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Game 7: Fenham beat CCC

After an enforced three week break due to the weather CCC looked to Monday's match against Monkseaton to get back to winning ways, however, an abortive attempt to play the game failed and the sides will meet later in the season, most likely the 6th August.

On a fine Tuesday evening at Blue Flames, CCC faced Fenham without many of their regulars including key batsmen Chris, Nick, Simon W, and Skinx. Debuts were handed to Ewan, Phil and Tariq.

The first incident of note was the discovery that stand-in keeper Simon E would have to do the job with one stray keeping glove found in the Fenham kit bag and one batting glove: both CCC and Fenham's regular keepers (plus kit) were away. Fenham's keeper had to do the same later in the game.

Fenham batted first and progressed smoothly in the face of excellent fast bowling from Tariq and swing bowling from Guy. However, it was not until the 9th over that a breakthrough was made with a fine boundary catch by Tariq off Gurjit's bowling. That brought Mukhtar to the crease.

Mukhtar has taken a liking to CCC's bowling in recent seasons, and any team in the league will tell you that you need to get him early or else you're in trouble. Tuesday was no exception as he pummelled 72 not out by the end of the innings. Reminder: he came to the crease in over 9.

His 72 included 36 in an over from Khalid, with 5 identikit sixes over the short boundary.

Quasim scored 52 before Gurjit bolwed him and a later run out meant that Fenham ended on 165-3.

This was simply too much for CCC with their depleted batting, although Khalid and Mudassar compiled a good opening stand, and the latter with his 53 played perhaps his finest CCC innings. CCC just missed the second batting point scoring 91-4.

CCC 1 Fenham 8

CCC: Khalid, Mudassar, Ewan, John E, Tariq, Guy, Simon E, Phil, Ian J, Roger, Gurjit

Game 6: West End beat CCC

Getting a full team to Bellingham on a midweek evening was to be CCC's first and last achievement of the night. The visitors batted first with Simon E opening due to Nick's delayed arrival. He soon holed out to an infant at square leg, and Chris went in the same over caught by an adult at midwicket. Nick and Peter soon departed, the later waiting for the umpire's finger despite his edge to the keeper being heard in the next village. It was left to Woodman (18), John E (15 not out including a last ball 6) and Guy with some good running in the last over, to get CCC to 69 off 12 overs.

That target was never likely to be good enough. Guy and Derek bowled well at the start, but West End never really needed to press the accelerator and eventually won in the ninth over. It looked as if they would achieve their target with all wickets standing until with four to win Gurj was brought on and took two quick scalps, including a fine stumping/run out by Woodman.

A lethargic batting performance and an OK fielding performance despite the usual dropped catches means that CCC have lost four on the bounce and need to hit back against Fenham next week.

CCC 1 West End 8
Team: Chris, Simon E, Nick, Simon W, Peter, John E, Guy, Derek, Ian J, Adam, Gurjit

Cap: John for his batting especially the last ball 6
Duck: Skinx for refusing to walk for a deflection a politician would have been proud of

Game 5: Fenham v CCC

CCC slipped to a narrow defeat in a thrilling encounter with Fenham at Blue Flames.

On a breezy cool evening CCC won the toss and elected to bat. It was a sensible decision on a hard pale-coloured wicket that allowed the ball to come onto the bat but also offered something for the bowlers. Nick and Chris opened expertly again. Nick was to top score with 40 and played a couple of lovely clips for 6 off his legs. Chris scored 22, and Nick was then supported by Simon E (14), Khalid and Peter. Mudassar came in to face three balls against his old team and launched a four to cow corner.

117-4 off 12 overs was a decent score, and it looked even better with Guy and Khalid bowling the first 5 overs tightly. Unfortunately Mukhtar took to the back up bowlers and Fenham eventually achieved their target for 6 wickets with 3 balls remaining.

A much better all round performance by CCC in agame that could have been won.

CCC 3 Fenham 8

Team: Nick, Chris (keeper), Simon E, Khalid, Peter, Mudassar, John E, John R, Ian J, Guy, Adam

Games 3 & 4: Blue Flames (H) & Ratcatchers (A)

Two defeats in 2 days temporarily delays the CCC promotion bandwagon.

Blue Flames were simply too strong for 10 man CCC at Cochrane Park on Wednesday. Chapman scored 95 batting at number 4 as the visitors amassed 213-5 off 14 overs. CCC scored 107-3 in response.

CCC3 Blue Flames 7
Team: Nick, Chris, Simon W, Peter, Mudassar, John E, Ian J, Guy, Matty, Derek

Ratcatchers are a similar standard side to CCC, but a second disappointing bowling and fielding display in consecutive days gave them 20 runs too many for the large Corbridge ground. Exceptions were Clif, returning for the first time since midway through last season, and Ian, in his first league spell. CCC batted well enough to make 120-4, with Chris scoring an exceptional 85, however, the Rats prevailed by 28 runs.

CCC 3 Ratcatchers 8
Team: Nick, Chris, Simon E, Peter, Simon W, Andy H, John E, Ian J, Guy, Derek, Cliff

CCC Defeat Mallards

8-man CCC achieved their first victory against Mallards in years during a Twenty20 clash at sunny Riding Mill last night.

Gareth won the toss for Mallards and put CCC in to bat. Andy and Guy opened but Andy was soon run out. John, in his first trip to the crease, didn't get to face a ball, Guy running him out. Guy was then run out himself leaving CCC 3-3. Ian, who was also enjoying his first knock, scored 7 before being run out with the score at 30. Simon E and Nick then constructed a partnership that took CCC towards the ton, before Simon holed out for 34. Derek didn't last long batting the only way he knows how, before Roger rolled back the years hitting the last two balls of the innings for 4. Nick was left on 62 not out as CCC totalled 121-6 from 20 6-ball overs.

This was always going to be a decent total with 11 men, but CCC only had 8. Mallards lent one further player to fill a gap and Simon took the gloves. Derek and Ian bowled 4 overs apiece and both took wickets. The remaining bowling was allotted to Nick (3 wickets), Guy (2) and Roger (1). The bowlers all achieved some swing, and when pitched up it caused problems for the Mallards batsmen. A comfortable victory was sown up with Mallards finally dismissed for 78, Gareth top-scoring with 22.

CCC: Andy H, Guy, John E, Ian J, Simon E, Nick, Derek, Roger