Login

CCC Somehow by a Freak of Nature Lose to Mallards

Match Report by Timothy 'Wes' Hall

It was welcome back to Medicals last night for MCC playing against CCC. Batting first MCC started slowly with a unusually low 10 from John Rob with Leon holding an end and his own (sic) to almost see the innings through with a great 23. Matt hit a great 36 including 2 sixes before CCC ‘guest’ Ansari took 3 quick wickets with stunningly good fast leg spin and he made an impressive run out. All except Colin who was ready, gloved and padded but did not get a bat, scored runs, with a usual classy innings from Simon, for an MCC total of 117 off 20 six balls. The exception was Rob who walked back with a duck, a true Mallard.

Tony and Tim opened the bowling and bowled well 1 for 8 and 2 for 12 from their 4 each giving MCC a very good start - the bowl (sic) moving well. Jim continued this spell, 2 wickets for 20, supported by Colin and Matty, Tom and Leon all who had to bowl to ‘guest’ Ansari who hit his 11 balls for 18 before being caught very well by Tony Cleaver. The fact he had been sent in at 6 and not 11 showed CCC were rattled.

Colin held his nerve in his final over and Rob worked a blinder behind the stumps and MCC coasted to a win by 12 runs with all players fielding well.

A much needed victory, a much deserved win.

CCC CULL BOARS

Unchanged CCC registered another comprehensive victory in hazy conditions at Heaton on Wednesday.

Mitford Boars won the toss and put CCC into bat, and this decision looked to have paid off in the first over when the impressive M Lees bowled Nick for 0. Chris and Greg then put together a sensible partnership only really pressing the accelerator once the innings was past the half way point. Chris holed out for 38, and Greg was joined by Mudassar, whose innings veered between hi-quality, hi-farce and hi-larity.

Amongst the lusty blows he "tripped over" the ball when he was about to be run out, refused several clear cut singles, and attempted a reverse sweep off the last ball of the innings which almost saw him caught behind. He ended on 39 not out (and deservedly neted the 'duck' in the post match awards ceremony), Greg made 42, and the skipper a plucky two ball nought not out as CCC ended on 135-3.

Mitford never really challenged the total, with Cliff once again weaving his magic to take 3-24, and Aly chipping in with 3-23. The catching was once again impeccable with Simon E (2), Simon W, Nick and Guy all contributing. The innings was wrapped up with a wicket for Finkill - Peter that is - as CCC recorded a 47 run victory.

CCC 10 pts Mitford Boars 1

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

Cap: Peter F
Duck: Mudasser

SPENCER SETS RAT TRAP

Cliff Spencer, Chris Smith and Nick Tomlinson were the stars as CCC saw off Ratcatchers at a sunny Corbridge CC last night.

The home side won the toss and chose to bat. Derek and Guy opened the bowling well, but without much reward, until Keady was run out. The other opener, Fowler, hit 38, but no one else was to exceed 14, after Cliff came into the attack second change. Assisted by efficient catching from Simon E (2), Chris (2) and Simon W, Cliff took 5-30 from his four overs. Alasdair chipped in with 2-31 as Ratcatchers set a total of 122-9 from 14 overs.

CCC's reply was as effective as it had been at Percy Main a fortnight ago. Chris dominated the scoring with some great pulls and late cuts, whilst Nick's driving down the ground was top class. They looked as if they would rattle off another 10 wicket win until Chris was bowled by Geoff Nevin for 71. Greg, on his return from university, was unluckily given out for 0, but Mudassar blasted his first ball to the boundary to give CCC another convincing win, with Nick unbeaten on 37.

CCC 9 pts, Ratcatchers 2

Team: Nick, Chris, Greg (w), Mudassar, Simon E (c), Simon W, Peter, Alasdair, Derek, Guy, Cliff

CCC ABLE TO FOCUS ON LEAGUE

It was a case of not quite enough runs from the 12 overs on the board last night as CCC exited the cup in the first round against Paddlers at Heaton. Put into bat CCC saw Chris heading back to the pavilion with a duck, understandably the pressure was on at once and the wicket would just not let the ball come on, so patience was the order of the night for CCC’s batters. Simon Woodman batted well playing some fine shots but again the lack of pace was a problem and these shots were unfairly rewarded when they went to a fielder or hardly off the square at times. Successive batsmen, Peter caught of a certain 4 and John and Ali all assisted Mussy who played a fine innings scoring 34 to end the innings on lowly 68.

CCC figured Paddlers would have the same problems when they batted.

The seamers started, Derek and Tim, and despite some useful deliveries pace (ish) balling was not the order of the night particularly against Paddlers opening batsmen who was playing well. It seemed by 4 overs 68 was too low a target to post but then enter the Cliff and Ali show supported very well by Gerry. Ali bowling economically and Cliff with two wickets both caught by Ali suddenly turned the game around and when Gerry put in a great over with a wicket from a fantastic catch by Peter (almost Monkseaton standard) it was well and truly game back on. Derek was brought on for the penultimate over and was unlucky to see a batsmen who had not troubled all night hit a four to set up Cliff a last over task of not to concede more than 3. Sadly CCC fell short and the game was over with 5 balls to spare.

Given the lack of proven batsmen who could score a lot of runs this was a reasonable performance, an early wicket would have helped our cause but now CCC can truly and unfortunately concentrate on the league and perhaps go one better than a few years ago when they were runners up?

Team: Chris, Simon W, Mudasser, Peter, John, Ali, Roger, Tim, Derek, Gerry, Cliff

10 MAN CCC SEE OFF SAGE

CCC got their season off to a belated but successful start at Percy Main CC last night. This was a home fixture which had to be played at the north Tyneside ground because of the unavailability of Heaton and Cochrane Park.

Having won the toss Sage were invited to bat on a pitch that was slow and low following the wet April. Despite CCC's attack being a throwback to the glory days of the 90s, a breakthrough was slow in coming, but eventually Derek and Cliff struck in successive overs. The change bowlers were Alasdair, on his CCC debut after signing from first division ORPS, and Tim Hall. Alasdair took two wickets, but Tim was the pick of the bowlers, getting effective in-swing and taking 3-16 from three overs. Only young opener Sam Hogg resisted with 61, as Sage ended on 105-7 from 14 overs.

Despite a few lively deliveries which induced some playing and missing, Sage's atack was inconsistent and bowled too many wides. Chris and Nick were rarely troubled, and in the end Chris opened his shoulders and finished the game in 10 overs with 60 not out. Nick remained unbeaten on 27: CCC 106-0.

CCC 9 pts Sage 2 pts

Team: Chris, Nick, Simon W (w), Peter, Simon E (c), Alasdair, Roger, Derek, Cliff, Tim