Chetnole CC Versus Middlezoy CC
Readers Mid Wessex League, Division 3
Sunday 24 April 05
A fine all round team effort by Chetnole saw them off to a winning
start to the season. With players testing their navigation skill to the limit just to find
the ground, it was left to Rob Barker to prove that he can still spin a coin by winning the throw and putting the opposition in. The threat of rain
and bitter experience of All Saints still smarting made this a solid
decision. So confident were Chetnole that Barker informed Captain for the day
'Wily Stan Kemp' that they had 12 players and they took the field with 12th
man Mike Ashmore on the sideline. 2 overs in and team
academic
Stu Beasley
finally got to his last digit and advised skipper that we had, in fact,
only 10 players; enter Mikey.
Middlezoy opened with an impressive young batsman, supported by a more
cautious partner. The young man decided he liked his new bat and dispatched the ball to various parts
of the local countryside, taking a particular liking to the bowling of new boy
Bob Healey. Beasley bowled tightly at the top end but the impressive
youth
continued to bludgeon his way to 67 out of an opening stand of 73 in
13overs. Barker and Bell replaced Bob and Stu with success for Bell,
as he bowled the youngster with a straight one. This heralded a sea change in
the game, a quick run out of the dangerous looking number 3 and the
Middlezoy
innings stuttered to 130 all out with 5 catches held, despite a collision
between Johnson and Maude in putting down a sitter, a run out by........RODNEY!!!!!! and 3 wickets apiece for Bell and Kemp with 2 for Barker. Bobs return
spell was much tighter and bodes well for the coming season, finally someone
who can bowl line and length. Beasley, although wicketless ended with 8
overs for 11 runs including a 6, tight.
Inspirational captaincy brought on by aching knees heralding imminent
rain led skipper Kemp to drop himself from his opening slot in favour of
pinch hitter Beasley and the steadying influence of Maude.
The gauntlet
thrown down by an impressive innings was immediately taken up by Beasley and 89 runs,
including 10 sixes and 3 lost balls later, the decision to elevate
him was vindicated. Maude remained in single figures. Caught on the
boundary
for 89, Beasley exited to rapturous applause and was replaced by new boy
Rich Trickey. At this point K Johnson, umpiring, was offered relief,
which he declined as their were only 30 odd runs required, 15 overs later he
regretted his decision as Maude blazed his way to an unbeaten 10 off
25
overs.
Cracking start to the season, 5 points in the bag, decent bunch to
play
against and much promise in the Chetnole line up....Hurrah.
Sconeman