Scorecard

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI v Dunton Bassett II on Sat 18 Jul 2009 at 2pm
Match was Drawn Losing ( 5 points )

Match report 23 Jul 2009 : 2nd XI hang on for draw against local rivals
Cosby II vs Dunton Basset II, 18th July 2009

The 2s arrived at the Cosby Oval for their local derby with Dunton Bassett in confident mood after last weeks hard fought victory over Enderby. Gok and Hero came into the side for Coxy (the younger) and Usain and the C2 unit looked to have a fairly solid side out. After half an hour wrestling with the sight screen at the Chat Dome end the 2s finally got it to stay up thanks to Coopers ingenious rope round the tree theory. It didn’t make sense to everyone but it did prove to be successful.

With Veteran Captain Paul Wood still sunning himself in Spain Vice was once again given the honour of leading the mighty 2s. He even got off to a good start when for the first time since god knows when the 2nd XI finally won a toss. Russ decided that faced with a green track bowling 1st would be the best option. In the dressing rooms Coxy was presented with the “All the gear, but no idea” t-shirt and Russ had further success when he unintentionally beat Kirbo in the naked off.

The 2s went out onto the field and Frank and Big shared the new ball duties. The early wickets did not materialise but runs were hard to come by as well as both bowlers put the ball in decent areas and after 10 overs Dunton only had 16 runs on the board. Torchwood was brought on for Frank at the Paul Wood end and despite a few wayward overs first up he soon settled into a rhythm. The breakthrough should have arrived in the 12th over when the Dunton skipper on 5 at the time edged a delivery from Phil to Vice at 2nd slip only for the 2s interim leader to ground the catch, a mistake that proved to cost the C2 Unit dearly. Phil finally got the wicket he deserved when he removed the other Dunton opener when he bowled him off stump to leave Dunton 45 for 1 after 15.

The match was meandering its way towards drinks when the game was ignited by one of the worst umpiring decisions this report writer has ever witnessed playing cricket. The Dunton number 3 came down the track to Big, had a huge swipe, missed it by a distance and quicker than Nige with chopsticks Baz had the bails off for a cut and dried stumping. With the batsman walking off the square leg umpire (a Dunton player) amazingly gave the decision not out. The decision was at best down to incompetence on the part of the umpire or at worst it was cheating. The not out verdict obviously angered the C2 Unit as well as the assembled members in the Western Terrace. With the criticism ringing in his ears the umpire decided to confront the gathered support rather than just get on with the game and this is where things kicked off. Pete knew what he had seen and stood by his verdict of the umpire, which seemed to enrage the Dunton players, some of whom went over to confront the chairman in a rather aggressive manner. At this Kirbo went over to try and get the Dunton players away only to be accused of picking on a youth and much shouting and posturing insued. The Dunton players would not let it go and even when the 2s were trying to get back on with the game they continued with their inane bullshit. This incident cast a cloud over the entire game as the remainder was played in a horrible atmosphere which was all down to one mans incompetence/dishonesty!

The game eventually continued and the 2s soon picked up their 2nd wicket when Torchwood removed the Dunton number 3 when he looped one up to Hero at gully, prompting the question was it worth the controversial not out decision considering he only got another couple of runs. At drinks Dunton were 60 for 2 and Vice decided a double bowling change was required and brought on the spin twins of former Chris Griffin wannabe Matt Bills and Odd Socks Holloway. Things got off to a decent enough start as well when Billso removed the number 4 in his 1st over caught by the Cooperstar at mid wicket. This was where things started to go wrong for the C2 Unit as Popat the Dunton number 5 and their skipper who was still in made the 2s pay for some very ordinary bowling. Bills couldn’t continue his early success and was soon dragged out of the attack. Holloway was also soon taken off as he was also leaking runs. Vice initially turned to Hero to turn things around but Popat and the Dunton skipper continued helping themselves to runs. Boundaries were becoming a far too frequent occurrence as the Dunton captain passed his 50 and Dunton had 13 over s left and were 130 for 3.

As well as the bowling not being up to much the fielding took a nose dive as well other than a few who kept up their usual standards. Russ decided to turn to Kirbo again but soon had to take him out of the attack as well as he was having a problem bowling wides. Frank was brought back but he was soon removed as he also had a problem his involving bowling multiple no-balls an over. Amid all the carnage in the field Big had been brought back on and was the only bowler who was able to keep the ball in decent areas and he eventually removed the Dunton skipper for a well made 76. Despite Phils spell Popat was still hitting the 2s other bowlers all around the park, including one over where he hit Curt for 26. With the Dunton skipper removed Phil had opened up an end and was able to pick up a further 3 wickets including Popat who was eventually well caught by Russ for 78, and finished with 5 for 54. The batsmen after Popat to be fair didn’t look up to all that much but the damage had been done and thanks to some further shoddy fielding in the final over Dunton were able to finish with an impressive total of 221 for 7, which to be honest was at least 40 more than they should have been allowed to get.

