Making a stand against the Church
With three wins out of three and Churches being our early opposing rivals the result of this game was sacred. Having decided on a full twenty over game we won the toss and gracefully took up the opportunity to bat first. So out walked the revered Andy Cossens and Chris Coates-Dale on to the hallowed turf to start Charlton Down’s innings. What was witnessed next was the batting nirvana that put Charlton Down into batting heaven. The team were blessed to some sumptuous shots from Cossens (84) who religiously managed to find the boundary more than his innings on Monday (when he was adopting Noah’s two by two policy), with the able support of the more vigilant Coates-dale (36) a new club record stand in all forms of cricket for the club of 128 (16 overs) was born this very day! By this point you could see the bells were ringing in Church’s ears as they were not able to ‘still the storm‘. With mark Homewood hitting his first six for the club at the end of the innings Charlton down amassed a new club record league score of 159 for 3.
With a score to chase equivalent to the job of feeding the five thousand Churches needed a miracle to Pass-over the Charlton Down total. Rich Fagence (2-19 off 6) got Charlton Down off to a good start with some very, well… Rich Fagence like bowling (who could bowl on water)! Despite Mark Homewood’s bowling being baptised with a six, Churches prayers were not being answered and with wickets falling steadily like lambs to the slaughter they quickly needed a divine intervention.
Not leading to temptation Coates-Dale’s bowling was sacrificed for the two more youthful Chris’ (bowl where I feel like Rickard and Towndrow). Rickard (3-12) gave a feast of indifferent balls that seemed to unnerve the Churches batsmen who were swinging for the heavens. With a devout fielding performance from the leader and his disciples (incorporating Lingham, Joy, Bradshaw, Holdcroft and the reliable gate-keeper Sohowan) Churches were constrained to a final score of 99 for 9 (spooky if looked at upside-down).
Four wins out of four and for the next game we flock to our own manger at home to Puddletown RFC (June 14th) before the pilgrimage to Frampton on June 21st.
Reported by the Sunday School Teacher (CCD)