed to provide. Evo won the toss and decided to bat, this had not been a successful ploy in previous weeks with decent scores being posted but not being able to defend them was the problem. Evo was hoping to buck the trend.

Young Greeny and Clarkie opened up, the first 10 overs were solid if unspectacular with the score on 18 Clarkie called Ben through for a quick single to his disappointment Ben did not feel this was a good idea and after nearly completing 2 Clarkie was run out. Giz and Greeny built on the solid start and the boundaries started to come for both players Greeny took a particular liking to the short pitched medim pace bowling and soon raced to 40 before being caught out on the boundary. Ashworth & Coxy soon came and went, leaving bredbury 4 down with barely 100 on the board and 20 overs to bat. Evo and Giz eying the batting points built a solid partnership Evo with the lusty blows, and Giz providing the finesse, Evo showed how well Mounties fitness training was going by managing a very quick 2 to the vacant point area. Congleton brought the openers back on and Giz edged behind trying to run one too many down to third man, a well crafted 48. There were 17 balls to get 18 for the final batting points. Ming the merciless arrived and claimes he scored a valuble 5, the records show 1, it was up to Evo and Greeny to get the batting points, this was managed in the 45th over, the challenge now was to set a defendable total. Evo cranked it up a notch and the boundaries kept coming, he did have a let off when the keeper put down a sitter that had snow on top and unbelievably news came from the score box Evo was on 91 in the final over, another 4 and a single meant he was within one more big hit of a fantastic hundred, greeny obliged and got a single leaving 2 balls, the bowler allowed no room and the innings closed on 229 for 6, when I said earlier re the unbelievable news of Evo’s score it was… he scored 86 rather than 96 not out but still a fantastic captains innings.

After tea it was the turn of the bowlers, Becks and young JB opened up and both struck early Coxy did his best to make a sitter look hard and Becks Clean bowling the other opener. After this the no 3 & 4 came out swinging and the score was soon rattling along, JB was replaced after his customary stint as was Becks, Ashworth and Minger took up the attack the batsmen were finding it harder to dispatch the military medium of tango man and he was beginning to frustrate, Ashworth was bowling with pace but suffered from an erratic length, however he managed to pick up a wicket before drinks, however by drinks bredbury needed to pick things up the visitors only needing 100 off 25 overs with plenty of wickets in the shed. A rousing battle cry from tango man gave all renewed hope and energy, this was dampened by his first ball after drinks, a very wide wide. Ash was replaced by Cameron who soon settled into a good line and length and the change of angle also caused the batsmen trouble. Frustation soon set in for the batsmen with both bowlers picking up wickets and Evergreen taking an excellent stumping a couple of difficult chances also went down, suddenly bredbury had a glimmer with an unscheduled drinks break needing 3 wickets Congleton needing about 50. The key was their left hander, solid but expansive he was always going to give a chance or two, unfortunately it was a difficult one for a back peddling Barber, the 8th wicket was snapped up with 30 still required. Unfortunately no more wickets were taken and Congleton reached the target with 4 overs remaining. The team showed good fighting spirit but it was recognised all departments need improving if the team is to get back to winning ways, crucial catches were dropped, another 20-30 on the total was needed and tight bowling at the start to put the opposition under pressure.

ASHTON ON MERSEY (HOME) 12/06/2010

A beautiful morning at the BCG, with morning being the operative word due to a mid day starts due to the England game. Our glorious leader marched out with the Ashton on Mersey skipper, as it was a home game it was the visiting skipper’s turn to call correctly. To slight surprise we were put into bat with Nick Coffey back from 1st team duties to open up with Clarkie. The ball seamed around early on, however obligingly the Ashton on Mersey attack generously served up a succession of half volleys which for the most part were put away. With very little alarm our openers pushed it along at around 4 an over. The partnership had grown to 3 figures when Clarkie essayed a square cut, misjudged the bounce and was gone for a well constructed 46. Young Greeny, next up, yes emphasis on the word young here. Bredbury were fielding one of the youngest 2nd XI’s anyone could remember. Well actually everyone apart from Clarkie and Captain Evo was much too young to remember anything from the last century with Matt Beckett next in seniority at the ridiculously tender age of 26! Greeny’s stay was short after one magnificent square cut he shuffled down the track missing the ball and was stumped! Next up Ashes who was looking to build on a very promising re-appearance at Heaton Mersey last week. One big LBW appeal followed by 2 classy strokes and he was gone flashing at a wide ball and presenting a regulation chance to the keeper. The same story with Cox V.C. two fours and then eyeing the houses fell 10 yards short at long on. In came Evo and after a couple of decent strokes he obviously forgot that he wasn’t one of the young quick bucks in the side and went for a second run that Usain Bolt running down a steep hill with a following wind would have struggled to make! No cameras at Bredbury, not that this would have mattered as there would still have been no sign in the frame of the skipper. All the time Coffey had been playing without fuss and occasionally opening up to deposit one in the gardens or playing another attractive shot through the covers. A hundred looked inevitable so it was a shock to all when he was caught for an excellent 89. Nutts and Jimmy came together and with some excellent running the score went past 200. For the 2nd week running Jimmy closing well with a useful 15 not out. So closing on 208 for 7 a useful score but not quite what we were hoping for at 100 for 0.

