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WEEK 6: KIRKWOOD BEAT CCC IN CUP

CCC LOSE ANOTHER NAILBITER

CCC put in an improved all round display at Cochrane Park last night, but it wasn't quite enough to beat First division highflyers Kirkwood.

The visitors won the toss and put CCC into bat first, presumably hoping to roll them over cheaply and get home. This looked increasingly likely as the Tomlinson brothers were back in the pavilion inside the first four balls, both caught behind off the excellent Hadar. Rian and Simon E worked it round for a partnership of 46, then Rian (36) and Matt (49 not out) put on 62, as CCC reached 142-8 off 14 overs.

This was a defendable score despite a short boundary on the pavilion side, and CCC gave themselves a chance through the bowling of Rian and Matt, who both put in outstanding all round performances. Kirkwood needed 50 from 4 overs and 34 from 3, with 5 wickets in hand. Unfortunately Hadar starred with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 65 to see Kirkwood home with 10 balls to spare.

CCC raised their game in what was at times a feisty match. There were excellent catches from Andy, Alan, Nick and Peter, and generally improved ground fielding. The batting was a vast improvement from Monday, though conditions were much better, and the bowling of Rian and Matt was superb. If CCC played like this every week there wouldn't be many Second Division sides who could live with them.

Team: Rian, Nick, Greg, Simon E, Matt, Mudassar, Peter, Alan, Andy, Derek, Guy

CCC KEITH-FREE FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS

SECOND KEITH OF SEASON LEAVES

CCC will be a Keith-free zone for the first time in 15 years following the departure of Keith Hayward to begin a new career in Iceland. Keith H follows Keith Reader who announced his retirement from league cricket in May.

Keith will be hoping to act as a missionary and introduce cricket to the frozen north and possibly open the door to a future CCC tour. It's always a big move emigrating, especially as it will mean missing out on Shrewsbury Town's forthcoming promotion season!

On behalf of CCC, good luck to both Keiths.

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WEEK 6: MONKSEATON BEAT CCC

HOME BOWLERS STRIKE EARLY

CCC lost to Monkseaton Saints by 7 runs in disappointing fashion at the Churchill Fields ground last night.

On a cool evening the home side won the toss and batted first. CCC bowled and fielded well and restricted them to 91-6 off 14 overs. Crucially the 7th wicket put on an unbroken 38 in 3 overs right at the end, with the number 8 batsmen Leppen finishing top scorer on 18 not out.

The wickets were shared around, with Guy picking up his first two league scalps

CCC's batting this season has been excellent, however they were to be undone here by a useful home attack and canny fielding on a very slow, grassy outfield. At 28-4 off 8 overs the game was already up: it was clear that boundaries needed to be lofted, which was generally impossible against probing bowling and a low bounce, and with a centrally placed strip. In the end CCC made it to 84-5 off 14 overs and were left to rue the early overs which had gone for only 2 or 3 runs each. Nick batted through on 44 not out.

Team: Nick, Rian, Simon W, Greg, Mudassar, Matt, Simon E, Peter, Derek, Guy, Tim

CCC WIN MALLARDS FRIENDLY

BOYES THE HERO, REED JUNIOR SENT TO BED EARLY, NO TEA

Alan Boyes, playing his best innings in years, was the hero for CCC, engineering yet another thrilling run chase victory at sunny Heaton yesterday.

CCC won the toss and put Mallards into bat. CCC legends Tim Hall and Dave Graham were loaned to the visitors who were short-staffed, which meant that both teams had nine players. Jack Reed, 11, volunteered to 'plug the gap' by fielding for both teams - more of him later.

Mallards batted well and acored 165-7 off 34.5 overs (Taylor 21, Whitehall 49 and Stone 42). The CCC wickets were shared by Gerry (3), John (3), and Guy (1).

This looked a challenging total on a ground with a slow bumpy outfield and the usual slowish Heaton strip offering something for the dibbly-dobbly bowlers. Peter and Keith (in his last innings for CCC) ensured a brisk start, whilst Tom Featherstone, in his first innings for two years, chipped in with an excellent 29.

With the run rate rising as high as seven, Alan kept the score ticking with some lovely drives and cuts. With approximately 50 needed from the last eight overs, Mallards asked Jack Reed to bowl. John Reed, his father, treated him with some disdain, lifting him for a one-bounce four over midwicket, but it was Jack who got his revenge with a plum lbw off his penultimate ball as john attempted to repeat the shot. With his ultimate ball, Gerry ill-advisedly danced down the track atempting to loft the youngster into hyperspace, only to miss it completely, and - turning as if in slow-motion - see the keeper smash his stumps down. It was total humiliation for Gerry who left the pitch with his head in his hands.

Alan kept out the hat-trick ball an over later, and he and Mark played intelligently and skilfully in an unbroken last-wicket partnership of 40+ to see CCC home (Alan 47 not out, Mark 11 not out).

Team: Peter, Keith H, Tom F, Simon E, Alan, Guy, John, Gerry, Mark, Jack

WEEK 5: CCC BEAT ADDERS

GREAT BATTING MASKS FAULTY FIELDING

CCC won a thrilling victory at Backworth against Adders last night. The home side won the toss and chose to bat on a cool evening. The tone was set in the first over when all seven runs were conceded through misfields. Though the bowlers only gave away two wides and there was only one half chance missed, the ground fielding was generally poor. That said, the left-right combination of the batsmen was tricky, but too many players ended up forgetting their fielding positions. Adders cruised to 133-2 (opener Walker 67 not out) off 14 overs on what was an excellent batting track.

CCC started briskly with Rian (18) and Simon Woodman (29) batting particularly well. They continued to pace the run chase perfectly: Matt's was the outstanding innings as he blasted 43 not out to win the match with seven balls remaining to record a second successive win in this fixture.

With two difficult fixtures next week CCC know they must be at their best in the field, and need to start removing opposition opening batsmen.

Team: Rian, Simon W, Greg, Matt, Simon E, Peter, John, Andy, Keith H, Derek, Tim