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Cramlington Cup Defeat

Unfortunately CCC bowed out of the League Cup in the second round last night to Cramlington CC.

On what turned out to be a somewhat cloudy evening in the end I agreed on 14 overs with my opposite number, duly lost the toss and Cramlington decided to have a bat.

Ru and Nicco opened the bowling from either end and Ru was extremely unlucky not to have an early breakthrough when what appeared to be a clear LBW decision was turned down by their belligerent umpire. A slightly ugly exchange ensued that rather set the tone for what was I'm sad to say, a somewhat fractious game.

Nicco was first to take a wicket in his third over when a short delivery was hit very firmly to mid-wicket however Alan was on hand to take a good low catch. Alan himself then got in on the act when he replaced Nicco bowling their other opener for around 30.

Despite Cramlington’s batting being relatively strong an appalling outfield made hitting boundaries quite difficult and the rate never really became too big. Ru got his reward when he duly bowled their floundering no. 4 and Alan produced an excellent run out which in fact was a carbon copy of one that was, somewhat cynically, turned down earlier in the game. Guy bowled quite tidily and Roger even chipped in with an excellent single over that only went for a miserly 5 runs when both batsmen were well set.

After 14 overs Cramlington finished on 112 which given the state of the outfield was a good score. Despite tweaking a hamstring whilst trying to stop a wild overthrow from Guy during their innings Alan opened the batting with me.

My short flirtation with good form came to an end when I was bowled without troubling the scorers. Alan looked good until missing a straight one which left Nicco and Ru to steady the ship. This they did for time with Ru guiding the ball around with seeming ease and Nicco pulling and driving for 4. Ru was undone however by a full one that brought Guy then Greg to the crease both of whom added a quick few before departing. Dave who kindly filed in at late notice joined Nicco and had been described to me as a near to scratch golfer. This was plain to see as his stance resembled that of one Mr Woods at the crease! Despite much sledging though he proceeded to hit the sweetest of straight drives back over the bowlers head onto the fairway for 4. One swing of the 7 iron too many saw the end of Dave and Nicco followed shortly after, holing out to a retreating mid-wicket. The elder gentry did us proud in the guise of Roger and Gerry adding vital runs towards the end but the rate steadily increased and the wickets continued to fall. Despite a healthy helping of wides we were about twenty short when were eventually bowled out, Nicco top scoring with 29.

Thanks to both Kevin and Matty for batting, the former making a rod for his own back with social services and the latter a recent amputee.

As the old adage goes “at least we can now concentrate on the league!”

Duck – Matty busy casting spells when he should have been catching.

Cap – (Post re-vote after tie with Nicco) Dave’s golf drive for 4!