Charlton Down Cricket Club
Charlton Down versus Oakdale Conservative Club
Sunday 2nd August 2009
So the last game before our intrepid leader came back from his hols. Coates-Dale wins the toss again but on this occasion elects to bat as he feels a big total is on the cards.
Roe and Coates-Dale reunite to form their opening partnership again and get off to a conservative start before Roe perishes to a catch behind. Coates-Dale then decides to try and reverse paddle every ball to the slow left-armer, somewhat not surprisingly getting out for the 3rd time this year playing that shot. But it doesn’t matter as Doyley is at the crease and has been threatening a big score for some weeks. As is the way CDCC lose their way slightly and find themselves labouring their way to 59 for the loss of 5. However Phil Holdcroft has made a big difference in recent weeks and superbly supported Doyley as the two consolidated, nudged, nurdled and slapped their way through the middle overs, putting on a brilliant 154 in the process, Phil getting a good 41. Homewood comes in for the end overs and plays with liberal freedom hitting the ball cleanly to all parts of the green. Doyley and Homewood putting on a rapid 76 for the 7th wicket and CDCC polling at 289 for 7 at some time around 8pm due to the 51 extras in wides and no-balls that had been bowled, Doyley (107) becoming the club’s 10th centurion in the process and Homewood 37no.
After another top Colette tea that nearly became a mid-night feast it was so late, we took to the field and with a healthy total on the board Lowther and Towndrow took on the bowling duties, both picking up a wicket early on. Towndrow ends up bowling a full 12 overs taking a CDCC best of 4-27, it would have been a ‘5 for’ had the final bat not been dropped. Lowther picks up 2 for 29 off 7. Wormgoor bowls a fruitless but somewhat tidy spell (well that’s what the figures in the book would suggest!!) of none for 17 off 7 and Homewood getting his swingometer right and completing a good all-round match picking up the last 4 wickets for 18 off 5 and a bit. Oakdale kicked out of power for 123 in the 32nd over, 33 extras being their highest scorer, also meaning that the game still finished beyond the time of what would have been a normal 45 over game!
Now for getting on my soap-box and having my political rant. It is such a shame that several teams in this league are unable to take defeat gracefully (Puddletown being a noticeable exclusion from this!) specifically in what is only Div5 Sunday cricket!! All teams whether they win or lose get decisions they may not be happy with but some teams really need to grow-up, get over it and get on with it, swings and roundabouts…. swings and roundabouts!!
A top mention for Dolly and Mops who scored in what was a hell of a game to follow with all the extras and bowlers used, whilst having to put up with the opposition whinging in their ears, great job and thanks girls!
