Sunday 2nd XI 2008

 

The Sunday 2nd XI V Hook and Southborough July 20th 2008

 

Napoleon only wanted lucky generals, and the CCWCC Sunday 2s followed this sound advice for Sunday's game against Hook & Southborough: James "Jammy Git" Parmenter took over the reins as the team's fourth skipper of the season. He managed to lose the toss, failed to take a wicket with his slow left-armers, and stranded himself on 49 not out by declaring the innings when the lure of tea and cakes proved too much. But he nonetheless guided the team to a convincing 127-run victory, so at least his luck rubbed off on the rest of the team.

 

 

Invited by the opposition to bat on a very dodgy wicket of slow pace and inconsistent bounce, CCWCC never looked back. Tim Postlethwaite smashed 41 runs to all parts in just the first 9 overs before being beaten by a low one. Len Heal, as might be expected, took rather longer for his 32, but stunned all with his sprightly scampering for a number of quick singles, not to mention striking the ball somewhere other than third man on several occasions, before hitting a full toss straight to cover.

 

 

John Blackburn made a fluent 28, offering gentle catching practice to the fielders along the way (generously declined) before succombing to another low one. Dave Thorneloe kept the run rate up around 6 an over with a stylish 36 before dancing down the wicket (stylishly) and being stumped (also stylishly) by several miles. And the skipper chipped in with his usual combination of edges, lofted drives and reverse swipes (yes, really) for his 49 not out.

 

 

Honourable mentions also to Brian Betts (15) and Ben Dombrandt (13 not out) who kept the momentum of the innings going, as the team racked up 236 for 5 declared in only 42 overs. Quite a turn-around from being bowled out for 98 the previous week. The consensus was that Hook and Southborough had bowled too short to take advantage of the dodgy wicket.

 

 

Taking note of this, with a cunning double-bluff, the wiley Steve Dombrandt therefore opened the bowling after tea with two terrible long hops, the second of which the opening bat obligingly top-edged straight to square leg. It was downhill for Hook and Southborough from there. Other than a quick-fire 49 from the no.3 bat, there was little resistance, with wickets falling at regular intervals.

 

 

Steve Dombrandt finished with 2 for 28, before the Sunday 2s youth policy was exemplified once again by the youthful attack of Bertie Tyrell and Peter Jeffries (combined age 187), who proceeded to make use of the helpful wicket with some probing line and length to run through the remaining batting, finishing with 4 for 24 and 3 for 18 respectively. Highlights in the field included some fine all-round fielding by Ben and Alex Dombrandt, two fine Blackburn catches at gully, the skipper taking a sharp one-hander at forward-short-leg (jammy git), and the collector's item of a Heal stumping.

 

 

Hook and Southborough were bowled out for 109 in the 23rd over, the Sunday 2 winning by 127 runs. A good team performance with contributions from all.

 

Dave Thornloe - 21/07/2008

 

 

A relaxed team

 

The crowd goes wild!

RGT Leads us off