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Civils reach Cup Quarters

Another strong showing from the lads last night resulted in a comfortable win over Division 3 rivals Cookson's Old Boy's in the second round of the cup.

Miller's luck finally ran out with the toss and opposition skipper Chris Jeffries chose to bat on a fine looking track at the pleasant Percy Main ground.

Club buffoon/ first team captain, Waite opened the bowling, with his usual bluster and kept things tight. Ian Laing was chosen to partner Terrence in the attack and did not disappoint, bowling with pace and hostility. The pressure soon told and Ian ended up with 2-7 from an excellent 3 over spell.

Terry continued to bowl well, conceding only the odd streaky run and was also rewarded with a couple of wickets in his spell of four overs (2-19).

The pressure was building on the home batsmen and at the half way point, they were struggling at around 40-odd for 5 (including a superb run out from Paddy hitting the stumps from point).

Johns was introduced to the attack and bowled his most consistent spell of the season, mixing his pace (or lack of it) well. Though managing to keep the pressure on and inducing a handful of false shots, he was unable to make a further break through from his 3(0-14).

Paddy replaced Terry and his extra pace seemed to find favour with batsmen, hitting through the offside. Unusually, he proved the most expensive of the bowlers, disappearing for 24 off his 3.

The introduction of De Jager with three overs to go sparked a spectacular collapse. Despite his first 3 deliveries being signalled as wides, he eventually found the target and took three quick wickets - Torley slahing to Miller at Gully, another smartly taken stumping by Moore (his second of the game and who kept very well) and an excellent catch from Ed Lord 'running' round from mid-wicket. Hansie finished with 3-8 from 2.

The remaining wickets were run outs, the first of which was excellent work from Tim Johnson, hitting direct at the non-strikers end with only one stump to aim at. 85 all out. Good effort from everyone in the field.

Halford and Lord opened the innings, with an early declaration of intent from Barry, smashing the ball back over the bowlers head a couple of times in the first over. Ed (0) was unlucky to get a poor LBW decision to Torley, running down the wicket.

Moore was next to the crease, short of runs and confidence this season. However, he began well and was scampering one's and two's of almost every ball.
However, he was lured out of his crease and bowled by Crowe round his legs looking to work the ball to leg for 11.

Eddie Wilson looked to continue where he left off the previous evening and was his usual positive self. Meanwhile, Barry was creaming the ball to all parts, until he was taken in the deep by a blinding one-handed catch for 32, well in excess of a run a ball. Hansie followed shortly after, unlucky to fall for duck after smashing the ball to deep cover where an excellent catch was taken.

Only about 40 were required from the remaining 9 overs. Johns was next, and it wasn't pretty to watch, but with Eddie scoring steadily, Steve was happy to knock it around and wait for the off-line balls.

With only 6 to win and a not out in sight Eddie was unfortunate to hit a ball that should have been called no-ball to square leg and departed for 15. Steve (14 not out) and Laingers (2 not out) saw the game to its conclusion for a pretty comfortable win. 86-5.

Next up, Sage or more likely Nine Pins in the Quarter-Final.

Cumberlands devoured by hungry CSCC

Another quality victory was attained last night over top of the league (and previously unbeaten) Cumberland Partners/ Arms at Priors Park.

In the absence of the skipper (arriving a little late), Johns called correctly and asked Cumberland to bat in a 14 over match. The weather had not been great all day, but the breezy overcast conditions looked ideal for bowling with us being able to field another strong bowling attack.

Paddy opened, displaying his usual brisk pace and accuracy. The opening batsmen looked far from comfortable and were able to score a few streaky boundaries on the short offside boundary (helped by a couple of unfortunate misfields).

Neil also began well at the other end, but was unfortunate to be slogged for a couple of sixes. However, he had the last laugh bowling the left hander from around the wicket two balls later, then having the new batsman (Turner) holing out to Eddie (great catch) just inside the deep midwicket boundary for a duck.

Paddy continued to bowl well and had their other handy looking opener bowled shortly before the end of his spell.

Barry and Steve Foster continued the good work, mixing up their pace to good effect as the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Both Barry and Steve ended with 2 each. 101-7 from 14. Once again an excellent restrictive effort (and 2 bowling points).

Eddie and Mike Horrocks opened the batting under instructions to be positive. Both of them duly complied, scoring steadily with only the extra pace of Turner proving particularly difficult to get away.

Mike perished soon after for 6, bringing Steve J to the crease, but he looked out of sorts and was bowled by Turner for 1.

The indomitable skipper came to the crease with plenty of time to knock the runs off, immediately looking at ease and displaying the confident form that has characterised his season to date.

Eddie Wilson continued to chance his arm and batted superbly, helping to take 19 off Turner's last over (17 off the bat) which rather ruined his figures - his previous 3 overs had gone for only 9 runs.

Runs were coming steadily and the target was well within reach by the time Eddie departed, bowled for 24.
Colin (38 not out) and Ed Lord (13 not out) continued to milk the change bowlers with the occasional boundary (including a big 6 for colin) and victory was achieved with 9 balls to spare.

The opposition's Man of the match - Colin Miller.

