Pretty Stuff as Sid has a knees up
Portland Red Triangle 2nds v CDCC
Sunday 11th May 08
With the first Sunday League game cancelled last Sunday and the Evening league team successful on Thursday the team were chomping at the bit on the journey to the tropical isle. No not Jamaica, this was game 1 of the season and Portland Red Triangle 2nds were the hosts. The sun was in the sky, a gentle breeze wafted across the top of Portland and for the third time in a row Sid wins the toss. The decision to bat was 2 fold. First, with a strong batting line-up a solid total on the board seemed possible but secondly with the final game of the premiership season happening Sid and Mike wanted to hear what was happening at Old Trafford.
And so to the first balls to be faced by a Charlton Down batsman in weekend league cricket were delivered. Pretty and Lamb opened and James Pretty saw off the first over. Gavin Lamb, fresh from his 100* against Winfrith felt the smell of runs in the air, however all that was in the air was the ball as he fell 3rd ball for a duck. Enter Eric Bradshaw feeling somewhat uncomfortable in sun due to many years of cold weather conditioning north of the border. During the 3rd over of the day came CDCC’s first League runs, 4 to be precise from the bat of James Pretty. An excellent partnership of 51 was made before the Caledonian fell for a well ground out 13. Jon Butterworth was eyeing the short near side boundary as he walked towards the middle. He was still eyeing 6 balls later as he walked back towards it for just 3. At 53-3 Si Dunford strode to the middle hoping to produce a captain’s performance, however, 3 overs later he too made the short walk back to the dressing room although only after he seemed not to want to walk despite being bowled middle stump. Mike Lingham came and went only adding a solitary boundary to the score meaning that CDCC had gone from 51-1 to 61-5 . With the upper order not having fired Andy Cossens having been tactically dropped down the order by the skipper entered the fray. Suddenly the CD innings gathered pace. Cossens raced to his 50 and Pretty seemed destined to join him before eventually going for 45. Pretty’s great opening innings lasted 33 overs and was key to the top partnership of 75. Chris Rickard felt confident now he had a real mans bat in his hand and started with a few 4’s. At the other end Cossens seemed well set and deservedly got his century before departing for 112. How brilliant that he became the second centurion in as many matches. From 208 – 7 the tail failed to wag with Chris Rickard (15),Rudo Wormgoor (0) and Richard Mann (1) unable to hang on for the last few overs. But on what was a very unpredictable pitch with many low balls , Charlton Down achieved maximum batting points and the score of 214 was a very defendable total.
With the premiership title safely in the hands of Man Utd the visitors made their way out into the sun. Pretty opened the bowling and after scoring the first league run took only 2 balls to take the first ever league wicket for the club. His opening partner Rickard took a few more balls to get into his stride before taking his first wicket 3 overs in. Pretty toiled on into the heat claiming 2 more wickets in his 6th and 8th overs for a fantastic spell of 8 overs 3-20. Saxby and Wormgoor took on the bowling and after some panther like reactions the Silver fox made a great run out off his own bowling. With 2 very confident looking batsman settled in the home team moved the score onto 135 and were putting the visitors under some pressure. A quick single was called but Rickard was quicker and with a direct hit from mid-off saw off the main batsman. Butterworth had by this point joined the bowling attack and in his 3rd over took 2 quick wickets pinning the batsman back with some great tight pace bowling. Wormgoor got his reward as he pitched up some good bowling removing another big wicket with a shooter. Butterworth wrapped up his spell with figures of 6 overs 2-14. With the game all but over the last wicket seemed to take forever to come before Cossens finally ended the game bowling the no11 around his legs to leave Charlton Down with a 53 run win.
Maximum points from the first game and the only blot on the result is perhaps an injury to Sid’s knee due to an odd Simon Jones like fielding incident, possibly keeping him out for a few weeks.
Man of the Match: James Pretty for a great performance with both the bat and the ball. Special mention must also be made for Andy Cossens’ 112.