Bredbury welcomed back Becks to the bowling ranks from the 1st team and he duly opened the bowling with Jimmy. Jimmy after an initial excellent over just began to feed the opening bat who was after anything that was wide outside off stump. He was off like a train despite an early wicket Becks, who pleased those who had him in their fantasy league team by taking a caught and bowled chance. The scored moved rapidly into the 70’s, despite Evo rotating the bowlers, at a rate well in excess of 5 an over. Evo finally hitting on the right combination by pairing Matt Ashworth with Cameron Meadwell. Ash was too quick for the Number 3 who had made 42 when one ripped into his pads right in front. Cam bowled an excellent line stifling and eventually claiming the opening bat after his innings had ground to a complete halt, Cam finishing with excellent figures of 2 wickets for just 9 runs from his six over spell. Three further quick wickets followed, Ashton on Mersey progressing fitfully from 79 for 1 to 125 for 6. This could have been worse if the fielders had not all developed fits of shyness when faced with a couple of skiers presented by the visiting batsmen. The silence on each occasion being deafening as several Bredbury fielders hovered uncertainly waiting for someone else to shout as the ball fell harmlessly to the ground. Note to the skipper shouting practice for next week! Now the pressure was on with Dicko having joined the attack and chipped in with the vital wicket of their skipper bowled as for the umpteenth occasion he was out thought by Dicko. However runs continued to flow as the young number 8 came in and took up the challenge. Further switches in the bowling brought Ashes back to claim a further victim bowling very well coming up the hill. The rate had now climbed beyond Ashton’s capabilities however Dicko still had time to claim a 3rd victim of the last ball with Nutts whipping the bails off as the visitors finished on 188 for 9. So after 4 straight losses Bredbury got back to a positive result taking 17 points to Ashton’s 10.

TATTENHALL (HOME) 29/05/2010

Summer had finally arrived as the twos took the short trip to Stockport Georgians, the sun was belting down and the temperature gauge well into the twenties. Bredbury were looking to put the disappointing display of last week behind them and get their season back on track. Captain Evo shuffled to the wicket and did the business, Bredbury were batting, time for the bowlers to put their feet up and soak up some of the rays.
Coffey and Clarkie opened up looking to put in a descent start for the team, the Georgians bowlers opened up well, bowling good lines and lengths, the dibbly dobbler bowler trying to bowl something like leg spin was causing a few problems for both batsmen. Coffey though, was leaving the ball well but still playing his expansive shots for boundaries when the bowlers sent down loose balls. Clarkie was prodding around, playing himself in in his usual manner but in trying to force a straight ball he ended up giving a return catch to the bowler, out for a couple. Not the start Bredbury wanted. Young Nutts was promoted up the order after the sterling performances he’d put in the previous two weeks, he started as he’d left off the previous week but he played a shorter ball down to his feet which bounced back onto his wickets, gone for a single. New dad Minger was awaken from his slumber, got 3 runs then played hard at a wide ball and was caught at slip. Could Bredbury be self destructing for a second week, Captain Evo tried to prevent it, he and Coffey dug in. Coffey was playing a more mature innings, concentrating well after his early exuberance; he left the ball well and gathered what runs he could. He and Evo pushed the score into the forties before Evo missed an inswinger from the left hander and was bowled for 7. The position became worse as Dylan only lasted an over before he was bowled around his legs for a duck. Ever Green strode out to join Coffey, Bredbury needed a partnership to posted even a half descent score. Coffey was still playing the mature anchor roll while Greeny played himself in and started to score runs. The score board did not rattle along but it was moving and not just the wickets board. The partnership was developing well and the score had moved into the seventies when Grenny was tempted into a drive and was caught at first slip, nice little 15 from Greeny and the highest partnership of the innings so far. Bertie came and went bowled for a duck. Bredbury were in the brown stuff, only three wickets left, one recognised batsman, Barber, Cameron and Dicko left to come. Coffey got his fifty, very well made and not a chance given if you exclude the finger tip the bowler got to a straight four back over his head early on. Barber was batting well showing a lot of resolve and looking much more mature than his young face suggested. Then disaster as Coffey was clean bowled, very good innings from Nick, 59 well made runs, he’d actually grafted this week rather than bish, bash bosh and out. Young Cameron strode out at 10, flush with the confidence gained from the previous week. He played an unorthodox innings, chipping the ball into the covers, over and somehow in between fielders, it couldn’t last and didn’t, the straight one got him for 6. Dicko last out and after a four and few more runs he was clean bowled for 7. Bredbury were all out for 115, a pretty pathetic effort, only Coffey really deserving any tea although Greeny was the only other batsman to get double figures.
After tea, Bredbury took to the field, cClarkie had given a rousing team talk along the lines of lets make it as difficult as possible for them. Bertie and Minger opened up, Bertie’s first two balls went over the batsmen head and it didn’t get much better after that and he was quickly withdrawn. Minger was bowling steadily but with only 115 needed the left handed opener chanced his arm and slapped him to the boundary when Minger pitched it up. Minger did have a couple of LB shouts against the same batman but with players umpiring it was unlikely he’d get a decision against a left handed bat. Barber came onto replace Bertie, he bowled well but could not create any chances, the ball seemed benign and would not swing or seam as it had for Georgians. The score board had raced to over 50 when Dicko replaced Minger, he got turn a bit of bounce but again no chances were created, he tried more flight and created problems for the batsmen but still no joy for Bredbury. The ball was going in the air but instead of wickets, Georgians got runs. Cameron came on for Barber after his six, he bowled better than he had the previous week but even he could not create a clear cut chance. The closest he came was a low drive the landed just infront of a diving Bertie at extra cover. The game ended without wickets, Bredbury had wilted and dried up under the hot sun, a very poor team performance around. There was no resolve in the batting, apart from Coffey and there was no bite in the bowling. Georgians had played well but not a ten wicket performance by any means. Shape up or prepare to be shipped out.

STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (AWAY) 22/05/2010

Bredbury hosted Stockport Georgians on surely one of the hottest days of the year. With Leggo’s seemingly suddenly enhanced tossing skills the boys were hopeful of avoiding fielding in the sweltering heat, however yet more practice is needed for our skipper as Bredbury were asked to field.

Woody and Usher opened up as usual, although we obviously didn’t want to be fielding the hot and humid conditions the humidity encouraged some swing for particularly Usher. Chris wasn’t enjoying the same swing as our banana man but this didn’t stop him from seeing the ball frustratingly go past the outside edge and on a hot day it’s fair to say Woody’s patience soon ran out. Barly was introduced and enjoyed some turn and bounce on occasions, however the going was tough and Georgians score was mounting. Chris Nuttall enjoyed even more swing than Usher and took the first wicket bowling noticeably quicker than last week. Becks was introduced and settled into his line and length straight away and picked up a wicket with one of two bad balls from his first over the other should of taken a wicket too, only a stray ball an over prevented him from enjoying a longer spell. Nuttall then came back to bowl at the death, a tricky time to bowl for any bowler but Nuttall’s second spell was top quality, varing his pace and still enjoying the same swing he made things hard for Georgians when they were scoring runs freely.

Obviously disappointed to have conceded 246 runs some positives were taken from the first innings. Nuttall’s second spell in particular, and the energy even though we were chasing balls to the boundary we stuck to the task in hand and as difficult as it was we kept the energy up to the very last ball and kept our heads up even though a couple of chances went down.

Although 246 was a large score to pursue we knew that we’ve set higher scores at the BCG. The energy displayed in the first half was converted into determination and concentration as Gippo and Giz were set the task of seeing off the new ball and keeping wickets in hand. Both stuck to the task but fell for 24 and 10 respectively. With Ziggy and Leggo at the crease the runs began to flow and the target edged nearer and nearer, Leggo almost scoring at will with a fantastic 86. Zigg at the other end was playing his game and introducing the bad ball to the fence whenever the opportunity arose and finished with an equally important 57. Both Leggo and Ziggy seem to be enjoying batting with each other at the moment which can only suggest more good things to come. A well executed 33 not out from Woody saw Bredbury home despite a couple of cheap wickets at the end.

Maximum points again for the firsts gives us the momentum to carry into next week’s match at Tattenhall.

