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FLAMES EXTINGUISHED BY RAIN

CCC's match against Blue Flames at Whitley Park last night gave an indication of what it must be like to play cricket in a northern hemisphere November. A northerly wind made the trees at the back of the ground sway ominously and brought with it a steady drizzle which became heavier as Blue Flames' innings progressed.

The home side had won the toss and sensibly chosen to bat. As with England earlier in the day, a wicket should have been taken first ball, with Mudassar spilling a sharp chance at cover off Guy. The opening batsman went on to make 67 not out as the Flames racked up 152-2 off 14.

At this point it was decided that it would be a better option to abandon the game. With the rain getting heavier, the ball was doing the same, and the outfield was slowing up. It seemed unlikely that CCC would be able to successfully chase the target in those circumstances. An abandonment also prevented Flames picking up extra points in the promotion chase.

It was a sporting effort by CCC to stay out in such conditions. Particular mention to Adam for stepping in at short notice and arriving in time to field for 6 overs in conditions that would have made your average footballer look longingly at the changing room.

CCC 2 Blue Flames 4

Team: Nick, Chris, Greg, Peter, Simon E, Mudassar, Majhid, Guy, Alasdair, Matty, Adam

Breaking news: DARREN PATTINSON NAMED ENGLAND CAPTAIN

Darren Pattinson has been named the new England cricket captain in a surprise announcement made to assembled press at Loughborough this lunchtime.

The Notts Swing bowler revealed that he had been about to take his kids to the Earth Centre in Doncaster when he took a call on his mobile from Geoff Miller inviting him to take over the captaincy role.

"I was pretty surprised," commented Pattinson, his slight Aussie drawl masking his obvious north Lincolnshire heritage. "There've been more ups and downs in my England career than my roofing one so far, what with the surprise call up for the Headingly test, then being dropped again, and now this."

When asked why Strauss, Flintoff and Pieterson, and other assorted half-baked candidates had been overlooked, chief selector Geoff Miller looked stunned for a split second then muttered "Pieterson? Did you say Pieterson? Who’s this then? Shit, shit, shit." He then examined his mobile phone and added: "Shit. I pressed the wrong name."

Meanwhile Pattinson's kids were unavailable for comment. They are with their solicitor planning divorce proceedings against their father following their second aborted holiday of the summer.

Kingstonian Cap 'N Duck

There was not much discussion for the CAP. Eventually it went to Nick, who edged out his brother.

On the other hand the DUCK provoked much debate. Alasdair was the pre-discussion favourite for conceding 54 runs from 3 overs. In the event, though, Mudassar got a couple of mentions for his fielding and banter, but he was beaten to the award by Guy for suggesting that he should field for Kinstonians because they only had 10 men, and for then proceeding to claim he was upholding the moral image of the sport. This after they had posted a score of 158.

CCC Fall to Bogey Side

CCC put in their worst fielding and bowling performance of the season at fog-shrouded Heaton last night, as 10 man Kingstonians romped home by 40 runs.

The visitors got off to a great start as Linsey punished two full tosses from Guy and two short ones from Derek, and he never looked back. The other opener was dropped by Simon E but dismissed in the next over by Derek to a sharp catch by Alasdair, but number 3 Bond (46) joined a hard-hitting partnership with Linsey (90 not out). Linsey was dropped again, this time by Peter, but generally gave the field the run around. The number 4 batsman did not look at all proficient but still managed to hit four successive 4s off Alasdair as Kingstonians posted 158-2 from 14 overs, certainly one of the biggest scores CCC has ever conceded at Heaton.

CCC's batting was fine, but they were chasing too many. A score of 118-5 was par, with Chris (33), Nick (29) and Greg (25) all playing fine knocks.

CCC 2 Kingstonians 8

Team: Nick, Chris, Greg, Mudassar, Simon W, Peter, Simon E, Guy, Alasdair, Derek, Matty

CCC Beat Mitford

There can be fewer more attractive places to play cricket than Mitford on a still, hazy mid-summer's evening. Nestling in the still countryside west of Morpeth, a church spire part-shrouded in the trees, and hayfields surrounding the ground, the bucolic atmosphere could have been depicted by Constable.

The whole thing must have gone to the skipper's head as after three balls someone pointed out that CCC had 12 players on the pitch. Someone else informed the skipper that it was traditional for cricket teams to only field 11 men. Proudy gallantly fell on his sword and stepped down after the shortest ever CCC debut, which, as two of Abra's first three deliveries were wides, had technically lasted only one ball. Proudy's chance will come...

The very next ball Abra found his line and the batsman edged to Greg, who was to have an evening where the ball seemed magnetically attracted to his gloves. Abra went on to take 5-4 from his 4 overs, which bearing on mind two of those runs were the aforementioned wides, was some haul. Everyone else chipped in with decent fielding, and Danny, Guy and Aly (3-28) carried the bowling attack, bowling the hosts out for 83 from 15.2 overs.

84 was a challenging target on such a bowler's paradise; a ground that sloped side to side and end to end, with a sticky wicket in the middle. However, in the absence of several key batsmen the players charged with the responsibility batted sensibly, keeping out the straight ones and dispatching the wide ones. Danny (13), Peter (18), Greg (21) and Mudassar (18 not out) all made contributions, with Mudassar producing another sublime/ridiculous innings which saw one ball fly over the clubhouse into the hayfield. CCC achieved their target from 15.2 overs - almost perfect symmetry, and proceeded to the pub in the village with the opposition, one of the friendlier teams in the league.

CCC 9 Mitford 1

Team: Danny, Peter, Greg, Mudassar, Abra, Simon E, Alasdair, Guy, Stuart, Matty, Cliff, and er... Proudy

CAP 'N DUCK

The Cap was a straight fight between Peter and Greg for all round excellent displays. Peter won it for a superb diving catch at point and an intelligent 18 which demonstrated how much he has matured as a batsman in recent weeks.

Despite nominations for Mudassar (banter and tradition's sake) and Guy (crimes against catching, self-election as vice captain) the duck went to Simon E for selecting, AND STARTING THE GAME with, 12 players