Match Reports Archive 2nd XI 2007

2ND XI V ALSAGER (H) 16TH JUNE 07

There was a no small amount of controversy last Saturday as the 2’s played Alsager at home, and what promised to be a fine afternoon ended with defeat and a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

After the a rainstorm of biblical proportions over the previous week the pitch was surprisingly dry (well done there Mounty) as the captains strode out for the toss. We lost it and were put into bat. Ian Lakin played at wide one to depart in the first over and Mark Sands strode to the crease and began another second team innings that oozed class. Within a few overs he was playing some lovely shots, which has Downsy crowing in that delightful style of his. Rips was also looking good before Sandy opted to try for a suicide single. However, Rips has little chance and was rather undeservedly run out. Giz produced an innings of his usual standard, and as such there is no reason to comment on it here before Ben Green joined Sandsy. Ben again looked the part and produced some lovely shots, especially a lofted 6 which demonstrated that he seems to be a chip off the old evergreens, but he too didn’t last too long. By now Sandsy was scoring rapidly, and he moved through 70 to 80 and was joined by smoking Joe Smith. Yet again the running was a bit dodgy and Joe suffered the same fate as Rips. It is always good when your own team does its best to give the opposition as many wickets as possible, but the running was beyond a Joke. As if to cap his hat trick of misfortune Sandsy was then out for 99. He batted really well and easily deserves his recall to the first team.

The innings then began to get away from us a touch. Evo played some good shots whilst batting with Greeny Senior, but our evergreen keeper seemed to be batting with something he picked up at the tip so there were few runs for him. Berty and Evo then tried to keep the rate up, but we stumbled towards 229 all out. The less said about the batting of number eleven the better.

After a stirring team talk from the Skipper we hit the field prepared to get the 10 wickets that we needed for the maximum points. Berty and Chris Foley were again asked to open the bowling and Axel made an immediate impact, getting a wicket in each of his first 3 overs. Despite scoring quite quickly Alsager has an early collapse, and Axel eventually snaffled 4 wickets and Berty 1 to leave them reeling at 55 for 5. It was then that a major turning point took place. A stumping was not given, even though it was felt it was clearly out, and one batsmen who maybe should have been out got an important reprieve. Berty was replaced by Richard Barlow who took a wicket with his superb quicker delivery but then the tide began to turn against the 2’s. Some cow shots kept on missing the fielders and from 86 for 6 Alsager began to accelerate towards the total.

It was quite soul destroying to watch us lose from such as strong position, but we should claim the moral victory, and 13 points for a loss isn’t really that bad. Lets hope we can get back on track at congelton on Saturday.

Winnington Park (Home) 28th April 2007

The season began in earnest on Saturday with a thrilling encounter against Winnington Park, which is quite an ironic name for a team who tried their very best to snatch a monster defeat from the jaws of a relatively simple victory.

Before the game the newly returned Rips has spend a good two hours cutting the outfield, and due to pre match exertions no warm up was required, clearly these will now be left to the Mounty revolution on the thirds.

Captain Marvel Evo won the toss and in boldly chose to bat, a good sign of how the season could turn out. Despite two early contenders for worst shot ever by Pop Lakin and the Ginger Trojan that is Gary Martin the Saints batted with great spirit. Rips returned to the fold with a sturdy 35 and never looked in any real danger until he was caught out LBW by some cheeky spin bowling. The highlight of the innings was the role played by Smokin Joe Smith. He arrived at the crease when the innings was wobbling at 22 – 2, but soon found his feet and began a demolition of the opposition bowling. Joe hit a stunning 91, of which he scored 8 sixes and 8 fours. Clearly we will not be calling him “Quick Single” Smith over the course of this season. He was ably assisted by Evo, who felt the need to knock in the edges of his bat in is innings of 49. Who needs to use the middle of a bat when you can score so many finely crafted fours using minimum amount of wood possible?

Despite all the power Joe fell just 9 short of what would have been one of the fastest tons scored this season. But once he and Evo were out the innings lost quite a bit of momentum. Greeny help the Saints battle towards a very respectable total of 237 all out in our 50 overs. Confidence was high as we had tea, and was further boosted by the Captains team talk before the second innings began.

Positive opening bowling from Berty and Si Mellor ensured that the Park lost early wickets. Berty was particularly impressive with good pace and only the odd no ball. Both openers were replaced and Winnington then faced the very real possibility of being tangoed. It was then that Winnington began to seize the initiative. They put together a strong partnership that put them in a dominant position. Despite bowling well both Gary and Axel couldn’t really get any breakthrough.