MOBBERLEY (HOME) 15/05/2010

Another home game for the twos and another fine day if a little on the chilly side. Mobberley were the visitors and their league position at the foot of the table boded well for good points for Bredbury, Mobberley having not had the better of results between the sides for many a year. The wicket looked a bit damp and Captain Evo strode confidently out to the middle hoping to loose the toss and not have to make a difficult decision, unfortunately his luck is still not in and Bredbury elected to bat first to get the batting points.
Ben Green returned from Hull to cover for his uncle Minger, who was otherwise occupied watching his first born son make a mess of Mandy’s nether regions. He opened up with Clarkie who has been in good touch recently. Both started well against Whittick and Wheeldon, running well and poaching the boundaries off bad balls. Clarkie started where he’d left off last week at Marple shots all around the wicket and none from his infamous cut shot, he was especially ruthless on anything that drifted onto his pads, Ben was playing a quieter innings than his norm but still accumulated runs. The score board had moved nicely onto 32 when Clarkie fell to a good catch in the slips for 21, another goodish start but still work to be done as both opening bowlers had tightened up and were making runs hard to come by. With only another run added Ben fell, didn’t pick the length of the ball and was trapped plumb LB for 10. Apple Cox was joined by Barber, promoted up the order to get some experience, he’d only just got his guard sorted out when Apple went clean bowled for a duck, Coxy needs to get a bit of luck, survive for a while so that he knows what its like to actually spend time at the wicket. Captain Evo strode out next and a captain’s innings was need from him. He employed the lunge but just could not time anything and with only 6 to his name he chipped one to mid wicket. Bredbury were now in a bit of trouble 4 down for 51, sorry 5 down as young Barber went clean bowled for 10, not a bad little innings but needs to be more compact if he is going succeed with the bat at senior level. Young Dylan was joined by wicket keeper batsman Nutts but Dylan was in his T20 mode, got dropped, slogged a four and was then bowled for 6, he really needs to buckle down now and play the more mature type of innings he was playing at the end of last season.
Drinks had already been taken and Bredbury were now deep in it, 6 down for 57 and over half the overs gone. Bertie strode out to join Nutts and they set about building a partnership, both played straight and picked up runs safely where they could. The order of the day now as to get some runs on the board and use as many overs as possible to try to put some pressure on the Mobberley batsmen. Mobberly brought on their first team opening bowler, available at the last minute, he started with two balls of spin which Bertie top edged for successive fours, then marked out his full run, went for another four and was withdrawn from the attack. James Litherland the Mobberley captain brought himself on and very quickly had Bertie caught at cover for a well made 25 and a solid 40 run partnership. Nutts was going well at the other end, picking up good runs. Barly next up looking full of confidence as usual and another little partnership developed. Unfortunately Barly got a little too confident and was clean bowled for 6, still another 15 runs added and valuable overs taken up. Becks shuffled out next, not been in good form with the bat this season but as his wife had cut his hair a little too short for his liking, there was great hope that he would actually be able to see the ball this week. He could see the ball and hit a four, then got caught. Young Cameron Meadwell was last out making his debut for the two, he played straight and gave great support to Nutts who was now into the top scorer with over 30, the pair added 27 valuable runs and used 3 of Mobberly’s overs before Cameron was caught at the wicket for 6, 146 all out, Nutts top scored with 42 and had looked the best batsman on show not giving even a hint of a chance.
After tea Bredbury consoled themselves with the fact that they had 146 runs to play with and a good start a bit of pressure and who knows what might happen. Si Burgess and the first teamer opened up, Simon was very quiet with the bat, playing the anchor role for a change. The other opener took the attack to Bredbury, anything up went over the top and both batsmen took clever singles, Becks and Barber were bowling well but could not create any clear chances apart from a horrible drop by Barlys who dived too early at point and only managed to parry the ball away. Then Bredbury got a break, Si played the ball into mid wicket, called the run, Ben swooped in, collected the ball cleanly, threw to Nutts and the other opener then decided to stop leaning on his bat at the none strike end and attempt the run, half a yard short at the end. Bit of noise from the changing rooms as his bat bounced around the walls. A young looking left hander joined Simon and they set bout building a partnership, they never set the score board on fire but accumulated the runs. The bowling changed with Barly replacing Barber and Cameron coming on for Becks, Cameron started nervously with his mum and dad proudly looking on, well his dad when he got himself out of the bar. Barly was our big hope though, if he could get some turn, control one end Bredbury had a chance, unfortunately he looked rusty and the young left hander slapped him down the ground numerous times and milked the runs without any risk. Bertie replaced Barly and he started well but still some looseners. Then Cameron coming to the end of his 6 over spell grabbed a wicket, probably the worst ball he bowled, short, took the left hander’s top edge and Evo bagged the catch at slip, just reward form a very promising debut bowl. Only 10 runs were added before Bertie struck trapping Si Burgess infront of leg stick. 50 runs needed as Barber came back for his second spell but he could not bowl the sort of spell needed to put Mobberley under pressure. Bertie was bowling with a bit of pace but that was used by the batsmen for runs. Becks came back on for Barber but the runs needed were too few now. Then Bertie bagged a wicket, clean bowling the number 5 bat. Only 7 runs were added when Becks, strucked, trapping the Mobberley captain LBW. The fat lady was by now standing up clearing her throat and getting ready to belt a tune out. Bredbury had lost by 5 wickets, all the damage done in the first 20 overs when the batting line up had not performed, there needs to be more application from all the top six, not just relying on the usual suspects to dig in. On the plus side Bredbury’s tail had wagged, the bowling was steady and the fielding was well above average.

