Match Report Weekly

BREDBURY 1ST XI VS SALE 10/05/08

After writing last weeks report at 2 o’clock in the morning whilst quite drunk I’ve decided to write this weeks as soon as I returned from the pub again but in a much more sober state (even after a plea to all team members that someone else could write the report just this one week(thanks guys)).
Sale had the pleasure of visiting the BCG this week where good old Muzzer had prepared a quality batting track, however this turned out to work in Sale’s favour rather than ours as Woody lost the toss as per usual.
Sullyman would come down the hill just as a fortnight ago and Woody would put in the hard yards up the hill, Sullyman started well pushing the ball across the right hander and was unlucky to have one opener dropped by Tinker at point on only 8, this dropped catch alone would go on to earn Tinker a fine of £2.86 (I should explain: 50p for a dropped catch and 2p per run scored after the dropped catch. Which was 118 as he went on to make 126 not out!) Tinkers honesty must be applauded as it was he who came up with the idea of 2p a run for every run scored after the dropped catch (a rule that the fines committee was only to happy to comply with). Sale soon brought up 50 with all 10 wickets in hand. Adi was bought into the attack next and took the first wicket after sale had brought up 100 with still all 10 wickets in hand. The first Sale opener fell whilst trying to sweep a ball far too full, it has to be said that prior to a couple of unsuccessful sweeps that he looked in good touch and some poorly executioned sweeps did not do his innings justice(but then who am I to critise after he brought up his 50). With Sale cruising on 108-1 Barley junior had the same opener that had been previously dropped by Tinker dropped by Leesy on 48 and following the president set by Tinker Leesy had to pay his 50p for a dropped catch and 2p per run scored after the dropped catch (78 runs) £1.56 plus the 50p for the dropped catch = £2.06 for a single dropped catch! With Sully and Adi bowling from either end they began to communicate in a foreign language which earned them both a fine, not to mention Adi’s ongoing fine for wearing an earring whilst playing! Sale continued to score freely and racked up 273-3. Both the young boys in our team Nutt’s and Barley must be given credit as they bowled very well in critical times of the match, not to mention Sullyman who worked extremely hard for his one wicket and kept plugging away from his end. Also credit must be given to the Sale opener (regardless of being dropped twice) who played proper cricket shots all the way through the innings and separated Bredbury fielders effortlessly for his 126 not out.
At tea Bredbury knew that 273 was not unattainable on the BCG. Gippo and Ripps opened up but unfortunately Ripps fell early for less than 10 again. Leesy dropped a place in the batting order to 3 but failed to score more than 10 also. Adi got another opportunity at number four and hung around for a while but struggled to score freely and fell for less than 20. Gippo walked back to the shed next for 49 wich included some glorious cover drives even if he didn’t get 50 (plonker), Sandsy came in at six but only lasted a couple of balls and failed to trouble the scorers. Woody was to misjudge a half volley for 39. Some aggressive stroke play from Keys saw Bredbury earn an extra batting point but he was trapped in front for 29. Bredbury held out for the draw but finished around 100 runs short in the run chase. A special mention going to Leesy and Tinker who both broke the £3 barrier for fines with £3.16 and £3.06 respectively.

