Scorecard

Earl Shilton Town II v Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI on Sat 09 Jul 2011 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn Winning (18 points)

Match report 9th July 2011, Earl Shilton II vs Cosby II

After a thumping victory the previous week the 2s went to Earl Shilton in confident mood despite the diverse team selection that was put upon them by the availability problems within the club during the week. With Fuhrer Wood still ‘aving it large in Ibiza interim skipper Matt “size zero” Hurst lead the Unit into the match. Pre-game there were a variety of warm ups taking place including the majority throwing around the aerobie, Billso undertaking a vigorous sit down in the sun and Gary Whetton indulging in an isotonic half of cider.

With the warm ups taking place Posh Spice went out for the toss and seemed to have inherited Woody’s skill with the coin as he promptly made the wrong call and Shilton had won the toss. Faced with a sunny day, short boundary and firm looking track the decision what to do was clearly obvious, however the Shilton skipper seemed to have read the situation different to everyone else and much to the relief of the 2nd XI decided to field, the 2s would be batting first.

Acting Fuhrer Hurst decided to carry on with the previous weeks opening partnership of himself and Nigel “King Power” Meredith. Things got off to a good start with Shiltons opening bowler Liggins struggling with his line as Hursty cashed in hitting 14 off the 1st over. The scoreboard continued ticking over early on as Hurst appeared to be continuing the previous week’s century making form and Kato was offering valuable assistance. The score had moved up to 33 when Liggins sent down a full toss that Gok looked to smash through the offside however he got an inside edge and his trademark Chinese cut let him down as the ball crashed into his stumps as he was bowled for 6. Cosby’s resident Samurai would once again be looking for his hari-kari sword.

As the sun continued to shine Hursty was joined at the crease by Rob Quagmire Odell who had been promoted from the 1s and the 2nd XI had 2 batsmen at the crease of who it could be said were playing a standard below their class. In the overs that followed this proved to be the case as despite the odd testing delivery the pair and Hursty in particular tucked in to the buffet that was at times the Shilton bowling. With the run rate rocketing along Hursty quickly went past his 50 as he regularly found the boundary. Quagmire was offering valuable support and despite not looking at his fluent best was able to rotate the strike so Hursty could make the most of the form he was in. As the 30 over mark came about the 2s were in a healthy position at 140 for 1. With the overs going by the run rate kept climbing and climbing and Hursty moved on to 99 when he received a leg stump half volley but proceeded to hit it to the fielder at mid-wicket, however this was Hurstys day and the fielder not only spilt the catch but also could not stop the single as Hursty moved went past 100 for the 2nd consecutive week.

With his century in the bag Hursty and Odell as well continued increasing the run rate and Rob was able to go past 50 for the 1st time this season as the 2nd team score went past 200. The pair continued batting on and the score continued to rise seemingly exponentially as Hurst kept on finding the boundary and Odell started to take more risks in an attempt to keep the scoring at a high rate. He had a couple of lucky escapes with dropped catches and a somewhat unbelievably missed stumping but despite this Rob and Hursty continued piling on the runs.

With the score past 220 the Shilton skipper brought on the girl that was playing for them (cheers skip). This did nothing to abate the run rate as Rob and Hursty both hit her regularly to the boundary as Hursty went past 150. Odell was however eventually was bowled the girl (an award surely awaits on presentation night) for 78 runs that will hopefully go some way to getting Rob back in the batting form we know he is capable of. The pair had put on 214 for the 2nd wicket which is a new 2nd XI record. With only a couple of overs remaining Uncle Ben Cox came in at number 4 with instructions of just getting Hursty on strike. This he was able to do as Coxy got a single from the only ball he faced and Hursty was able to hit the boundary a few more times in the closing overs as the C2 Unit finished on 272 for 2 with Hursty finishing 172 not out, a new record individual high score for Cosby Cricket Club.

After a DIY tea that we will describe as hit and miss (who does hot dogs and then has no ketchup or mustard out?) the 2s knew they were healthily placed with so many runs on the board, the key would be getting the wickets to secure the victory on what was a very good Shilton wicket.