MARPLE (AWAY) 08/05/2010

After three weeks of near tropical weather, the two’s met on a cold day at the Whitey, well five of us did ! By the time we got up to Marple the strong breeze had added a wind chill factor that took the temperature down to what felt like minus 5, there were plenty of brass monkeys queuing up for the local welder. Only one change from last week as Apple Cox decided his knee did not hurt as much as it had last week. Captain Evo strode out to the middle but even with his vice skipper giving him support he lost the toss and Marple decide to bat. The wicket looked dry which is always a blessing at Marple but a little dusty.
The Becks and Barber show continued, Becks again settling into a nice line and length but Barber was struggling against the strong wind at the other end. It wasn’t until you tried running into it yourself that you realised just how gusty it was, it was also bloody cold or have I mentioned that. First boundary came as Becks bowled a slow ball bouncer (long hop as it use to be known), Becks had a word to the effect don’t hit me for four. Unfortunately for the batsman the next ball he got a snorter from Becks. The ball pitched just short of a length, Jonny Marshal shouldered arms, the ball rocketed upwards, caught the gloves, cannoned onto the grill and popped up nicely for Nutts behind the stumps with the gloves on. There then followed a procession of young Marple batsmen, all came in bristling with confidence and looking to play their shots but the wicket and the way Bredbury bowled would not allow any batting side to score quickly. Becks struck next as the number 3 bat poked forward, the ball popped a bit but it was a poor shot looping the ball gently back to Becks for a caught and bowled. The wicket was still misbehaving at times, leaping from a length or just short of. Barber then got his wicket, bored with bowling wide of the stumps he bowled a leg stick Yorker which the number 4 played across, missed it and was bowled. Bertie came on for Barber after his first spell and initially bowled well but sprayed the ball again and was picked off. Minger replaced Becks earlier than usual especially as Becks was bowling very well, he set his stall out straight way pitching the ball up and giving the batsmen nothing to hit. The number 5 bat did not have the patience for Minger and slog pulled the ball to Dylan at mid on who took a good catch. Surprisingly Bertie popped up with a wicket as the number 6 bat drove the ball straight top Becks at extra cover who cleared the girly hair cut out of his eyes to take a comfortable catch. Half the wickets down and not more than 60 on the board. Mike Booth looked on bemused at the other end, he had opened up, not looked all together comfortable but battled it out and was playing some great drives through and over the covers. The Marple captain came in at 7 and with Boothy, started to repair the damage, at drinks Marple had progressed to 80 odd for 5.
After Coxy had put the ice from the drinks down young Dylan back, why ice in the drinks on a day like that, Bredbury resumed their pursuit of Marple wickets. Dicko came onto replace Bertie and soon got into a nice leg stick line that soon strangled the runs. With Minger nipping the ball around at the other end and some good fielding by Bredbury, Marple were forced to make do with singles and only the very occasional boundary. The score board crept over 100, a very nice new electronic score which will be a great addition to Marples facilities when they figure out how to use it. Bredbury got a break, the game was ambling along, Minger went up for an LB against Boothy, grumbled for a over then went up for a dodgy legside looking LB and got it, the Marple captain possibly being the victim of young umpire bowing to the pressure. This gave Bredbury a weak end to bowl at but before they could exploit it with their bowling the fielding got a wicket, the ball was nudged down to backward square, the batsman went too far down the wicket and Coffey with a diving throw hit the wickets before the batsman could regain his ground. Marple were now pushing for batting points, Boothy still going strong, 130 odd on the board. Minger grabbed the important wicket, Boothy pushing for runs smacked the ball high to Coffey at long mid on, he made safe with the catch, very impressive 75 from Boothy though, held Marple innings together all by himself. Mingers next over the number 10 bat tamely slogged the ball to Becks in covers. Dicko was now getting rather techy, he’d bowled 13 overs without a wicket, he’d gone for less than 2 an over, Dylan had missed a hard chance at long off on the boundary but nothing else had gone near any fielder. Fortunately last over, the number 11 edged to Evo at first slip, Marple all out for 152. Good bowling overall, fielding excellent again and Bredbury had not let Marple off the hook at any point.
After an excellent tea, Clarkie and Coffey opened the Bredbury innings and it was business as usual, Coffey playing some very nice drives, Clarkie working the ball into the gaps, Coffey giving his wicket away. The ball was short of a length, Coffey hesitated and ended up in an awkward position with angled bat across his body, the ball popped up for an easy catch, again a start of 12 but needs to progress his innings. Clarkie then got a let off as he too got a short one that he popped up to a short cover position, luckily the Marple Captain had to come up quickly from first slip to spill the chance. Apple Cox was trying to play himself in at the other end but was not timing the ball at all, he soon fell to a tame drive off a full toss to mid wicket for 9. Dylan up next and the team hoped he had not been watching the twenty20 this week, he started positively, played a very nice drive through extra cover and was then clean bowled by a Yorker for 9. Although he only got 9 he’d played with more resolve this week, a much more mature performance from young Dylan. Minger came and went first ball, gap between bat and pad, edged onto the stumps. Young Nutts was promoted up the order, must have been the cold weather keeping Evo in the pavilion, cannot have been the bowling as Marple did not have a real spinner to speak of. Nutts and Clarkie then built the partnership of the game, they buckled down played straight and picked off the bad balls. Marple did not have any proper slower bowlers, with pace on the ball, both batsmen worked runs from the gaps in the field, Marple just could not create any pressure. With over 100 on the board, Nutts fell, played at a wide one, bit too short to be playing at and was gone for 25. Nutts played a very impressive wicket keepers innings, supporting Clarkie brilliantly. Captain Evo now showed his face, with no spinners he looked comfortable from the off, employing the lunge and hitting the over pitched balls for 4. Clarkie got his 50 and the runs kept coming, Evo was actually running hard, think it was to keep him warm. With less than 10 runs needed Clarkie perished for a very well made 57, caught at gulley from his legendary cut shot. Bertie shivered his way to the wicket, not impressed he’d been called on to go out at the death. A few singles were jogged before Bertie played his legendary slice to third man for four. Bredbury had out played Marple in all departments and gained 25 points for the first time this season, still some improvements needed on an individual level but a great team performance.

