A Year To Date cricket update!
This weekend, I went home to visit the folks at home and met up with a load of mates from home. During said meet up, I found out that someone actually read my LJ updates
about cricket! *shock* And he was missing updates from this season, so I think I'll start doing them again.
Hell, if nothing else it means I'll actually update this thing from time to time, eh?! ;) So, read on ...
This season is my 2nd as IBMSHCC Sunday XI captain. Over the winter, I'd had 3 coaching sessions with a coach at Game, Set & Match in Chichester on my batting technique.
Not much of a change in reality, but I am now much more upright and a bit better aligned. I was, therefore, eagerly anticipating the start of the season to see if it had
made any difference. We are now some 10 games into the season, so I ain't gonna go on at great length about them all, but here are some highlights.
For overall reference, the Sunday XI has played 11 games (10 with me as captain) and won 7 and drawn 4. So, that means we are so far undefeated! :o
April 19th - Broadhalfpenny Brigands (Away)
Winning the toss meant I could choose to field first ... a *must* against this opposition otherwise they can bat out for a deadly boring draw! That said, they can also bat
all bloody day and not declare at tea if they don't feel as if they have enough runs, but that's another story ;)
Anyways, having put them in, we made slow but steady progress as they lurched towards 151-7 off some 49 overs! Man, I was knackered! Tea was welcome ... especially as
we'd brought our own plates, although I'm not sure that went down too well ;)
As is customary at Brigands, our batting is rubbish and we are, at one point, on 62-8. I scored 9 runs before getting bowled when my eyes lit up to a straight one. I
*really* need to learn that this is how I always get out at this place! However, my batting felt good using the new stance, so not a bad start!
At this point in the innings, I had Rob "10,000 runs scored" Tate and Mahtab "1 appearance a season" Ali at the crease. Now, I should say, Mahtab had recorded 12 overs 3
maidens 10 runs 4 wickets during bowling (similar to last time) and got a not out 50 the last time he played against this team, coming in at 10.
I have to admit, I chuckled to myself as Mahtab proceeded to hit the ball to all parts of the ground on his way to another unbeaten 50 with Tatie ably supporting him from
the other end. It was only after the game that he tells me he's given up on bowling and is now a batsman! *haha*
So, 1 game down, 1 game won with a great recovery. Well done all!
April 26th - DACD (Away)
Turning up to a ground that has not been played on in a few years and to find the opposition still preparing right up until game time is always a worry, but it didn't look
too bad. Unsurprisingly, on losing the toss, we were asked to have first bat on the pitch.
John and I opened, getting off to a good start with an opening stand of 61, before my eyes lit up once again and I was bowled for 41. Still, with five 4's and one 6 in
that innings, I was pleased that my batting stance was starting to come good. I was particularly amused when their fielders started to try and give me some friendly stick
that I only had 1 shot and then proceeded to hit it to the boundary in 3 different places. hehe
Tom Linley, at IT from Aston Uni, was in at 3 and he proceeded to play very well on his way to a maiden 50 for the club and come tea, we had amassed 207-6 in our 40 overs.
A pretty good total on a green wicket. Following a good tea, we went out to field. The opposition are always slightly behind the run rate, but never really out of touch.
They reach 189-6 in their 40 overs and it's another win for us. Getting their Canadian baseball player out was the key, which I managed to do via an LBW decision.
May 3rd - Clayhill Dragonslayers (Home)
On what should normally be our touring weekend (cancelled due to lack of players!) we entertained a new team at New Place. I was fairly certain they were new to the game
so I was glad to win the toss and elected to bat first. Trev and Tatie opened the batting and 85 on the board before Trev was bowled in the 10th over for 20 runs. Nick
Ross, a new player and graduate at IBM was in at 3 and he supported Tatie on his was to a stunning 155, before he was caught behind putting us on 220-2 in around the 20th
over! I was next in a proceeded to swash-buckle my way to a maiden century, recording 107 not out with fourteen 4's and three 6's in the process. To say I was
delighted to reach this milestone is a bit of an understatement!! On my way to this total, Nick reached his maiden 50 for the club too, before getting out trying to hit
out. At the end of our 40 overs, we had reached a club record 381-4!!
After a marvellous tea from Mr Tate, we set about the task of bowling them out. I was fairly confident we would do that without any issues and opened the bowling with Ray
Stanley and Mark Cross. Their progress never threatens our score and wickets fall regularly to various members of the team as they reach 129 (ish) all out and we set yet
another record in our largest winning margin for the club.