Top stuff.

100% record maintained -just!!

A rather hard fought victory was earned over Kingstonians on Thursday night at Blue Flames.

Once again, Miller won the toss and inserted them to bat on a fine evening.

Opening bowlers McCarten (bowling straight through) and Mulligan bowled extremely tightly, giving nothing away in the opening overs. Indeed, Neil soon forced one of the opening bowlers into spooning a simple return catch.

The new batsman and remaining opener began cautiously and began to open up a little, giving a few half chances as the ball began to cross the boundary rope every now and then.

Neil had further cause for celebration when the other opener was bowled just as he was beginning to look dangerous.

After 3 overs of Mulligan, the Captain turned to another of our South African contingent, the promising bowling of Iain Laing. Ian bowled sharply and accurately, maintaining the pressure on the batsmen.

The dobbly liquorice allsorts of Johns was next up. A patchy first over was followed up by a much better second, with the complete lack of pace frustrating the batsman. Indeed, their accomplished looking left-handed top scorer was lured out of his crease and Moore completed a smart stumping.

Iain was also rewarded with a wicket when a late order slogger skyed one straight in the air and craig retained his composure to take the catch.

104-4. Not many wickets, but kept them to a manageable score.

Ed Lord and Steve opened the batting, content to score the singles and wait for the bad balls, which to be fair, were few and far between. Soon the pressure was mounting and Ed perished to a run out taking a risky second.

A strong batting line up was stuggling to keep up with rate thanks to some tight bowling form the Kingstonians opening bowlers who bowled straight through. Duncan was unable to maintain his impressive form this season, bowled through the gate for a handful having smashed his first ball for 4.

Craig follwed next and was bowled round his legs by the leg spinner. It was up to the captain to rescue the innings as he began patiently. Johns finally perished for 14, run out going for a third that wasn't really there.

Colin began to open up with some excellent lofted shots through the leg side. He was ably supported by the remaining batsmen, with both Simon and Ian scoring a quick 10 or so. Both perished to the leg spinner and 9 was needed off the last over with Colin and newcomer Andy Townsend at the crease.

In the end only 4 balls were needed as Andy launched a massive 6 to finish the game. Colin continued his prolific season finishing 39* and the man-of-the match award.

A good allround effort once again. Let's keep it going...

Victory over Cooksons

The last league game played at home to Cooksons ensured out excellent start to the seaon continued, preserving our 100% record.

Inserting them to bat, a tight bowling performance enabled us to restict them to 93-5 (or 6 - not sure from memory) from 16, with Johns (I'm writing this, so I can write what I like!)the pick of the bowlers with 2-4 before being 'cruelly' removed from the attack by the skipper. Joe was his usual economical self with some tidy bowling from Neil and Mark.

Victory was achieved comfortably with the skipper happy to knock it around (20*) while Duncan punished some short bowling, biffing it to all parts and an unbeaten 56. 94-1 in around 10 overs. Eddie Wilson also chipped in with some quick runs opening with colin.

Long may our form continue.

Civils stun West Endians in cup upset!

An excellent victory was posted last night over Division One side West End, at a sunny Heaton Medicals.

Captain Miller had assembled a strong team to give the underdogs a fighting chance of an upset and having won the toss, he elected to bat.

Messr's Ward and Miller got the innings off to a steady start until Miller was out for 13 bringing the in-form Duncan Scott to the wicket. Ward followed shortly after for a brisk 17, bringing Barry Halford to the crease.

Some excellent stroke play from the two South Africans saw the scoring rate continue in excess of 10 runs an over and it was soon clear that we were giving ourselves a chance of victory.

Both Scott and Halford maintained their excellent form until Scott fell for 45 in sight of successive midweek 50's. Halford saw the innings to a conclusion (35 not out) aided by some meaty hits from Luke Mitchell and Paddy Meredith at the end of the innings. 148-4 from 14. Excellent.

Joe Fox and Paddy opened the innings, bowling tightly and initially keeping the rate down. Their openers however, had to get on with it and it wasn't long before the ball started disappearing over the boundary rope. Meredith bowled one of the openers bringing their skipper to the crease.

Right from the off, his intent was clear and West End were well in touch with the rate at the half way mark. Waite came on and had an excellent first over. Unfortunately it went downhill from there and the big fella went for a rather expensive 37 from 3 overs.

It was clear that removing the big hitter was the key to victory. Unfortunately our catching didn't help, with several chances shelled (none particularly straight-forward) much to a fired-up Barry's chagrin.

The re-introduction of Paddy and then Barry turned the game. Although the boundaries were still coming, wickets began to tumble with Paddy taking 2 in quick succession as the scoring began to temporarily slow. Barry also got stuck into the middle order taking 4 including the key wicket of the big-hitting batsman shortly after he had passed 50.

The game could still have gone either way with West End requiring 13 from the last over. Barry bowled superbly. 7 were required from 3 balls but they were restricted to only 1, giving us victory by 6 runs and a place in the next round against Cooksons. Tremendous!

Man of the Match - Barry for his excellent allround contribution. Honourable mention to Duncan for his batting.