BOLLINGTON (HOME) 01/05/2010

For the third week running the twos turned up to the ground with the sun shining, must be some sort of record. Few changes from last week as Minger, Coffey and young Nuts all dropped down from the first team. Captain Evo strode confidently out to the middle for the toss, buoyed by his success last week but lightning doesn’t strike twice and Bredbury were asked to field for the first time this season. It would be a good test for the side, see if they can chase down runs rather than posting a total.
Barber and Becks continued with their opening partnership, Barber bowling his usual both ways stuff, Becks initially struggling with his line and length. He soon sorted himself out and made the first break through drawing the batsman forward and finding the edge through to Nutts who had taken over from Greeny with the gloves. With only another ten runs on the board Becks struck again, the batsman again pushed forward and Minger took a good catch at gulley. The pressure was piled on the young Bollington line up and they cracked, Barber snapping up a couple, first a push forward to Clarkie at short mid off. Then the number 5 bat played across a full toss and Dylan took a good catch at normal mid on, four down with only 20 on the board, to make matters worse for Bollington the other opener was not getting forward on a pitch that was offering assistance to the bowlers. Gary Wood strode out at 6, he is well known to the Bredbury boys and can be a very dangerous player, he started confidently, getting well forward. Barber was replaced by Bertie after his initial 6 overs, Bertie again started loose but tightened up quickly. Dicko came on at the other end to replace Becks who had bowled another excellent spell, beating the bat regularly. Then came the pivotal point of the Bollington innings, Woody chipped Dicko to Dylan at mid on, low and hard Dylan couldn’t get his hands under the ball and the chance was missed when Woody had very few to his name. Bertie was now bowling like his old self, jagging the ball into the batsmen and then swinging it away the next ball. The back footed opener couldn’t last long and didn’t cleaned bowled. However Woody was now settled, working the good balls around, putting the bad balls to the boundary. The number 7 bat did not look technically good but with Woody at the other 26 runs were added before he played over a straight one from Dicko.
At drinks Bredbury were still in a confident mood, 6 wickets down with only 76 on the board. Minger replaced Dicko to try to stop the runs and create some pressure, Bertie was still beating the bat but being picked off for boundaries. The partnership began to build and no chances were offered. Over a hundred by this stage and Bredbury were starting to think about a more difficult run chase. Barber came back to replace Bertie but faced with Woody now in full flow he got picked off for anything even slightly wayward. The number 8 bat was backing Woody up very well, over 150 by this stage, Minger swapped ends to replace Barber and Becks came back on at the top end, as score well in excess of 200 was on the cards. Then Bredbury got a break on 165, Becks strayed down leg side, Woody wafted at it and their umpire gave him out caught behind, he did not look happy with the decision. The last 3 wicket then fell very quickly for only 10 runs, firsty Matt dropped short to the left hander who pulled the ball straight to Dylan at backward square. Then the number 10 bat tried to slog Matt and was caught by Coffey, then the number 8 bat pulled Minger to deep mid wicket where Greeny showed he can catch without the gloves on. All out for 175 in 45 overs, Bredbury had fielded very well again and bowled worse than the 175 all out suggested, but it should have been a lot better with 5 down for 50.
After tea Coffey and Clarkie opened up and Coffey got off to a flyer as usual, drilling the ball powerfully to the boundary but as usual he missed the straight one and was bowled for 14. Not really the start Bredbury needed or had experienced in the previous 2 weeks. Still Greeny up next promoted up the order, well he had been picked as a batsman this week. He looked confident, played a classical on drive all along the floor then got one that left him, took the edge and was caught at the wicket for 5, not the innings Greeny was trying so hard for. Dylan up next looking to build on the starts he’d made in the last two games, first ball he tried to launch the ball out of the ground, Clarkie had a word, and another word and another word but Dylan continued to slog at the ball. Runs were coming but Dylan was giving half chances every ball, he just would not calm down and play properly. He nailed a great six over the longest boundary then fell to the young Bollington spinner who cramped him a little, Dylan could only spoon the ball up to mid wicket, gone for a crash bang 27. The score board had moved onto 68 but Bredbury were 3 down, a partnership was needed. Minger joined Clarkie and normal service was resumed, both played straight and picked up what runs they could. With only another 15 runs added Clarkie shuffled across his stumps and was caught right in front by one that didn’t turn away, LBW for 19. Captain Evo strode out to the wicket, a captains innings was needed, he started with his ususal lunges, banged a couple of nice boundaries then swept the young spinner over square leg for six. This stroke play seemed to settle Minger down who started to accumulate his runs, one of the shots of the day came along as Minger delightfully stroked the ball through extra cover. The runs came regularly and there were plenty of over left, over a hundred and Bollington were forced back to their opening bowlers. Both batsmen were playing the ball well and the change of bowlers did not work as more runs were piled on. With only 36 needed and over 20 over left Captain Evo gave his wicket away playing across and over a straight one, nice 28 for him and a 56 run partnership. Young Nutts up next but before he could face a ball Minger played one off the face down leg and was caught for 31. No time to panic as there were plenty of overs left and the reliable Bertie next in, he’s been there before. First over a nice four through covers, then one glanced to the short boundary for another, then decided to give catching practice, chipping a lower wide one to Woody at first slip. Still 150 on the board, 26 needed and three wickets left, no two, Barber leaving a straight one bowled for a duck. Now things were getting tense, more than enough overs but Dicko was walking out, he and Nutts played straight, picked up the runs that were on offer. With only another 6 runs added Nutts had a lapse in concentration, played too far in front of his pad and was clean bowled for 6. Vice Skipper Becks last out of the shed, demoted due to back pain. Every single was counted down, every ball played back a sigh of relief. Bollington went back to their young legger and he soon tempted Dicko into a rash shot across the line clean bowled for 2, Beck unbeaten on 6. Bredbury had given the game away not with poor batting but bad concentration in both halves, not putting Bollington under enough pressure first half when they were down and not grinding out the result second half. The twos will need to improve significantly against Marple next week if they are to get anything out of the game.

