Farley
vs Farley 1st July 2012 Max Bird
Here we were the 1st of July, the peak of the English summer. The sun shining, birds singing, cricket matches flowing. Unfortunately this is no ordinary English summer, just two hours before our match against Farley, rain was falling and wind was blowing. But the rain didn’t dampen the players’ spirit and more importantly didn’t dampen the wicket, too much. The rain cleared through and we were able to start on time.
Farley won the toss and put the home side in to bat. Captain Vaughan and debutant Ryan Cooper opened the innings for Coombe but just three overs in, the away side struck. Bowler Amos, sent Cooper back to the pavilion, with just 1 run to his name. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as just 7 balls later, the skipper fell victim to the bowling of Glanville. With Coombe Bissett struggling at 12 for 2, it was up to another debutant, Matt Watts, and Matt Burton to steady the ship. They put on a stand of 29 before Burton was bowled for 8. Next in was Burton senior, and the experience of JB proved invaluable. He and Watts frustrated the visitors as they moved Coombe past 50 and onto 89. But then in the 28th over, Watts was unlucky to be bowled by a ball that didn’t really get off the surface. He walked back to pavilion with his head held high, just 12 runs short of a 50. Matt Newman joined the in- form Burton at the crease. As Jon passed 50, Coombe were looking strong, but then the away team bought their eighth bowling change on, M.Scraise had an immediate impact taking 3 quick wickets. With 4 overs to go Coombe were at 127 for 7. Max Bird was supporting Burton, giving the stronger batsman as much of the strike as possible. Burton and Bird bought CBCC’s total up to 152.
At tea the players had the pleasure of eating Mrs Newman’s trademark apple cake, while talking about the events of the first innings.
Matt Burton opened the bowling along with Tim Rolfe. They both seemed to struggle early on with Farley’s opening pair, Patel and Gibson, making a defiant 1st wicket stand of 54. 10 overs in Matt Newman was bought on to bowl. He seemed to make the difference. He not only took four wickets, he was also economical, averaging just 2 runs an over. Jon Burton followed from his batting heroics by supporting Newman from the other end, picking up a wicket of his own. Watts, with a superb catch at deep mid- wicket, diving low and to his left. Paul Hodgkinson, playing in his 499th match, picked up three wickets. He didn’t allow the Farley tail to wag getting two wickets in two balls towards the end of the innings. Elliot Squire was then bought on to bowl, and finished the innings off, thanks to a cracking catch from N.P Bird. Even with the final pair frustrating Coombe, the away side fell 20 runs short. Catches win matches, and fifteen year old newcomer, Ryan Cooper, was very smart behind the stumps with two catches and a classy stumping.
Coombe Bissett Farley
G.E.Vaughan b Glanville 6 N.Patel ct Watts b J.Burton 35
R.Cooper b Amos 1 D.Gibson b M.Burton 25
M.I.Watts b Owen 38 P.Owen ct Cooper b Newman 11
M.J.Burton b Wood 8 J.Amos st Cooper b Newman 0
J.Burton not out 73 A.Gibson ct Squire b Hodgkinson 21
M.L.Newman b Scraise 5 M.Wood b Newman 4
E.J.Squire b Scraise 8 M.Scraise ct Coope b Newman 0
T.W.Rolfe b Scraise 0 G.Manston lbw b Hodgkinson 0
M.D.D.Bird not out 1 M.Sell b Hodgkinson 0
N.P.Bird T.Glanvill ct N.Bird b Squire 3
P.J.Hodgkinson J.Hand not out 12
Extras 12 Extras 12
Total 152 Total 123
For 7 wkts
Amos 5-1-15-1 Glanville 5-1-13-1 M.Burton 8-1-22-1 Rolfe 4-0-32-0
Wood 5-0-16-1 Sell 5-0-18-0 Newman 8-2-16-4 J.Burton 8-3-19-1
Hand 5-0-16-0 Owen 5-0-19-1 Hodgkinson 5-1-24-3 Squire 0.5-0-2-1
Gibson 5-0-28-0 Scraise 5-1-26-3