A good day was had by all and I have to applaud Clayhill who stayed positive and friendly throughout the game despite the scoreline!
May 10th - Buriton (Away)
Another new ground for us this season. I lost the toss and was asked to field. We soon have the opposition at 15-3 and despite my best efforts to give them runs, they end
up getting all out for 33. Our run chase starts with a Wells father and son partnership, but Mike is soon out and Trev, in at 3, decides he prefered sitting down, saw me
in at 4. Along with Wells snr, I guide us to our target of 34 for the loss of 2 wickets, reaching 13 not out myself.
After tea we decide to have a beer match, which we win too although that doesn't count towards the stats ... good job too, since I ran myself out for a duck ;)
May 31st - Clanfield (Home)
The weather and opposition with a lack of players caused the last 2 games to be cancelled, so it was nice to get a game in again on this date. I win the toss and choose to
bat in a 40 over game. Our openers put on a decent show, with 3 of the top four scoring 35 (Nick Wells), 33 (Foz) and 24 (Nick Ross) and seeing us to 93-3. I was now in
and was in a similar vain of form to the Clayhill game, scoring 97 runs with eleven 4's and six 6's before I was bowled by their opening bowling in the dying overs.
I had, with support from Ray Stanley (21), got the team to 223-6 at the end of the 40 overs.
Following tea, Clanfield make slow progress and lose wickets at regular intervals, finally being all out for 104.
There's a write-up of this game on play-cricket which describes my innings as "blazing" ... you gotta be pleased with that :D
June 7th - Curdridge (Away)
Following our recent form, I decide to bat first having won the toss (in all honesty, I hadn't really given it much thought and wasn't expecting to win ... which is a bit
strange given that it's a 50/50 chance!). This decision looks bad at 11-2 and even worse at 27-4. Tom and Azhar steady the ship, but as a team we lurch towards 132 all
out. I got a measily 4 runs! :(
I was, at this point, seriously doubting our chances of keeping our unbeaten run going. However, we took the field with hope and fire (should read, a good tea) in our
bellies. The opening bowlers (Tom & Tatie) bowl excellent spells, limiting them to 26-3. Taddy and I replace the openers and at 20 overs, the score is still on 26-3!!
When the next wicket falls, our Curdridge nemesis comes to the crease and he eases himself to 70 odd not out, but it's not enough as they eventually run out of overs and
end their innings at 124-8! We salvage a very honourable draw, brought about by excellent bowling and fielding all round. Well done team!
June 14th - Lavant (Away)
Ahhh, the ever unpredicatable Lavant ... we arrive to find no opposition who think the start time is later than we do (even though i confirmed the details with the skipper in the week). I win the toss and choose to field. We start well, having them at 21-2. Sadly, the 3rd wicket comes at the cost of 109 runs, with 5 bowlers used over the next 22 overs! A few more wickets fall to leave them on 174-6 at the end of the innings.
By this point, the £2 slazenger ball which we have for the innings is really starting to struggle and our batsman just can't time anything. Foz plays well for a well made 65, even though he never really got into the groove. One of their bowlers, bowls from one end for the ENTIRE INNINGS! Jeez ... we are however, never really up to the rate and we end up batting out the game for a total of 143-9. Still, we remain undefeated.
For reference, I got 1 run ... contributing my wicket to one of their bowlers getting a hat-trick!
June 21st - Shedfield (Home)
Back at New Place for a home game against our very near neighbours (seriously, I think one of my 6's against Clanfield went into their car park!) in Shedfield. We are asked to bat first. Our innings chugs along, with Tatie making 43 and me making 48 with three 4's and four 6's (it's always good when I score more 6's than 4's, hehe). I was bowled by their opener who was a pacey fellow (and who strangely kept wicket in another game I played with him in a New Place XI vs a touring side!?!) although he did start his run up before I was ready so I really shoulda walked away. Still, lesson learnt!
At the end of our 40 overs, we reach 182 all out, which is probably a little below par.
Our opposition must've fancied their chances of chasing that down, but are never really in the hunt after falling to 35-5 and they're eventually all our for 70! Good bowling all round, with Saturday League side loanee, Neal Howarth getting 3 wickets on debut.
June 28th - Hythe & Dibden (Away)
I'm not sure I can bring myself to talk about this game. We were truely out-classed batting wise, despite a good start, we were un-done by a 13 year old and a more experienced player as they amassed 226-4 in 44 overs in what was (thankfully) a timed game. Only Taddy, with 3-25, came out with any credit.
