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Sage stuffed - Civils head for semis!

OK, no more bad culinary related headlines.....

Another comprehensive victory was completed last night at Percy Main, over Divison 4 high-fliers Sage.

After agreeing a 14 over game, losing the toss and being inserted to bat, openers Miller and Ward looked to get us off to a brisk start with the knowledge of a strong batting line up to follow them.

In the early overs, it didn't quite go to plan in the face of some useful bowling and sideways movement off the pitch. Both Colin's looked to be positive, but were frequently induced into playing and missing. However, the score had moved on to 31 before Miller provided a leading edge and departed for 12.

In came wicketkeeper Scott, who immediately looked at ease and quickly started biffing the ball to the boundary. He did however, have some good fortune, gaining the benefit of a close LBW decision. The runs started to come more quickly with Ward ably supporting, before being bowled for 18.

Halford was up next and was also soon into his stride. Infact, the only way the partnership looked like it might be broken, was by some comedy running between the wickets. The scoring rate was upped to around 10 an over, the South African chaps adding 60 runs for the 3rd wicket. The partnership was broken when Duncan was given LBW for 38 (from 25 balls). Another impressive innings.

Looking for quick runs for the benefit of the team, Don was run out taking a suicidal second run, for 2. Barry departed soon after for a solid 31 at better than a run-a-ball.

Some excellent running from Martin and Luke and a few lusty blows from Luke in the last couple of overs ensured we reached a formidable 147-5.

As the gloom descended, Miller chucked the cherry to Marshall and Fox. It was soon clear that Don was way too quick for the batsmen, and he got his just reward for bowling staight and full, removing both openers cheaply. After his three over spell had concluded his figures read impressively as 3-0-7-2. Just the start that was needed.

Fox opened from the other end and was his ususal economical self, going wicketless as Sage began to complile a partnership, but only going for 11 from 2 overs.

Terry was also unable to make a further break through and provided another classic sledging moment as he declared to the batsman the he would "soon be back in the hutch, like". The next ball was promptly launched for a massive 6 back over Terrence's head. Terry bowled his 2 wicketless overs for 16, before Miller turned to Meredith and Halford as the third wicket partnership had become troublesome.

Paddy's first over was a tad expensive by his usual miserly standards, having been despatched for 6 over his head by the competent looking Beer (er, that was the batsman's name). However, his second over (as far as I can recall) all but sealed victory, first removing Moodie for a stubborn 26, then Foster next ball. The hatrick never came, but he soon removed Rogers for 3. All three were bowled and he finished with 3-22 from his 3.

All that remained was to remove the dangerous looking Beer, which Barry (1-7) did, bowled for 24. The game was in the bag, so the ball was thrown to Johns (1-4) for the penultimate over. Scott completed a stumping off the first ball of a pretty tidy over. De Jager bowled the last with 76 required. Only 7 were accumulated, so a thumping win was completed by 69 runs.

A great effort by everyone. Kirkwood await in the semi final.

Cooksons roasted as civils prepare to stuff sage

This season's excellent midweek form continued as we warmed up for Friday's impending cup quarter Final against Sage, with an emphatic victory over Divison 3 strugglers Cooksons Old Boys at Percy Main yesterday evening.

After agreeing a 16 over affair, Johns won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to have first use of a flat, dry looking wicket.

West Indian dasher Marshall was asked to open the batting as he looked to re-aclimatise to the English conditions. After a slightly shaky start, he soon began working the singles, playing himself in. Wilson also opened but was slightly unfortunate to depart LBW for 1.

The in-form Wiseman arrived at the crease, fresh from a half century on Saturday. It wasn't long before both batsman were despatching the ball to the boundary, supplemented by some excellent running between the wickets.

The pair cracked along at 12 an over, putting on 116 for the second wicket until first Don was bowled by Patterson for a controlled 58 and a tiring Wiz not long after, also bowled for an excellent 63.