CHRISTLETON (HOME) 24/04/2010

Another glorious day at the BSCG, bright sunshine greeted the seconds as they arrived for their first home game of the season. Christleton were the visitors who last season had a better than average side but Bredbury had always given them a hard game at home. Captain Evo waddled out to the wicket and amazingly won the toss ! Yes you read it here first ! The obvious choice was to bat first on a dry, good looking wicket so Captain Evo asked Chistleton to get their whites on and their new ball out.
Giz and Lakes opened up, a complete change from last week as Ben was away in Hull and Clarkie dropped down to three, at least Lakes had had a run out with the thirds last Sunday, Giz had a note from his mum to say he was ill last week, still looked a bit off colour this week. Both batsmen started solidly, both getting a four in their first over faced but it was Giz who raced away as he got the majority of the bad balls that were dispatched to the ropes without fuss. Christleton tightened up their bowling and the runs started to become harder to get, then with the score one short of fifty Lakes fell for 14, the first change left arm over tempted him outside off but a little in swing cramped his cut shot and he played the ball back onto his stumps. Another good solid opening stand though. Clarkie up next who carried on the way he’d played last week cleverly giving Giz the strike whenever possible but with only 70 on the board he fell to the left hander as well. A leading edge from an awkward looking shot dollied up to mid wicket. Drinks were taken and it looked like Christleton had repaired some of the early damage Bredbury had done.
Young Dylan stopped playing in the nets and strode to the wicket, bristling with confidence as always, he played himself in then started slapping the ball for four. Giz meanwhile was quietly playing his shots, still putting the bad balls away, pinching clever singles and running hard to make the most of misfields. A quick single got him his fifty and it has to be said a chanceless fifty. With Dylan at the wicket the score board started to turn over a little quicker, Chistleton brought back one of their openers and induced a false shot from Dylan, rather gave it away slogging one to mid off for 24, still he had doubled the Bredbury score while at the wicket with Giz. Captain Evo up next at his usual 5, coincidentally the one position that tends not to get any umpiring duties, the forward lunge was initially employed but his first scoring shot was a nice six over extra cover off our old friend BrianWaring. At home Brian can tie most batsmen down but this was Bredbury, bit more bounce and a lot shorter boundaries, he took the brunt of the Bredbury onslaught as quick runs were needed to get the maximum batting points. Some poor fielding from the opposition allowed Giz to race towards three figures, one comical over Giz slapped three fours through an increasingly packed offside field, one threaded through, one got the Bredbury bounce close in and one got the Brebury bounce close to the edge, Brian was visibly seething. Only 170 on the board at the 45 overs but a lot of wickets left. Captain Evo slapped a couple more boundaries and another six straight, oxygen was offered to both batsmen as they ran hard making the most of any fielder with a weak throw, most of the fielders by now were posted close to the ropes. Giz got his 100 and then Evo fell for 35 trying for another maximum straight down the ground. The last over came and a couple more wickets fell, first Mounty LBW to Brian for three, very classy pose down on one knee playing for the cover boundary, pity he missed the ball. Then Becks, sent in as a pinch hitter, first ball wandered across his stumps to play to the legs side, LBW. Greeny made sure there was no hatrick and Bredbury closed on 213, Giz unbeated and a chanceless 111. A good score but at the BSCG only a competitive score.
After tea Bredbury took to the field, Becks and Barber continuing their opening partnership. Initially Becks bowled the better but Barber soon got his act in gear, a bit under the weather was the young man but once he got warmed up he soon got the ball swinging around. Captain Evo scented an early wicket and crowded the batsmen, the batsmen responded by slogging Barber over the close fielders, Evo quickly moved the field back. Although there were plenty of balls that beat the bat, there were no real chances created. The score board showed 34 when Barber finished his first spell, a very good spell again. Dicko replaced him and straight away grabbed a wicket as the batsman drove in the air through covers, Clarkie taking a good catch above his head. This seemed to spur Becks on and he soon picked up the other opener, clean bowled again, making a habit of hitting the timbers this season. Couple of overs later Becks picked up another wicket, a drive through point that was well caught by Giz. Dicko backed Becks up bowling with a little spin but good bounce from a great length, but Christleton were still getting runs, not all in a convincing fashion but look in the book as they say. Bertie came onto replace Becks after another great opening spell, he started poorly, bowling down leg but soon started to get his radar right.
At drinks Chrsitleton were 80 odd on the board but 3 wickets down, the Christleton captain was now in and he started to build a partnership with the young number 4 bat. One hundred up and Bredbury needed a wicket, Dicko duly provided, after being slapped straight down the ground, Dicko extracted a little more turn and bounce, Greeny took the catch. Game on at this point, 100 needed off 20 overs but only 6 wickets left. Barber came back on after a lengthy group discussion, preferred to Mounty who was next in the queue to bowl. The decision proved decisive as he soon cleaned up the number 6. Then picked up the impressive looking number 4 bat, a loose drive straight at Giz in covers. Bertie was by now bowling better but leaking boundaries so he was replaced by Becks, a good decision as he straight away beat the batsmen but it was the impressive Barber who struck next clean bowling the number 8 bat. Christleton then began a fight back, no playing back for the draw as some other sides may have considered, 60 runs to get but some lusty blows and good running put them into the 190’s. Bredbury were fielding very well it must be said, diving to stop the boundaries, getting the ball in the air to stop the batsmen and backing up well. Mounty eventually came on to replace Barber who had bowled another great 6 over spell. We all suspected that Andrea fretting on the boundary got Mounty his spell, if he hadn’t got a bowl she would have had to put the pads on and let him bowl at her in the back yard before he would go to bed ! Initially Mounty bowled well darting the ball into the batsmen’s pads but got bored of that and thought he would make things interesting by bowling a long hop that crashed into the chairmans house for 6. With only 20 needed Becks managed the break through, you miss I hit batting and bowling by this stage, Becks kept his nerve and took middle stump. Christleton kept on for the win but tight fielding lead to a run out, once Clarkie had seen the ball and the game ended with Christleton not getting the 6 runs needed from the final ball. Great game, both sides batting and bowling well but Bredbury’s fielding won it for them.