Our batting, on the other hand, was as bad as our bowling. It wasn't great the previous season, but at least my 75 game the score some respectability. No such luck this year and we relied on Jay batting our 10 overs personally with a couple of partners to see us end on 98-8 and a draw. I really hate games like this and I felt really guilty for not losing, but I guess we've been on the receiving end a few times and it's the nature of timed game cricket! I only got 4 runs (from a boundary) before getting a good yorker.
July 5th - East Meon (Home)
Now, the last time I played East Meon, they got a ruck load of runs and then bowled us out relatively cheaply courtesy of a chap called Jonty who is now far too tall and too good to play at our level. To be fair, he's been good since about the age of 12! hehe Fortunately, he wasn't playing, but they're still a good side, so when they started well with the bat, I feared we would be looking down the end of a big score barrel. However, their opener and century scorer from last time, fell not long into the game sees them restricted to 80-3 at halfway and a double wicket maiden from me sees them futher limited to 150-7. The last few overs were v expensive however and they finish on 184-7
After tea, our batting is not quite as fluent and despite a 64 from Rob Tate and 27 from me, with three 4's and two 6's we never really get going and are eventually out of overs with the score on 175 for some wickets. Another honourable draw ... certainly more fun than the previous occassion!
July 26th - Compton & Chandlers Ford (Away)
Following Beaulieu's decision to pull out (again) we found another new team to play against instead. I was obviously away, so I handed over the reigns to Nick Ross. On a soggy wicket and a drizzly day, the opposition are put in and we restrict them to 132 all out in 37.1 overs. Stand-in skipper, Nick Ross, bowling himself and taking 3 wickets!
Out batsmen start poorly, with new player Tim Slade and Tom Linley, in his final game before Uni, getting themselves out too early, seeing us at 5-3 at one point. Shanker (67) and Nick Wells (39 not out) steady the ship and despite some late wobbles, we get to our victory target and we remain unbeaten!
Year to Date Personal Summary
Batting :
Innings : 10
Not Outs : 2
Runs : 351
Average : 43.88
High Score : 107*
Fours : 38
Sixes : 16
Bowling :
Overs : 43
Maidens : 7
Runs : 243
Wickets : 10
Average : 24.3
Let's hope the winning ways continue and that this post hasn't jinxed everything!
about cricket! *shock* And he was missing updates from this season, so I think I'll start doing them again.
Hell, if nothing else it means I'll actually update this thing from time to time, eh?! ;) So, read on ...
This season is my 2nd as IBMSHCC Sunday XI captain. Over the winter, I'd had 3 coaching sessions with a coach at Game, Set & Match in Chichester on my batting technique.
Not much of a change in reality, but I am now much more upright and a bit better aligned. I was, therefore, eagerly anticipating the start of the season to see if it had
made any difference. We are now some 10 games into the season, so I ain't gonna go on at great length about them all, but here are some highlights.
For overall reference, the Sunday XI has played 11 games (10 with me as captain) and won 7 and drawn 4. So, that means we are so far undefeated! :o
April 19th - Broadhalfpenny Brigands (Away)
Winning the toss meant I could choose to field first ... a *must* against this opposition otherwise they can bat out for a deadly boring draw! That said, they can also bat
all bloody day and not declare at tea if they don't feel as if they have enough runs, but that's another story ;)
Anyways, having put them in, we made slow but steady progress as they lurched towards 151-7 off some 49 overs! Man, I was knackered! Tea was welcome ... especially as
we'd brought our own plates, although I'm not sure that went down too well ;)
As is customary at Brigands, our batting is rubbish and we are, at one point, on 62-8. I scored 9 runs before getting bowled when my eyes lit up to a straight one. I
*really* need to learn that this is how I always get out at this place! However, my batting felt good using the new stance, so not a bad start!
At this point in the innings, I had Rob "10,000 runs scored" Tate and Mahtab "1 appearance a season" Ali at the crease. Now, I should say, Mahtab had recorded 12 overs 3
maidens 10 runs 4 wickets during bowling (similar to last time) and got a not out 50 the last time he played against this team, coming in at 10.
I have to admit, I chuckled to myself as Mahtab proceeded to hit the ball to all parts of the ground on his way to another unbeaten 50 with Tatie ably supporting him from
the other end. It was only after the game that he tells me he's given up on bowling and is now a batsman! *haha*
So, 1 game down, 1 game won with a great recovery. Well done all!
