Charlton Down Cricket Club

While the 1sts were off being beaten again by div 2 oppo, the 2nds faced the visit of sherborne. After a close match up at theirs 3 weeks ago a close match was expected. Sid was skip for the day due to greg and steve resting and duly lost the toss. Ash and Viju set about the task only to be taken to task by the visiting openers. Skidders and Widders Lowther took over the the tough job and Matt venn with the gloves on was heard to say he never had any idea all day where anyone was going to bowl. Half of the time this was irrelavent as the balls were dispatched over the boundary, all bowlers having 6's hit against them. The heads were down , mainly due to the fact we seemed to be playing against The somerset opening 3 bats. Not quite sure the visitors understood the idea of a "friendly" bearing in mind the quality of their top 3. However fantastic direct hit run outs by Widders and Mike Lingham dispatched the 2 top scorers and we were back in the game. Some tight fielding , Doug rolling back the years with a cracking rolling low down stop and the some "varied" bowling by Ian davies and John Adcock meant the run rate lowered and Sherborne closed on . A run rate of 7 needed which was a great fight back considering it was over 10 at some points. Skidders bowled 3 very good overs, took 2 wickets and a last over that went for 19. This was the story of the day.
      With a quite daunting total KJ took on a crazy 2nd run and Smasher Lingham had his stumps smashed. Sid and Doug took the bowling to order before Doug perished for 26 and matt Venn took over bashing duty and suddenly at 10 overs the 100 had been passed. 38 to go off the next 10 overs, only 3 down. Surely we couldn't lose this one. Sid whispered words of wisdom to many batsman over the next 10 overs all of which was ignored as a sorry procession of CD batsman trooped a well worn path back to the pavilion started by Matt V himself playing across a straight  one after a beautiful straight 6. Sid ignored his own advice falling for 37 as the last 7 wickets fell leaving the home side 4 runs short. Matt Lowther managed to play an intelligent knock with a straight bat ending up 17 n/o . Doug took Man of the match. and the BBQ was fired up.
 
In the end a great match which was very close and we all felt we should have won it. But hey.....thats cricket.
 
 
 
Junior Cricket correspondant