Midweek 2^nd Division: Frampton v Charlton Down 1sts

 

 As Madness once said, ‘The sun and the rain this is what life is all about’. Well at least it is if you are trying to play cricket in Dorset, particularly the rain bit

CD encountered sun, rain and the one man demolition force that is Chas Duerdoth in this clash of friend and foe. Batting first CD started well with a few lusty blows from the Club Captain before his stumps and those of Smudger Smith and Cosher Cossens were sent cart wheeling backwards by some rather unfriendly swingers and seemers from a man rather intent on winning.

Many of us enjoy the lovely village background of Cattistock, apart from veteran Cos, who again failed to trouble the scorer at Cattistock and may be unavoidably detained elsewhere the next time the fixture list brings us here.

After the heart of the batting was ripped out the rebuilding began with teacher Franzen and Alexei the Russian Campbell planting a few sixes over the boundary, but the introduction of Holmes to the attack with a 4 wicket haul dragged back the run scoring, despite 25 not out from Alex and some contributions from elsewhere in the order a score of 94 was something to bowl at but far from imposing.

In reply Frampton were steady and careful without accelerating, a bit like Cos carrying back several pints of ale from the bar to his seat at Taunton. Scoring was  around 4 or 5 an over for the first few. Durston bowled well but was kept at bay by the bespectacled scientist JP. Then Alex started his own one man demolition job with some superb in swing bowling and turned the match on it’s head. 5 wickets in 5 over’s and we were back in it. Seven an over required and the rain beating down, we were looking good. Then that bloke turned up again……….still smiling!!

In truth we were probably a bowler light, Captain Homewood and Zim the spin did their best to control the wet ball, but enterprising batting from Chas, who must have scored 30 odd, took the game away from the Downers and a well deserved victory was achieved by Frampton. Alexei was unanimously voted CD man of the match for his 5 wickets and top scoring 25.

Special mention must go to Frampton for their friendly approach, nice chicken and chips, extremely social bunch indeed. By the time we finally left the pub in Stratton Chas was still at the bar smiling, he had even managed to out drink us!!!

 

Your Cricket Correspondent Doylie