Charlton Down Cricket Club
CHARLTON DOWN SOAR TO THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE
CDCC versus Swanage 2nds
Sunday 1st June 2008
The third game of the season arrives and this week it is the turn of Swanage 2nds to visit the Herrison Oval. Sid was in a bullish mood on his return from injury and with a team cobbled together from pleading begging and borrowing CD turned out a promising team. Special mention to Rich Fagence for turning out at the last minute on his girl’s birthday. The captains met in the middle, Sid lost the toss and was put into bat. Bradshaw and Coates Dale became the 6th opening batsman in the 3 matches, a sign of the changing teams. Fireworks were expected, as these 2 are well known for some explosive hitting. (hmmmmm) but Bradshaw fell quickly and by the end of the 4th over we were on 1-1.
Homewood put up the order due to his good midweek form then joined Snail at the crease. Next came something special, Snail gets off the mark with a 6 , 2 overs later he runs a 3. The crowd were bemused by this show of expansive play by CCD and sure enough the steam started to run down as the snail realised a few more gym sessions were needed if many runs are being scored. However these 2 laid an excellent foundation putting on 78 over the next 17 before Homewood holed out to midwicket for a good 36. Butterworth headed to the middle with Snail on 40 and the race to see who would get their 50 first was on. CCD won the race although JB was only a few balls. 2 fifties in about 6 balls to cheer and the crowd was going wild. With JB spraying the Swanage bowling to all parts of the ground CCD eventually fell for a well ground out 58 with the partnership making 72.
The score 151 – 2 and the Sid returned to the middle for the first time since his dodgy piece of fielding at Portland put him out. Sid watched on as Butterworth hit a six that cleared the top of the trees at the Charminster end. HUGE. That was to be his last effort before falling for 64. 3 wickets fell for the addition of just 1 run. Sid's only achievement ;falling over mid run for no apparent reason before he , Matt Hillman (debut for club) and Joe Sohawon all fell for zero. Another mid order collapse left CD at 166-7 .
Cossens and Wormgoor put on a very useful 30 before Cossens nearly broke the ankle of an opponent ( Not really his fault more the fielders) and Wormgoors eyes lit up at the prospect of just 10 fielders and was promptly bowled. Fagence entered the arena helped the team put on another 14 before Cossens called him through on a near suicidal run was run out having only faced 1 ball. This was superior to Chairman Manns innings when he was also run out by Cossens having not even faced. Cossens not wanting to damage his average remained unbeaten on 37. Great stuff early on in the innings and Cossens vital runs meant the home side headed for tea on 210. Maximum batting points and a total of over 200 for the third match running although only 40 overs used.
Excellent work from the kitchen sent the home side out revved up and ready to go. The pair of Fagence and Homewood working in tandem felt with the humid conditions that the ball would move. And move it did. The first wicket falling to Fagence in the 3rd over, Homewood replied with his own wicket in the 4th, Fagence outdid the young whipper snapper by taking 2 wickets in the 5th and with Homewood reposting with another in the 6th. At this point the Swanage team were in meltdown with the score at 9 –5 off of 6 overs. It took Homewood another 4 overs to level the score at 3 wickets each the visitors looked down and beaten on 19 – 6 .
Sid asked both bowlers if they wanted a break and both declined, hardly surprising the way these 2 were going. Both players bowled there allotted 12 overs on the bounce Fagence returning 3 –33 and Homewood 3 –35. Only the odd tired ball giving the batsmen any rest in those 24 overs. Wormgoor and Coates Dale took up the challenge . Wormgoor after a few loosing over started to challenge the bowlers with some great balls taking the all important 7th wicket in his 4th over with a great catch from Homewood, breaking the only significant partnership the visitors could make of 79. At the other end Snail was blocking up his end and got his rewards clean bowling the frustrated opening Swanage Bat for 76 in his 7th over. With the threat of being taken off Wormgoor got his second of the day before CCD finished it all up with Homewood taking another great catch in the deep from the brave injured Swanage fielder. The visitors and league leaders had been bowled out for 131 and JOB DONE.
A great improvement in the bowling with only 12 extras all day and only 7 wides in that. A vast improvement.
Sid was delighted with the overall team performance (if not his own) as 2nd place Charlton Down go top . Although many great performances, with Hillman, Sohawon, and Mann playing really well in the field, as well as some good batting and bowling performances .
Sids choice for Mann of the match : Mark Homewood. 36 with the bat, 3 for 35 with the ball and 2 very well held catches in the deep.
Bring on Pokesdown Wilows