BREDBURY 2ND XI V SALE 10TH MAY 08

The second team travelled to top of the league Sale this week with Bredbury hanging onto second place after least week’s debacle, the encounter promised to be competitive. Foley came in for Smoking, other than that the side was unchanged from the previous week.
Captain Evo again strode to the middle for the formality of loosing the toss and Bredbury were asked to bowl first again. Becks and Bertie again opened up with a bit off role reversal, Bertie throwing one over the batman’s head first up while Becks beat the bat regularly. However it was Bertie who made the break through trapping the opener in front of the stumps, at the other end the other opening batsman decided that he like Beck’s pace and launched a blistering assault including 3 very big sixes, in an over and a half Becks figures were ruined for the day. Macca replaced Becks and bowled with some good pace but found difficulty in controlling his line, the opening bat meanwhile completed his fifty in less than 40 balls, we clapped as the score stood on 65 with atleast 10 extras, pretty dominant display really. Enter stage right our Tolkienesk Foley back after feeling a bit unwell, first ball full toss smacked straight down Becks throat at deep square, dropped and four runs, next ball same batsman dropped, dolly of the season so far by young Keys and that was the opener getting all the runs. The batmen continue to accumulate runs until Foley decided that he wouldn’t use his fielders any more and hung onto an easy caught and bowled, the score by this stage was over 100, at the halfway mark Sale were 125 for 2, Bredbury feared the a score in excess of 300. The difference this week was that we had a bowler with no pace at one end and one who bowls a heavy ball at the other, the combination was a winning one. First Foley got rid of the major run scorer with a very good caught and bowled low down infront of himself, then Macca and Foley alternated wickets between themselves. The runs dried up apart from the occasional bad ball and the Sale batmen looked like they had never seen a slow bowler toss the ball up to them, Foley did bowl well but it must be a worry for Sale that their middle order was unable to cope with or work away a slow left hander. The last half of the Sale innings followed a repeating pattern, batsman comes in looks to play some shots and gets out, one very unfortunate batsman was caught by Captain Evo at gulley, one left hand, going away from his gut, we are still not too sure who was more surprised, Evo who had been waving the ball good bye as it stuck in his hand or the rest of the team who are still feeling the after shocks from his collapse ! Wickets continued to fall and as the pressure built for runs Bertie engineered a run out coming swiftly in from fine leg to hurtle a ball in to the non strike end, well the ball dribbled to Macca who had a lot of time as both batmen were arguing stood next to Greeny our keeper. Sale closed on 195 all out giving Bredbury 2 over more to get the runs on a pitch that had good pace with only the occasional ball keeping low.
After tea, nothing much to report there either way, young Green and Giz opened up, well Greeny walked out, took guard and walked back with a 3 ball duck. The ball kept a bit low but the umpire reported he played the wrong line. Next in Clarkie, getting another go at his come back, the partnership blossomed, good solid defence and picking off the bad ball, both batmen playing shot all round the wicket and both playing very pleasing drives. Enter the Sale captain for a spell of innocuous off spin, Giz didn’t get to the ball and was cleaned up middle stump, some of the early damage repaired with 40 on the board at 3 an over. Middle Cox up next and immediately looked to show that the previous week was a blip and that he had learnt from his mistake. Both batmen started to accumulate runs, probably both trying to get the runs in the bags before Evo made an appearance at the wicket and tried to run them out ! Cox played some great shots with power off both bowlers dispatching anything too wide or short whilst sensibly playing back anything straight. With the score now approaching 90 a couple of crucial wickets fell, first Clarkie was adjudged LBW to one that may have gone past leg stump, well from 50 yards away that’s how it looked, then Cox slashed at a high wide full toss that could have been adjudged over waste high, the ball went straight up and was caught. However Bredbury were only 4 down less than a hundred to get and plenty of over left. Young Keys then made a brisk 29 swatting anything anywhere near him but got trapped LBW trying to play back a short straight one from Sales occasional looking leg spinner. Macca came and went. Greeny hung around with Evo for a while, again showing how to use your feet to spinners but not quite aswell as previously when he missed one and was stumped. Runs and overs were not a problem now, wickets were, Evo was finding the middle of the bat and getting the all important boundary every over or so, Bertie provided support trying to get Evo on strike as much as possible. Evo fell for 21 LBW, however stump mikes may have picked up the sound of an inside edge, probably a bit unlucky according to Bertie at the other end. With score on 150 and no recognised batmen left, Bredbury looked to get as many points as possible without conceding the 25 to Sale. Bertie played some nice shots before leaving his leg infront of middle stump, again. Foley was cleaned up a couple of overs later with the score on 165.
In summary a far better performance from the two’s despite the defeat, a bit of luck or the decisions going Bredbury’s way in the middle order and the points tally may have been reversed.

BREDBURY 4TH XI VS ASHLEY 4THS 11/05/08

After not even setting off to Brooklands last week because of the weather, Bredbury 4th’s finally managed to get their season underway a week late. With the sun shining a strong Bredbury team welcomed Ashley 4th’s to the BCG.

Skipper Spike managed to lose the toss and Ashley decided to bat first on a very bat friendly looking wicket. This looked a very wise decision as the visitors raced to 34 for 0 from just 5 overs.

Bredbury struck back with 2 wickets in one over from Spike, which was followed up by 1 in the next over from Anthony Cox. A combination of misfields, dropped catches and missed run out opportunities allowed Ashley to accelerate through the middle part of the innings.

A tumble of wickets towards the end left Ashley with a total of 252 for 7 from 43 overs with Anthony Cox (4 for 73) and Mike Beckett (2 for 33) the pick of the bowlers, Terry Hayes also contributed with 1 for 50 and Les Cox was unlucky to come away empty handed.

Bredburys innings began with Ian Lakin and young Will Hayes at the crease and Will was soon to be joined there by Anthony Cox as Lakin was dismissed early on. Soon after Will went for 10 after being unluckily caught behind; swiftly to be followed back to the pavilion by a returning Nick Coffey for a quick fire 14.

Joe Smith went after hitting a solid 18 in a good partnership with Ant Cox and Mike Kenyon followed suit soon after falling LBW for 12. Any hope of winning the game evaporated when Ant Cox was dismissed for a superb 84 (pushing his brother into second place for top score in the Cox household) this then left Les Cox (11 N.O) and Rick Davenport (5 N.O) to bat out the remaining overs for a losing draw leaving Bredbury on a very respectable 181 for 7 from their 47 overs.

The 4ths will play Runcorn next week in high spirits following their first draw of the season.