With 3 or 4 overs to go and plenty of runs already in the bank, the rest of the order was instructed to 'have a go'. Andy (2) and Ed Lord (9) didn't last too long but Craig (14*) and Henry (10)added handy runs in no time at all. Craig also provided the highlight of the innings with an audacious reverse sweep which so confused the scorers, they awarded the runs to the left handed Henry!

A great allround effort finishing on 176-6, comfortably our highest score of the season.

Laingers and Mulligan opened the bowling and wickets fell straight away, Iain striking with the 6th ball of the innings - Crowe mistiming to Don at mid on. He soon followed this up with an excellent double wicket maiden (including an excellent low diving catch from Mike behind the stumps) and concluded his spell with figures of 4-1-15-3. Impressive stuff.

Simon also struck in his first over, forcing Cadwallader to play on, The big fella followed this up by inducing Patterson into a caught & bowled and gave able support to Laingers finishing with 2-21 from his four.

Southern allrounder Hale replaced Laingers and there was no let up for the Cooksons batsmen, with his pace clearly too much for several of their batsmen. Only Hartley (23) and Ellinor (27*) put up any resistance as Henry swept through the middle and lower order, finishing with 4-0-13-3.

Johns bowled a couple of average overs before replacing himself with Moore who could not provide the final wicket but went for only 7 from his two overs. 86-8.

Victory by 90 runs. Outstanding. Promotion cannot be far way....

Civils beat Merz and Maclellan at cricket

Captain Halford agreed a 14 over affair against Merz and Maclellan at Clara Vale (very difficult to find you know).

New father Joe Fox and Ian Laing opened the bowling and to be honest since I didn't turn up until 6.30pm I'm not sure how they bowled. Things seemed fairly tight, however, and the scorebook tells me Fox took a wicket and there was a run out so well done.


Fox was replaced by West Indian Marshall who immediately had the opposition clambering for helmets. At the other end Rhodes bowled 1.5 balls before crumpling in a heap complaining of a calf strain. He manfully complete the over and promptly left the field.

Meanwhile, the opposition were compiling a decent score and eventually ended up with a useful 102 - 4 from their alotted overs. Mallaber (32) and Pullan (36) did they main damage before both were bowled by Marshall and Halford respectively. Comedy fielding incidents include the usual dropped catches and Halford getting one full on the knee at mid on.

Miller and Horrocks began the run chase and managed to keep out the good balls while putting away the bad. Things were not moving along particularly swiftly, however, and Horrocks holed out to mid off in an effort to get the run chase moving.

Enter Scott.

The opposition were obviously shaken by the stocky South African's swagger to the wicket so much so that the first delivery he received actually bounced 3 times. Scott caught it perfectly on the third half volley and set the tone for the rest of the innings. Miller was content to knock the ball around playing for his average while Scott bludgeoned the boundaries, one full toss disappearing forever for six over square leg. Scott finished the game with a straight smash over the bowler's head which also brought up his 50.

Nice.

Cavalier run chase fells Gateshead

Captain Miller won the toss and inserted the opposition on a flat looking wicket at the picturesque Low Fell cricket ground on Tuesday night.

Macarten was handed the new ball and got off to a good start having the opener caught in the first over by a nervous looking Townsend at square leg. Mulligan opened at the other end and used his guile and flight to keep it tight.

A second wicket was not forthcoming, however, and opposition's Young and Middlemiss were able to keep accumulating runs while taking the odd boundary
as they played themselves in. Eventually, Mulligan (0-19) and Macarten were removed from the attack after three overs each.

The skipper turned to Happy Monday's Bez lookalike Harty and pace potatohead Meredith (sporting glasses held on by an elastic band) in search of a
wicket. Both began well and Harty was soon twisting his melons as Middlemiss (35) was caught behind by South African wicketkeeper Scott.

New batsman Brown (27*) and the established Young began stepping up the pace with the help of some comedy fielding (one bizaare return throw from Mulligan springs to mind as being particular worthy of mention). By the time Foster and Macarten came on to replace Harty (1-19) and Meredith (0-33) the pair were slogging across the line to some effect.