In the dressing rooms the 2nd XI realised that with the exception of Big they hadn’t performed with the ball and went into tea knowing it would take a fantastic effort to overhaul the Dunton total. After another excellent Cosby tea (keep the fruit coming) that saw Baz eating out of a trough the 2s went out to bat with another new opening partnership for the season in the form of Foxy and Gok. The partnership didn’t last long however as Foxy was back in the pavilion in the 1st over when Popat bowled him a wide half volley that Foxy hit straight to a very deep point who took a fairly regulation catch that he made to look spectacular.

Vice came in at number 3 and for the brief time they were together Russ and Hong Kong Phooey looked like they would lead the fight back. However Nige appeared to get a good one from Popat that literally just flicked the off bail and the 2s were 20 for 2. From this point in the innings things went further downhill for the C2 Unit as wickets became a common theme of the day. Despite a couple of lusty blows including a six into the swings Baz was the next man out becoming Popats third victim giving catching practice to the man at slip. Coxy soon followed Baz back to the pavilion when he became the only Cosby batsman not to fall to Popats bowling when he was caught by him in the gully for just 1.

At 50 for 4 the 2s were in need of a Hero and the stage was set for Coops to play another aggressive innings to get the 2s out of trouble, unfortunately for Coop this was not to be his week as he was bowled for a 2nd ball duck again by Popat. Neddy was the next man in for the 2s but he soon became Popats 5th victim undone by the slower ball. The 2s were staring down the barrel at 60 for 6 with still 20 overs remaining. All the while that wickets were falling to Popat Vice was steadily accumulating runs and looked pretty determined that he would at least make Dunton work for any victory. Russ was joined at the crease by Odd Socks and Curt appeared to be up for the fight of saving the match and was able to hang around for a few overs before he was unable to pick Popats slower ball and got bowled by what looked like a leg break.

Frank strode out to the crease to join Russ knowing he had to get his head down and bat for as long as possible. At this stage the Dunton captain made quite frankly one of the most amazing decisions seen on the park and took Popat off. Frank and Russ continued grafting against what was a lot less threatening standard of bowling and the score went past 100 and Vice was able to reach his 50. The pair had batted well together up to the 40th over when the Dunton skipper realised he may need his star bowler on if he wanted to win the match. Popat was brought back on at the Chat Dome end and bowled Frank with what looked a good Yorker for a hard earned 7 runs.

The 2s were now looking at the twin targets of saving the game and then 133 runs. Gaz “Captain Jack” Kirby joined Russ at the wicket and continued with the defiance. With Popat running in from the Paul Wood end and already having 7 wickets under his belt Russ got himself on strike as much as possible, he was able to continue his innings and kept the scoreboard ticking over. The 2s passed the 133 mark with an over to go and the last over was a bit of a non event as Torchwood and Vice were able to play it out quite easily meaning the 2s had managed to hang on for the draw finishing on 140 for 8 with Sullivan having played a captains innings of 74 not out.

Result: Losing Draw

Points: Cosby 5 Points, Dunton Bassett 19 Points

Quotes of the Day: Hero was talking about “the incident” and more specifically the aftermath when Kirbo was accused of threatening a 17 year old:
Cooper: At the end of the day if he’s old enough to go up and confront someone he’s old enough to take a good licking!

Hero was reminiscing about past romantic liaisons:
Cooper: I once fancied a bird for 6 years before I got my nuts in.
Bick: 6 years! What took you so long?
Kirbo: Be fair, he did wait until she turned twelve!

Russ was batting unable to get hold of some wayward Dunton bowling
Bick: Watch out when you get home Hayley, Russ is looking frustrated.
Hayley: That’s OK, he’s got plenty of videos.

MOM: Only 2 contenders this week as only one bowler can look back on the game and say they did well and equally there was only one decent contribution with the bat. Phil bowled excellently in an otherwise dreadful fielding performance but MOM goes to the interim skipper Russell Sullivan for his knock of 74 not out without which the 2s would have without doubt lost.

Verdict: By far the worst performance of the season, bowling and fielding was just not up to the required standard and other than Russ there was some very ordinary batting. Hopefully this will act as the boot up the behind the 2s need to push on for the rest of the season.

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
140		        
Nigel Meredith Bowled  13 1
Mark Foxall Caught  0
Russell Sullivan Not Out  74 1
Nick Baker Caught  11 1
Matt Cox Caught  1
Adam Cooper Bowled  0 2
Phil Needham Bowled  2
Curtis Holloway Bowled  2
Ben Spencer Bowled  7
Gary Kirby Not Out  1
Matthew Bills  

Dunton Bassett II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Dunton Bassett II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 7 wickets
0
221 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cosby Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ben Spencer7.021400.002.00
Phil Needham17.0455511.003.24
Gary Kirby8.0237137.004.62
Matthew Bills3.0020120.006.67
Curtis Holloway6.005800.009.67
Adam Cooper4.002800.007.00

  • Umpire :
    Ken Needham
  • Scorer :
    Simon Cooper