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WEEK 3: CCC BEAT MONKSEATON SAINTS

CCC cruised to an important first victory of the season at sunny Monkseaton last night.

The home side won the toss and chose to bat on a hard, but slow wicket. This suited CCC who, going into the match with eight bowlers, felt they could keep their hosts to a low score. Initially this seemed optimistic as the Saints top order took advantage of a new ball to race to 41 off 6 overs, however, their batting lacked depth, and CCC were able to turn the screw. New boy Khalid took 3-5 off 3 overs, and Guy 1-18 off 4, whilst John Reed took 2-2 off his only over. The CCC fielding was almost faultless with Tim Hall in particular excelling.

The target of 77 proved straightforward. Nick hit 18 and Rian 38, and though both were out near the end the result was attained quickly enough to ensure both bonus points.

CCC 9, Monkseaton 1

Team: Nick, Rian, Peter, Simon E, Mudassar, Matt, Khalid, John, Derek, Guy, Tim

WEEK 2: FIRE SERVICE BEAT CCC

Another disappointing bowling performance, this time backed up by poor fielding, handed a comfortable win to the Fire Service last night.

On a changeable evening - and track - at Heaton, CCC won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to exploit the conditions. Unfortunately Rian, who took 4-19 last week, revealed he was unable to bowl due to a leg injury. Fire Service proceeded to take advantage of his absence posting 146-3 (Hope 62 NO), comfortably the largest total CCC have conceded at this ground in at least 10 years. As the bowlers delivered too many four balls, pressure mounted on the fielders, so that five chances were spilled. None of them was easy, but some of them at least should have been taken. The two that were taken, by Mudassar and Andy, were excellent.

CCC put in a spirited reply against a non-threatening attack, without ever looking like winning. The total of 123-6 was one of the home side's higher totals at Heaton and one which would win most games. All the batsmen bar the not outs reached double figures, all playing selfless innings atempting to reach the target.

Ultimately CCC had to settle for 2 batting points and little else.

Team: Nick, Rian, Simon E, Matt, Mudassar, Peter, Simon W, John, Andy, Guy, Derek

WEEK 1: SEATON BURN BEAT CCC

CCC turned in a rusty and in the end disappointing performance against new boys Seaton Burn at the Burn Stadium last night.

On winning the toss CCC opted to bat first in what was left of the sunshine. This looked a great decision as Nick raced to 40 off only 5 overs. At this stage a total of 130 plus looked good, as the side was packed with batting. However Rian and Peter went in quick succession to rustic shots, and Nick then holed out for 44. Matt and Mudassar were left to rebuild, both reaching 20 (Mudassar with two straight sixes). However, the innings had lost momentum, which a couple of late run outs did not help, and CCC subsided to 112 for 6 on a ground where 120 should be the minimum score.

It needed an above par bowling performance, but that wasn't to be forthcoming. The main problem was bowling up the hill: no one adapted to it and all went for runs. The home side have a strong batting line all of whom play straight down the ground very well. Towards the end a comfortable victory looked on the cards until Rian dragged CCC back into the game with an excellent second spell. He ended with 4-19, but it came too late, and Seaton Burn won with four balls remaining.

A disappointing start to season 2007, against a side who will probably do well in their home games. After a good start CCC should have placed a more imposing target, but gave away too many dot balls, whilst the bowlers (Rian excepted) gave away too many four balls and will want to put in a better performance against Fire Service next week.

Team: Nick, Rian, Peter, Matt, Mudassar, Simon W, Simon E, Andy, Guy, Derek, Cliff

CLASSIC MATCHES: TRAVELLERS V CCC 14/07/04

As CCC prepares for the opening match of the 2007 season away to Seaton Burn, it's worth casting our minds back to the previous visit to play the side then known as Travellers, in mid-summer 2004.