CONGLETON (AWAY) 17/04/2010

Another season opened in bright sunshine, far too bright for those second team members who had attended the clubs sportsmans dinner the night before, a brilliant night, those who did not attend missed a very enjoyable evening. To make matters worse for those suffer the effects of alcohol poisoning, the second team were away at Congleton, not a short trip at the best of times. Thankfully Mounty had been left at the BSCG so there was no warm up and Captain Evo arrived 10 minutes before play to complete the ritual of loosing the toss. God must have been looking down with pity, Bredbury were asked to bat first allowing half the team to sober up properly.
Clarkey and Ben Green opened up, Clarkey being too experienced to be affected by the night before and Ben too inexperienced to care. Ben started as if he’d kept playing all winter, shots off the back and front foot all timed quite nicely. Clarkey played and missed, thankful he wasn’t good enough to get an edge on some of the ball bowled his way. Ben had a left off in the twenties as a simple catch to mid off was put down, Clarkey by this time was starting to get the bat on the ball, a couple of balls that strayed onto his pads were whipped away through square leg. With the score on 50 Clarkey decided to get the knife out for an airing and went to cut a wide one, must have been the butter knife as the ball slipped off his edge and was caught at the wicket for 14. Apple Cox up next looking to put the nightmare of last season behind him and make a good first impression at vice skipper, he started slowly, unable to time the ball or even get the ball off the square. Fortunately Ben was playing some great shots at the other end, putting away anything loose with great timing, Coxy had a let off, another simple catch this time at mid on. This semed to settle him though and he started to time the ball off the spinner crashing him through the covers. Unfortunately as the pair took the score toward the 100 mark Ben gave his wicket away playing upishly to someone who could catch, however a solid 46 to start the season. Young Dylan up next who can now seriously consider himself a regular in the second team, he started as he played all last season, carefully playing back anything straight, anything to far up or a little wide either side and four runs was the result. He and Coxy took the score upto the 150 mark quite quickly until Dylan played a loose shot and was caught for 26 at mid wicket, still Bredbury had put together another good partnership. Captain Evo trudged out next looking to push the score board over the 200 mark and beyond. First things first, the maximum batting points to get, he a Coxy quickly got the points in the bag and a score over 230 was beckoning. Congleton brought back their opening bowlers who bowled tightly and the runs did not flow, the odd boundary but a lot of playing and missing and even more finding of fielders. Coxy had his fifty but the pressure eventually told and he put up a skier on 72 that was confidently taken. Young Barber promoted up the order as he was probably the only batsman who had been in bed before 11 the previous night, he played very nicely giving Evo the strike and banging a nice four. Captain Evo could not break free though and Bredbury limped onto 208 at the end of their 50 overs, a good score but probably 20 to 30 runs off where we should have been given our position at 40 overs.
After a very pleasant tea Bredbury took to field confident they could defend their score, Barber and Becks opened up with Barber slotting into a very nice line and length, swinging the ball both ways. Becks took an over or two to ease his way back into the bowling but struck first with a beauty in swinger to the left handed opener that took middle and leg. A good start but Congleton had runs on the board, another left hander came in next and it didn’t take long for Becks to find his stumps, this time with a well pitched up ball. Congleton kept on getting runs though, Barber mixed up his bowling a little too much and this resulted in runs. Bertie came onto replace Barber as Becks wheeled away from the other end, he was by now bowling very well, beating the number four bat six balls in a row, eventually the batsman got an edge but Greeny had not put his glasses on and the chance went. After a solid start Bertie dropped too short and was punished through the offside. At the drinks break a double change was made as the spin twins of Dicko and Barlow came on, Congleton had progressed to over 100 and tight spell from both was needed. Dicko bowled the better line and lengths but couldn’t force any decent chances of a wicket. Barly bowled looser and this kept the runs flowing, Bredbury could not create any pressure. Beck came back on to replace Dicko and it was business as usual with the number four bat playing and missing. Barly eventually put him out of his misery, taking his off stump as the batman slogged for the short leg side boundary. Soon after Barly was replaced by Barber and the runs started to dry up. Beck then struck twice, a flash by the number five bat was pouched by Greeny who had now donned his new specs and then cleaned up the impressive opener with a full pitched delivery. Two new batsmen but one was the Congleton captain but he did not last long, edging a ball to Greeny off Barber. Bredbury scented a victory or atleast a fighting draw, the run rate rose as Bredbury bowled tight and fielded well. But a six off Barber to the short boundary broke the back of the run chase with les than four over to go and Congleton managed to scramble the rest of the runs needed. The 20 or 30 runs lost in Bredbury’s last 10 overs eventually proved decisive. Some good performances and a lot to build on and improve for Bredbury.