The 2s started their bowling with a new ball partnership at opposite ends of the age spectrum as Simon “Mini” Cooper and Gary “Whetto” Whetton opened up. Gary proved that he had lost none of the old magic as he was able to find his lines and length from ball 1. Super Cooper was having a tougher time of it however this week as his golden arm abilities had left him this week as the Shilton openers helped themselves to the wayward bowling that young Coop was offering up. Nevertheless with 272 on the board the 2s could continue to leak a few runs and with Gazza keeping it tight from the top end the run rate was never really a problem. The breakthrough arrived in the 8th over when Gary was able to trap the Shilton skipper LBW with the score on 35. 35 for 1 then became 35 for 2 as the very next ball Gary got one to just do enough and take the edge of the number 3 batsman and Umar took a smart catch behind the stumps. Gary was clearly delighted with the dismissal of the batsman as he was bouncing around like Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.

With Mini Coop struggling Oddsocks was brought on at the top end to replace him. Curt hit his straps well and was giving it plenty of turn and burn and was able to pick up a wicket in his 2nd over when the Shilton number 4 edged one behind and Thorpedo took another decent catch. Shilton were 50 for 3. The 2s appeared well on top but the Shilton batsmen dug in and despite some testing bowling from Gary and Curt wickets were clearly going to be hard earned. The run rate was not exactly crawling along but Shilton were well behind the required rate and approaching the last over before drinks were 95 for 3. However with Hursty calling for a wicket for drinks the Shilton opener clipped Oddsocks to mi-wicket where Bucket Hands Bills took the simple catch and at drinks Shilton were actually 95 for 4.

At this point the Shilton Batsmen went into their shells and the period of play that followed will not live very long in the memory of anyone that witnessed it. With the Shilton batsmen playing virtually no shots Hursty juggled his bowlers about in an attempt to get wickets despite the combined efforts of Midweek Mark, the returning Hero and Billso the wickets required just would not come. Despite the lack of wickets the run rate was literally only creeping along as in 15 overs only 41 runs were added.

With victory looking less and less likely Hursty made a double bowling change bringing himself on for Billso and Mini Coop on for Original Coop. Mini Cooper was able to pick up a wicket when he bowled the Shilton number 6 but once again struggled for his line and length. Hursty was supposedly bowling his brand of off spin and had instructed Umar to stand up behind the stumps. However all this really achieved early on way Thorpey taking a couple of whacks on the knee as Hursty continued to send down quicker deliveries. However lionhearted as ever Thorpey was able to continue. Despite his bowling on the day being in stark contrast to his batting Hursty was able to pick up a wicket when he bowled the Shilton number 5. Curt was reintroduced for Mini Coop but further wickets did not arrive as the senior members of the Shilton team attempted to get them up to a score of 200 of which they fell just short finishing on 196 for 6.

Result: Winning Draw

Points: Earl Shilton II 4 points, Cosby II 18 points

Tea Rating: *** generously awarded a 3rd star as I can’t give half stars. Tea was a DIY affair and despite some good points just didn’t quite hit the mark. Was shown the way by the tea enjoyed by the Sunday team at Huncote the following day which was pushing the 5 star level.

Quote of the Day: At tea we discovered it was Gary’s birthday the day before:
Hero: If we’d have known Gaz we’d have brought some candles to put on your piece of cake, anyone got a candle?
Gok: I don’t usually carry stuff I don’t use in my kit bag like candles...or my bat!

During the Shilton innings Hursty got hit on the shin at slip and started rolling on the floor:
Umar: Would you stop rolling around otherwise we’ll have Greenpeace out here!

MOM: Can only really be 1 contender this week with Matt Hurst getting his 2nd consecutive ton finishing 172 not out a new Cosby CC record. Honourable mention goes to Rob Odell for his 78.

Verdict: A 2nd consecutive strong performance with the bat meant the 2s were well in control of the game at all times. Could perhaps have done things differently with the way bowlers were used but in reality it was a tough wicket to bowl on so not sure it would have made much difference. Confidence from recent good form needs to be taken into next week’s fixture against table toppers Kirby Muxloe.

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
272		        
Matthew Hurst Not Out  172
Nigel Meredith Bowled  6
Rob Odell Bowled  78
Dave Thorpe   2
Adam Cooper  
Ben Cox Not Out  1
Curtis Holloway  
Gary Whetton  
Mark Breach  
Simon Cooper  
Matthew Bills   1

Earl Shilton Town II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Earl Shilton Town II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
196 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gary Whetton10.0126213.002.60
Simon Cooper6.0043143.007.17
Curtis Holloway13.0138219.002.92
Mark Breach3.001300.004.33
Adam Cooper5.002100.004.20
Matthew Bills4.001800.004.50
Matthew Hurst4.0034134.008.50
Nigel Meredith0.00000.000.00