With Winnington accelerating towards victory Evo made the bowling change and Si Mellor nicked the crucial wicket that turned the game on its head. Wickets then began to fall and without knowing it Winnington were 227 for 9. This miraculous turnaround was attributed to some awesome catches, and all the fielders should be applauded for some great work. However, despite the Jesus like resurrection of the team it wasn’t to be. Despite bowling pretty well Axel was unable to bowl straight in his final over and left Gary trying to get the last wicket without conceding more than two runs.

So defeat it was in the first match of the season. However 15 points for a loss is pretty good, and with performances like this the 2’s have a good chance of pushing for the top of the table this season.

2ND XI V HALE BARNS (A) 28TH APRIL 07

After the epic game against Winnington park the previous week the second team returned to the picturesque village of Hale Barns to try and gain their first match of the season.

The side had a rather retro look to it as Evo drafted in Mounty due to a midweek selection crisis, and we were greeted by a camera crew that were recording Hale Barns practicing for the match. Based on what was about to happen the DVD “Crickets fastest matches” will be winging its way to the nearest HMV outlet by the end of next week.

Evo (no doubt haunted by the ghost of captains past) lost the toss and Hale made the decision to bat on a somewhat awkward wicket. Nevertheless, the opening attack of Berty and Becks was quickly amongst the wickets. Berty took an early wicket in the first over, and then Becks followed suit, and then Berty, and before we knew it Hale Barns had fallen to 8 for 3. In all this excitement the Camera crew were still there, taking awesome action shots of Berty running in at full speed. I think was of his no balls was clocked at the amazing speed of 80 miles an hour…

Anyway, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and it is pleasing to report that there were very few misfields, and the only dropped catches turned out to make little difference to the overall total. Hales slumped to 50 for 9, both Becks and Berty had 4 each and there had been a comical run out. However, the final pair stuck around a little too long for the Captains liking and a quick bowling change was made that saw Axel sneak the final wicket, and Hale Barns were all out or 60. Even though the wicket did favour the bowlers both openers bowled with good pace and accuracy, and by the early tea the 2’s were confident in securing the first 25 pointer of the season.

Mounty, who had fielded with great enthusiasm then made his biggest contribution of the day. The opposition lost their bails and Mounty was able to provide them with a spare set. Thank god he was their, as there was a feeling that maybe Hale had hidden them to avoid a staggering defeat.

Pop and Rips headed out to the middle as the rest of the team sat back to enjoy some sunshine. Rips made a great start, and in the 3rd over hit 4 shots that required him running two runs, at the end of the over he was 8 N.O (Needed oxygen). However this was really the only highlight of the innings, as the wickets turned out to be a tricky one and the batsmen struggled to get themselves properly in. Rips fell when he chipped a ball in the air and was caught, but in reality, despite the difficulty of batting the 2’s never looked in any trouble. Gary also went in and out but eventually after 23 overs smoking Joe smith hit the winning runs, and we had a convincing 8 wicket win. Pop held the innings together, and all went home happy knowing we had out first win of the season.

Lets hope the DVD is released in time for Christmas, although Hale Barns may not want to have to see this again.

TATTENHALL (A) 5TH MAY 07

Saturday proved to be another fine performance for the second team. After a lifetime on the motorway we all arrived safely at Tattenhall and found to our surprise that it was not wet there for a change. Evo won the toss and showing great confidence in his bowlers decided to field. Despite the threadbare teamsheet on paper, the 2’s were to produce one of their strongest displays for a number of years.

Tattenhall made all the early running with the bat and raced to 20 for none after the first 4 overs, but then the tide began to turn against them as Berty and Si Mellor began to assert their authority with the ball and slowly the runs began to dry up. Both bowled excellent spells of tight and disciplined bowling and both deserved at least a few wickets for their efforts. Luckily both would star in other aspects of the game later in the match.

Evo then made an inspired bowling change and brought on Gary “Dicko” Dickson, who immediately began to bamboozle the opposition. At the other end Axel was also given the bowl and he quickly winkled out the Tattenhall opening batsmen who had been 67 for the loss of no wicket before drinks before slumping to 70 for 4, as both spinners began to take hold of the game.

