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Indoor 6 a-side league: Boldon beat CCC

After the euphoria induced by last week's opening day win over Mitford CC confidence was riding high in the CCC camp. This week's opponents however were none other than last year's competition winners - Boldon CC - and would prove to be a somewhat more formidable side.

One thing I am sure of winning these days is the toss and for the second week running I elected to bat first. Without regular opener Chris Smith available, Matt P was promoted to open the batting with 'numero uno' Nick T. Despite having strength in depth in terms of their bowling attack, both openers proceeded to spray many balls of the opening overs around resulting in expensive wides. In fact CCC had 14 runs on the board before Nick opened his account off the blade with a glorious straight drive for 4. A young and well drilled fielding side meant quick singles were riskier than ever so Nick and Matt had to box clever, and that they did as both worked the ball round well culminating in 25*'s all round. I replaced Matt who was first to retire and managed to add another 7 before being out to a decent catch. Simon W wasted no time in adding an unbeaten 12 to the board. With most of the innings being dominated by wides and the batting of Nick and Matt it was left to Simon W and Matty K to see out the final few overs, finishing on a par total of 121.

With Chris missing we brought in an extra bowler in the guise of Derek who despite harbouring some seasonal aliments added to our bowling options. He and Matt P opened the bowling and we soon saw why these lads ended up as league champions in '09. Despite a snick to a would-be slip off Matt's very first delivery the Boldon batsmen all looked at ease at the crease. It was a welcome return to form for Matty K who banished the memories of last week with a tight display of spin bowling. In an innings of few chances the highlight from our point of view was the left-footed strike from Derek straight into the hands of Matty K who executed a fine run out in what was to be our only scalp of the Boldon batsmen. Nick added a couple of overs before they knocked off our respectable total in the penultimate over of the game.

Against a team who will be there or thereabouts by the end of this competition I would like to think that if we play like that every week then we will pick up quite a few more points indeed.