North Curry CC
Sunday 22nd July vs North Curry Won by 5wkts Max Bird
A big day for Coombe Bissett, with the longest serving player, Paul Hodgkinson making his 500th appearance. Hodgy made his debut 33 years ago, when the club reformed. Since then he has taken 427 wickets, and we are sure he will continue to take many more. Under the sun Paul tossed the coin, the away skipper won the toss and chose to bat.
James Wallis and Ant. Jeffery opened the bowling, but failed to make in- roads in the opening exchanges. Matt Newman was bought on to bowl, and after two tidy overs, he made the breakthrough, taking the wicket of Denham. After his eight overs for 35, Paul Hodgkinson stepped up to the mark to bowl his usual mystery bowling. He didn’t disappoint in his 500th match either, taking two important wickets for 36 runs. He accounted for the dangerous looking Phelps 71 and Banham 52 in quick succession. From one generation to next, Max.Bird replaced Paul in the bowling dept. and took the wicket of Parsons, trapping him lbw. Milkie Johnson bowled the final over, taking a wicket in the process although his figures were 55-1 off of 8 overs. The visitors marched off to tea, tails high, with the board showing a thumping 247-6
At the break the players enjoyed the tea put on by Mrs Bird. Her excellent and dainty eggy sarnies going down a treat, as always. Paul Hodg was presented with a cake, in the shape of a cricket bat, made by William “Dinger” Hewlett, to celebrate his achievement.
The home side got off to a slow start, chasing 248. At 9 overs Coombe had been restricted to 12-1. The home side needed someone to get the innings going, and when Matt Watts came to the crease that’s exactly what happened. He and Dave Shaw both scored just short of 50, although they both deserved a half century. When they both fell, Johnson and Burton were brought to the crease, although the latter edged one behind fell for a duck. Matt Newman joined Johnson, who seemed to be hitting everything for four or six. With the home side still needing 113 with just 12 overs left, Johnson went big, scoring a quick fire 50. Newman supported him until he was caught and bowled for 23. He and Johnson blasted a stand of 81. Jeffery went out to the crease with 3 overs remaining. The home side now needed 38 off 3 overs. B.Tottendale bowled a tidy over conceding just six runs. Harrison went for 14 in the 39th over meaning 18 runs were required off the final six balls. With 13 hit off the first 5 deliveries, 5 more were needed from the final ball. With every fielder on the boundary, the pressure was on Johnson, who had played outstandingly. Amazingly, he scooped the final ball over the keepers head for six to fine leg, to record a truly dramatic ending to finish with a superb 103 n.o.
North Curry Coombe Bissett
W.Phelps ct Newman b Hodgkinson 71 G.E.Vaughan lbw b Harrison 5
P.Denham ct Wallis b Newman 11 D.R.Shaw b Parsons 42
M.Banham ct Watts b Hodgkinson 52 M.E.I.Watts b Eriffin 45
J.EGiffin b Wallis 5 C.R.Johnson not out 103
R.Parsons lbw b M.Bird 23 J.Burton ct Denham b Parsons 0
E.Branstock not out 33 M.L.Newman ct & b. b B.Tottendale 23
E.Phelps b Johnson 21 A.C.Jeffery not out 8
B.Totterdale not out 4 J.Wallis
J.Totterdale P.J.Hodgkinson
E.Harrison N.P.Bird
R.Perry M.D.D.Bird
Extras 31 Extras 23
Total 247 Total 249
for 6 wkts for 5 wkts
Wallis 8-2-47-1 Jeffery 8-1-24-0 Newman 8-1-35-1 B.Tottendale 8-2-28-1 Harrison 8-2-47-1
Johnson 8-0-55-1 Hodgkinson 4-0-36-2 Perry 4-0-34-0 Phelps 3-0-36-0 Griffin 8-1-28-1
M.Bird 4-0-38-1 Parsons 8-1-50-2 J.Tottendale 1-0-17-0
Hodgie gives one some flight!
And a round of applause
He's also got the cake!