April 26th - DACD (Away)
Turning up to a ground that has not been played on in a few years and to find the opposition still preparing right up until game time is always a worry, but it didn't look
too bad. Unsurprisingly, on losing the toss, we were asked to have first bat on the pitch.
John and I opened, getting off to a good start with an opening stand of 61, before my eyes lit up once again and I was bowled for 41. Still, with five 4's and one 6 in
that innings, I was pleased that my batting stance was starting to come good. I was particularly amused when their fielders started to try and give me some friendly stick
that I only had 1 shot and then proceeded to hit it to the boundary in 3 different places. hehe
Tom Linley, at IT from Aston Uni, was in at 3 and he proceeded to play very well on his way to a maiden 50 for the club and come tea, we had amassed 207-6 in our 40 overs.
A pretty good total on a green wicket. Following a good tea, we went out to field. The opposition are always slightly behind the run rate, but never really out of touch.
They reach 189-6 in their 40 overs and it's another win for us. Getting their Canadian baseball player out was the key, which I managed to do via an LBW decision.
May 3rd - Clayhill Dragonslayers (Home)
On what should normally be our touring weekend (cancelled due to lack of players!) we entertained a new team at New Place. I was fairly certain they were new to the game
so I was glad to win the toss and elected to bat first. Trev and Tatie opened the batting and 85 on the board before Trev was bowled in the 10th over for 20 runs. Nick
Ross, a new player and graduate at IBM was in at 3 and he supported Tatie on his was to a stunning 155, before he was caught behind putting us on 220-2 in around the 20th
over! I was next in a proceeded to swash-buckle my way to a maiden century, recording 107 not out with fourteen 4's and three 6's in the process. To say I was
delighted to reach this milestone is a bit of an understatement!! On my way to this total, Nick reached his maiden 50 for the club too, before getting out trying to hit
out. At the end of our 40 overs, we had reached a club record 381-4!!
After a marvellous tea from Mr Tate, we set about the task of bowling them out. I was fairly confident we would do that without any issues and opened the bowling with Ray
Stanley and Mark Cross. Their progress never threatens our score and wickets fall regularly to various members of the team as they reach 129 (ish) all out and we set yet
another record in our largest winning margin for the club.
A good day was had by all and I have to applaud Clayhill who stayed positive and friendly throughout the game despite the scoreline!
May 10th - Buriton (Away)
Another new ground for us this season. I lost the toss and was asked to field. We soon have the opposition at 15-3 and despite my best efforts to give them runs, they end
up getting all out for 33. Our run chase starts with a Wells father and son partnership, but Mike is soon out and Trev, in at 3, decides he prefered sitting down, saw me
in at 4. Along with Wells snr, I guide us to our target of 34 for the loss of 2 wickets, reaching 13 not out myself.
After tea we decide to have a beer match, which we win too although that doesn't count towards the stats ... good job too, since I ran myself out for a duck ;)
May 31st - Clanfield (Home)
The weather and opposition with a lack of players caused the last 2 games to be cancelled, so it was nice to get a game in again on this date. I win the toss and choose to
bat in a 40 over game. Our openers put on a decent show, with 3 of the top four scoring 35 (Nick Wells), 33 (Foz) and 24 (Nick Ross) and seeing us to 93-3. I was now in
and was in a similar vain of form to the Clayhill game, scoring 97 runs with eleven 4's and six 6's before I was bowled by their opening bowling in the dying overs.
I had, with support from Ray Stanley (21), got the team to 223-6 at the end of the 40 overs.
Following tea, Clanfield make slow progress and lose wickets at regular intervals, finally being all out for 104.
There's a write-up of this game on play-cricket which describes my innings as "blazing" ... you gotta be pleased with that :D
June 7th - Curdridge (Away)
Following our recent form, I decide to bat first having won the toss (in all honesty, I hadn't really given it much thought and wasn't expecting to win ... which is a bit
strange given that it's a 50/50 chance!). This decision looks bad at 11-2 and even worse at 27-4. Tom and Azhar steady the ship, but as a team we lurch towards 132 all
out. I got a measily 4 runs! :(
I was, at this point, seriously doubting our chances of keeping our unbeaten run going. However, we took the field with hope and fire (should read, a good tea) in our
bellies. The opening bowlers (Tom & Tatie) bowl excellent spells, limiting them to 26-3. Taddy and I replace the openers and at 20 overs, the score is still on 26-3!!