It was a dream return for Dicko as his extra height gave his deliveries a little more venom and he was soon taking wickets at regular intervals. From a position of seeming strength Tattenhall soon began to stop scoring and began to look vulnerable. Some highlights for Dicko were the only spinning delivery of the day which caught the batsmen unawares as the ball cannoned into the stumps, and a sharp bit of keeping by Greeny, against a batsmen who seemed to be allergic to his own crease as Dicko raced towards taking five wickets.

Tattenhall batted on past 50 overs to try to boost their score, but in his final over Dicko captured the last two wickets, the tenth being an especially sweet catch for Si Mellor and ended with a magnificent 7 wickets and a contender for performance of the season. Tattenhall were dismissed for 156 and the Saints expected to match and surpass the total for victory.

After a lovely tea Ian Lakin and Rips headed towards the middle, only to be find batting again somewhat tricky. They both reached the teens before being given out by Ratty. There is something inspirational about listening to spontaneous tourettes ring around a cricket ground when someone has been given out. Ian was replaced by Berty, a surprise number 3, but the Captain got it spot on, as he nudged and nurdled the ball to set us on the path to victory. Smokin Joe Smith arrived and then departed again quickly, and Ben Green looked in fine form and was timing the ball very sweetly before he was run out. Then the captain strode to the crease and after finding his feet began to smack the ball about. The fourth wicket partnership was the one that really pushed the 2’s towards victory. Some wide bowling also gave away a few precious runs, but despite the amount of time needed to get the runs we never really looked to be in any trouble. Evo hit a number of cracking shots, but eventually was out after trying one too many.

At 5 down we still needed 17 to win, but luckily Ant “Ever” Green strode to the crease at the perfect time. All the needless banter about sports bra’s and Tattenhall still having a chance became irrelevant as he and Berty pushed on towards victory. An awful over from a gobby bowler went for 9 and we were comfortable. Berty pushed through the winning runs and was not out for a well deserved half century.

Another win and another 25 points. Its good to see different players stepping up to a job each week, and who knows where all this good form could take us?

2ND XI V ALSAGER (H) 16TH JUNE 07

There was a no small amount of controversy last Saturday as the 2’s played Alsager at home, and what promised to be a fine afternoon ended with defeat and a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

After the a rainstorm of biblical proportions over the previous week the pitch was surprisingly dry (well done there Mounty) as the captains strode out for the toss. We lost it and were put into bat. Ian Lakin played at wide one to depart in the first over and Mark Sands strode to the crease and began another second team innings that oozed class. Within a few overs he was playing some lovely shots, which has Downsy crowing in that delightful style of his. Rips was also looking good before Sandy opted to try for a suicide single. However, Rips has little chance and was rather undeservedly run out. Giz produced an innings of his usual standard, and as such there is no reason to comment on it here before Ben Green joined Sandsy. Ben again looked the part and produced some lovely shots, especially a lofted 6 which demonstrated that he seems to be a chip off the old evergreens, but he too didn’t last too long. By now Sandsy was scoring rapidly, and he moved through 70 to 80 and was joined by smoking Joe Smith. Yet again the running was a bit dodgy and Joe suffered the same fate as Rips. It is always good when your own team does its best to give the opposition as many wickets as possible, but the running was beyond a Joke. As if to cap his hat trick of misfortune Sandsy was then out for 99. He batted really well and easily deserves his recall to the first team.

The innings then began to get away from us a touch. Evo played some good shots whilst batting with Greeny Senior, but our evergreen keeper seemed to be batting with something he picked up at the tip so there were few runs for him. Berty and Evo then tried to keep the rate up, but we stumbled towards 229 all out. The less said about the batting of number eleven the better.

After a stirring team talk from the Skipper we hit the field prepared to get the 10 wickets that we needed for the maximum points. Berty and Chris Foley were again asked to open the bowling and Axel made an immediate impact, getting a wicket in each of his first 3 overs. Despite scoring quite quickly Alsager has an early collapse, and Axel eventually snaffled 4 wickets and Berty 1 to leave them reeling at 55 for 5. It was then that a major turning point took place. A stumping was not given, even though it was felt it was clearly out, and one batsmen who maybe should have been out got an important reprieve. Berty was replaced by Richard Barlow who took a wicket with his superb quicker delivery but then the tide began to turn against the 2’s. Some cow shots kept on missing the fielders and from 86 for 6 Alsager began to accelerate towards the total.

It was quite soul destroying to watch us lose from such as strong position, but we should claim the moral victory, and 13 points for a loss isn’t really that bad. Lets hope we can get back on track at congelton on Saturday.