Travellers batted first. Their line up contained at least five Seaton Burn under 12s and CCC realised if they could get through the top order quickly their hosts could be kept to a small total. This was the outcome as only Morrison with 27, Knight (11) and Gray (11) reached double figures. To their credit the youngsters at the end of the innings did not give their wickets away without a fight, but were prepared to play straight and defensively. Travellers finished on 63 all out. Rian (3-16) and David Graham (3-25) did most of the damage, with Cliff (1-9) and Derek (2-13) also chipping in.

It should have been a cakewalk for CCC, but like Australia they sometimes struggle chasing small totals. Even so an opening partnership of 23 between Rian (17) and Tom Woolhead (9) looked to have set them on their way. Rian hit two huge sixes over cover, and one four. Then the collapse set in as no one else could reach double figures. In the end Roger played the Mike Hussey role making 9 not out, and Derek hit a couple of punchy shots to see CCC home by 3 wickets (66-7). It could have been very different but for the sun momentarily getting in the umpire's eyes as Derek atempted a risky run, thus forcing him to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt.

One final querk - all seven CCC wickets were bowled, on a pitch that offered a little bit of movement for the slow-medium brigade. Even so, some complacency had seeped into CCC's performace in their generally relentless roll towards promotion.

Team: Rian, Tom W, David Graham, Simon E, Simon W, John Reed, Roger, Keith Hayward, Derek, Andy Holburn, Cliff

ENGLAND FACE WEST INDIES IN 'BATTLE OF INCOMPETENCE'

BBC Cricket Correspondent Jonathan Agnew

England will play West Indies in Barbados on Saturday in a clash which will decide who is the most incompetent.

England go into the match on the back of an absolute demolition job by a South Africa team which had previously lost to Bangladesh, whilst the West Indies, despite home advantage, have never been at the races during this World Cup tournament.

England captain Michael Vaughan was again defiant after the South Africa game, saying that he would be taking the positives from that match into the West Indies clash once he and Duncan Fletcher had found out what they were.

"It's a great opportunity for the lads to better one of our rivals for the dunce’s hat of world cricket," Vaughan is reported as saying. "When you think about it we haven't played another incompetent team for a while. In recent months we've played utterly ruthless cricket machines like Australia, New Zealand and Ireland."

West Indies skipper Brian Lara is similarly optimistic about finishing the World Cup – and his career - on a moderate high: "I think I've smelt the coffee before Michael and got out before him," he said, referring to his imminent retirement from one day cricket, "so that’s 1-0 to us already."

The clash will see superiority in several disciplines finally decided, though reports that players will be forced to wear clown costumes are at present wide of the mark.

1) The Most Brittle Middle Order prize will be closely contested, and a lot will depend on whether Brian Lara and Kevin Pietersen are able to combine the two tricky tasks of staying in AND scoring runs. Favourite: England

2) Least Effective All Rounder will see Andrew Flintoff pitted against young upstart Dwayne Bravo. Favourite: England

3) Most Pop-Gun Pie-Chucking Attack will be similarly closely contested. The bookies favour the West Indies as Corey Collymore and Daran Powell are likely to take advantage of England’s attempts to make the Slowest Start to a One Day Match Ever (see below) and thus concede less than 50 runs each. Meanwhile the tournament organisers are looking to replace the word ‘Attack’ in this category with the more appropriate ‘Girls’. Favourite: England

4) A new discipline for this World Cup sees England attempting the Slowest Start to a One Day Innings in History. This will attempt to beat the record held by Geoff Boycott and Mike Brearley in the 1979 final. Winner: England W/O

5) England have already bagged the award for Pointless Wicket-Keeping Selection (Paul Nixon), maintaining a grand tradition in this category (previous winners Geraint Jones, Matt Prior). Winner: England W/O

6) Retro 1970s Fielding Incompetence Award features a team and an individual gong. Team Favourite: West Indies; Individual: too close to call

7) The Alastair Campbell Award for Post Match Spin will see Michael Vaughan as favourite with Lara expected to offer a more candid approach following his retirement. Bookies are also offering on more spin being seen after the match than during it. Favourite: England

8) The final category is Brainless Post-Match Binge, where both teams go on the lash in Bridgetown and the one that gets shopped most by its own supporters wins.