When the next wicket falls, our Curdridge nemesis comes to the crease and he eases himself to 70 odd not out, but it's not enough as they eventually run out of overs and
end their innings at 124-8! We salvage a very honourable draw, brought about by excellent bowling and fielding all round. Well done team!
June 14th - Lavant (Away)
Ahhh, the ever unpredicatable Lavant ... we arrive to find no opposition who think the start time is later than we do (even though i confirmed the details with the skipper in the week). I win the toss and choose to field. We start well, having them at 21-2. Sadly, the 3rd wicket comes at the cost of 109 runs, with 5 bowlers used over the next 22 overs! A few more wickets fall to leave them on 174-6 at the end of the innings.
By this point, the £2 slazenger ball which we have for the innings is really starting to struggle and our batsman just can't time anything. Foz plays well for a well made 65, even though he never really got into the groove. One of their bowlers, bowls from one end for the ENTIRE INNINGS! Jeez ... we are however, never really up to the rate and we end up batting out the game for a total of 143-9. Still, we remain undefeated.
For reference, I got 1 run ... contributing my wicket to one of their bowlers getting a hat-trick!
June 21st - Shedfield (Home)
Back at New Place for a home game against our very near neighbours (seriously, I think one of my 6's against Clanfield went into their car park!) in Shedfield. We are asked to bat first. Our innings chugs along, with Tatie making 43 and me making 48 with three 4's and four 6's (it's always good when I score more 6's than 4's, hehe). I was bowled by their opener who was a pacey fellow (and who strangely kept wicket in another game I played with him in a New Place XI vs a touring side!?!) although he did start his run up before I was ready so I really shoulda walked away. Still, lesson learnt!
At the end of our 40 overs, we reach 182 all out, which is probably a little below par.
Our opposition must've fancied their chances of chasing that down, but are never really in the hunt after falling to 35-5 and they're eventually all our for 70! Good bowling all round, with Saturday League side loanee, Neal Howarth getting 3 wickets on debut.
June 28th - Hythe & Dibden (Away)
I'm not sure I can bring myself to talk about this game. We were truely out-classed batting wise, despite a good start, we were un-done by a 13 year old and a more experienced player as they amassed 226-4 in 44 overs in what was (thankfully) a timed game. Only Taddy, with 3-25, came out with any credit.
Our batting, on the other hand, was as bad as our bowling. It wasn't great the previous season, but at least my 75 game the score some respectability. No such luck this year and we relied on Jay batting our 10 overs personally with a couple of partners to see us end on 98-8 and a draw. I really hate games like this and I felt really guilty for not losing, but I guess we've been on the receiving end a few times and it's the nature of timed game cricket! I only got 4 runs (from a boundary) before getting a good yorker.
July 5th - East Meon (Home)
Now, the last time I played East Meon, they got a ruck load of runs and then bowled us out relatively cheaply courtesy of a chap called Jonty who is now far too tall and too good to play at our level. To be fair, he's been good since about the age of 12! hehe Fortunately, he wasn't playing, but they're still a good side, so when they started well with the bat, I feared we would be looking down the end of a big score barrel. However, their opener and century scorer from last time, fell not long into the game sees them restricted to 80-3 at halfway and a double wicket maiden from me sees them futher limited to 150-7. The last few overs were v expensive however and they finish on 184-7
After tea, our batting is not quite as fluent and despite a 64 from Rob Tate and 27 from me, with three 4's and two 6's we never really get going and are eventually out of overs with the score on 175 for some wickets. Another honourable draw ... certainly more fun than the previous occassion!
July 26th - Compton & Chandlers Ford (Away)
Following Beaulieu's decision to pull out (again) we found another new team to play against instead. I was obviously away, so I handed over the reigns to Nick Ross. On a soggy wicket and a drizzly day, the opposition are put in and we restrict them to 132 all out in 37.1 overs. Stand-in skipper, Nick Ross, bowling himself and taking 3 wickets!
Out batsmen start poorly, with new player Tim Slade and Tom Linley, in his final game before Uni, getting themselves out too early, seeing us at 5-3 at one point. Shanker (67) and Nick Wells (39 not out) steady the ship and despite some late wobbles, we get to our victory target and we remain unbeaten!
Year to Date Personal Summary
Batting :
Innings : 10
Not Outs : 2
Runs : 351
Average : 43.88
High Score : 107*
Fours : 38
Sixes : 16
Bowling :
Overs : 43
Maidens : 7
Runs : 243
Wickets : 10
Average : 24.3
Let's hope the winning ways continue and that this post hasn't jinxed everything!