Scorecard

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI v Billesdon II on Sat 23 Aug 2008 at
Match was Drawn Winning (16 points)

Match report Match Report, Cosby II v Billesdon II, Saturday 23rd August 2008

With fellow high fliers Billesdon the days opposition the 2nd team arrived a HQ to be greeted by what was an unsurprising soft wicket with the previous weeks inclement weather. After Billso, Sheriff, Henshaw and Russ had gone through a highly complex and scientific process of marking the wicket (“Does that look like middle to you?” “F**k it, it’ll do!”) we were ready for play. Naturally we wanted to bowl first and get first use of what looked a bowler’s wicket and so naturally Saus lost the toss and we found ourselves batting.

With Nigel “Insert Oriental Name Here” Meredith called up to the 1st team and Foxy away on a camping trip it was a new opening partnership sent out to bat in the form of Russ Sullivan and Steve Henshaw. Things started positively despite some good bowling from Blackwell the 2 appeared to be taking a liking to the bowling of the other opener. It was a bit surprising therefore when Henshaw fell for just 4 to a pretty adjacent looking lbw. When Coxy then departed for just 6 a few overs later the 2s were looking in trouble at 22 for 2. The returning Rich Fairbrother strode out number 4 with the instruction of support Russ and don’t get out ringing in his ears. He followed these instructions and he and Russ went about rebuilding the innings in methodical fashion. With Sullivan dominating the scoring the pair put on 43 to take the score up to 65 before Russ was out for 34 hitting a full toss to mid-wicket for a simple catch.

This was the point that the 2s got a bit bogged down as Fairbrother and Curtis Holloway struggled to get any momentum going against albeit some decent bowling. The pair were together for 7 overs in which time only 11 runs were added to the score as both batsman found run scoring a problem. Fairbrother was eventually out for just 8 having batted for 20 overs and when Curt fell for a duck for the 2nd week running there was a feeling that both had kind of wasted their innings. This had the 2s at 80 for 5 and Saus and Super Cooper at the crease. With 2 hitters at the crease it seemed unlikely more overs of inactivity were ahead. This proved to be the case as Coops hit his first ball for 6 and with Saus contributing the pair took the score past 110 before Saus was bowled for 15.

Coops carried on making 31 in positive fashion before playing a tad early at one and getting bowled. This had “Big” Phil Needham and Paul “Shearer” Wood at the crease and the pair put on another partnership to steer the 2s to a decent total. Phil smashed his way to 33 putting 3 balls over the brook in a display of clean hitting and Woody was his usual perpetual motion at the crease. The score had been moved up to 175 before Big went for 1 shot to many and hit it straight up to get caught and bowled by Blackwell. Woody and Sheriff took the score to 186 before Woody got bowled for 17 with just one delivery remaining. Billso went out to bat cursing Woody all the way with instructions of just hit it and run. However due to some rather wayward death bowling Billso and Sheriff put on 11 off the last ball (2 no balls, 5 wides and 4 runs) to leave the 2s with a respectable 197 for 9 at the close of the innings.

After a tea spent listening to Woody salivating over the merits of Djbrill Cisse the 2s went out to field buoyed by our final score of 197 believing it more than enough on a pitch that was still tough to score runs on. When Woody eventually emerged to bowl the first over our confidence appeared well placed as he and Neddy tied down the young Billesdon openers. The breakthrough arrived when Chand edged one behind off Needham and Sullivan took a regulation catch behind the stumps. With Billesdon 10 for 1 the 2s tails were up and could have improved further as the number 3 gave a chance to Rich Fairbrother at square leg but it proved just out of his reach. However the pair did not remain together long as attempting a run to Big at short fine leg Billesdons other opener was run out by Neddy 2nd direct hit in 2 weeks.

At this point Billesdon showed their first signs of resistance as their numbers 3 and 4 took the game to the Cosby bowlers with some aggressive stroke play. The pair had taken the score up to 75 for 2 with a mixture of good batting and good fortune as chances went astray when the breakthrough came when Woody got the number 3 to attempt to play one through gully. Having got a decent connection and the ball heading towards the ground everything appeared safe, but Sheriff dived to his right taking a great low catch to remove the youngster. This started a bit of a precession of wickets as Billesdon collapsed to 115 for 7 with Woody picking up another and Gray taking 3 of the wickets..

This could and should have been an even better position for Cosby but a couple of simple chances went down (the guilty parties know who they are) and at this stage the game had its controversial incident. Billso came on to bowl to give Woody a rest and appeared to trap Billesdons number 8 for a very plum LBW when he had made only 4. With the entire Cosby team appealing the umpire (Billesdons captain) turned the appeal down claiming the ball was going down the leg side. It was a truly shocking decision that may well have determined whether the 2nd team go up or not this season. After this the number 8 started making the most of his life and started batting with freedom, hitting boundaries regularly as Cosby continued to push for the win. He went on to reach 50 before Woody eventually had him caught at mid-wicket with a few overs to go. With 8 down Saus introduced Coops into the attack to try and force the win but the overs were diminishing rapidly and despite the 2s best efforts Billesdon hung on for a draw finishing 167 for 8.

Result: Winning Draw

Points: Cosby II 16 pts, Billesdon 8 pts

MOM: A lot of contenders for MOM this week with a few decent performances but no one really outstanding. Neddy and Woody had good all round games, Russ top scored and Sheriff bowled well. Nevertheless MOM goes to Adam Cooper who got us started with the bat, bowled his short spell aggressively and fielded like a trooper.

Verdict: A decent result but really should have been a win. The controversial LBW decision effectively decided the game and leaves the 2s with it all to do in their remaining 4 games to secure promotion.

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
197		        
Russell Sullivan Caught  34 1
Steve Henshaw Lbw  4
Matt Cox Caught  6
Richard Fairbrother Caught  8
Curtis Holloway Caught  0
Simon Jones Bowled  15 1
Adam Cooper Bowled  31 1
Paul Wood Run out  17
Phil Needham Caught  33 1
Andy Gray Not Out  5 2
Matthew Bills Not Out  1

Billesdon II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Billesdon II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
167 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Paul Wood20.0466322.003.30
Phil Needham9.0231131.003.44
Andy Gray11.0138312.673.45
Matthew Bills3.002200.007.33
Adam Cooper2.00900.004.50

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Simon Cooper