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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
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