Macarten (1-29) and Foster (1-23) took some stick but Foster picked up the wicket of Young (69) via a sharp stumping from Scott in the final over to leave the Civil Service chasing 133 at more than a run a ball.

The reply began briskly with Ferguson clubbing some early boudaries with both he and Miller running some sharp singles. Miller(5) was bowled early on
bringing South African Scott to the crease. Top-notch cricket ensued as the pair set about reducing the deficit. Ferguson hit some lovely shots through the cover region while Scott used the whole ground. Both ran excellently and by the time they departed, (Scott for 40, Ferguson for 48) Dejager (6*) and Mitchel needed less than a run a ball.

The trend continued until 6 was required off the last over for victory. Mitchel (21*) carefully sized up his options before dispathing the first ball of the over for six.

Victory for The Civil Service Roundheads.

Unbeaten run comes to an end

Hmmm....Should of known it wouldn't be our day when we turned up to Blue Flames and they couldn't find they key to the changing rooms, even after many frantic phone calls. Thankfully, some enterprising individual managed to get into the score box to find some stumps and it was game on.

Despite confirming we had 11 players, only 10 turned up and even worse was to come when informed mid-innings that one of our players had to leave early. Cheers.

Anyway, the toss was lost by stand in skipper Johns. Meredith and Laing opened the bowling again, with Laing striking almost straight away with an excellent catch from Tony Naylor at Backward Square Leg.

Former Civil Service Batsman Rowe began steadily and began to open up crashing both the bowlers to the boundary. Ian also nipped out the useful Crofton-Martin forcing him to play on for 5. Paddy bowled his spell through and took the valuable wicket of Rowe for 39 finishing with 1-26 from his 4 overs.

Bowerman was brought into the attack and had the new batsman spooning a catch to Naylor at point. At Mr Ward's suggestion the square leg was moved deep onto the boundary - lo and behold, very next ball the batsman smashed a full toss straight to Tony for his third catch of the innings! Mark (3-0-15-3) took his third wicket shortly after with the next batsman swishing and Duncan completing the stumping.

Hansie bowled a couple of tidy overs and Tony did a decent job at the end of the innings. Laingers (4-0-29-3) came on to bowl the final over and induced a skyer which Duncan took comfortably. A further run out ensued and the Paddlers finished on 116-8. A decent effort in the field and I was confident that even with a man down (didn't know it would be two at this point), we could chase them down.....Oh dear.

Things went pear shaped straight away - Colin W was slightly unlucky in that he got a snorter from the first ball of the innings, from Ged and ended up with a top edge to the keeper. Tony was under the impression that this was a no ball, but common sense prevailed and Colin walked.

Barry and Luke seemed to have things under control and began by steadily working the singles. Barry was looking at ease at the crease and had made his way to 16 before being judged LBW to Crofton-Martin.

Duncan began positively and both the batsmen began to deposit the ball over the boundary at regular intervals, Luke lauching a couple of massive sixes along the way. The score had move along to around 80-2 with 7 overs to spare, then a couple of moments of inspirational fielding turned the game the Paddlers' way.

First of all Ged pulled off a stunning catch to remove Luke for 34, then Duncan (23) was unlucky to be caught having smashed the ball only inches off the ground to mid-on. Sometimes they stick, sometimes they don't. Unfortunately for us, this one did.

This brought Johns and De Jager to the crease with plenty of time. It all went quickly downhill from here really. De Jager (1) soon went attempting a second run. Meredith smashed 6 from 4 balls before edging behind to the juggling Rowe.

Johns (1) went next, again after a poorly judged run, which brought the final pair of Laingers and Tony to the crease. Once again a poor attempt at a run saw Laingers run out after being sent back. 99 all out.

Disappointing batting performance. We didn't help ourselves with some poor running between the wickets and missing a couple of players, but credit to Paddlers who bowled and fielded very well.

Opposition's man of the match was Luke Mitchell.