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After the euphoria of last week's fine win against table-topping ORPs, CCC have come down to earth with a bump, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on three occasions in five days.
OVINGHAM (F) - Sunday 27th June
The annual away friendly at sweltering Clara Vale was brought forward to 10.30 in order to finish in time for England v Germany. Unfortunately at the start time only Simon E, Gerry and debutant Chandra had arrived, with Johnson's car lost in transit and Guy's car in the possession of his mother. On agreement with the opposition Gerry and Simon opened, and did so tentatively. Gerry struck the ball well, but to fielders, and Simon (30 retired) only got going when other players finally arrived. Mark Nicholls on his debut hit a fine 33 (retired) and Ian Smithson (25) another good knock on his second appearance in a CCC shirt. 121 of 20 overs should have been enough, but it wasn't to be. With everyone bowling at least two overs, Nicholls, debutant Tom Mullee and Johnson all bowled well and pacily without luck. In the end it was Hash and Ian S who picked up the wickets, and Johnson took two tidy slip catches, but a couple of leaky overs in the middle of the innings and at least three dropped catches cost CCC as they slipped to final over defeat. And there was no consolation in the football either.
CCC: Gerry, Simon E, Mark, John E, Ian S, Hash, Peter, Ian J, Tom, Guy, Chandra
SEATON BURN - Tuesday 29th June
Another case of CCC setting what should have been a defendable target, this time 125 (Fiaz 38, Matt P 55), but failing to defend it, succumbing to a penultimate ball defeat (Nicholls and Fiaz two wickets apiece).
CCC: Nick, Fiaz, Peter, Matt P, Mudassar, Ewan, Mark, Ian S, Ian J, Matty, Guy
WEST END - Thursday 1st July
And yet again a repeat. CCC bat first, Chris (58) and Simon E (54) put on 118 nfor the first wicket, but both get out with a couple of overs left leaving the difficulty for new batsmen of trying to score in dark, windy conditions right from the off. The result was CCC 130-2 instead of 140-2. Even then it shouldn't have mattered as Mark N (2) and Ewan reduced West End to 7-3 from 3 overs before Ali (40), Ahmed (49 not out) and Azam (37 not out off 17 balls) gave relegation rivals West End an unlikely win with an over to spare. No dropped catches this time, but too many four balls and some dodgy fielding.
CCC: Chris, Simon E, Matt P, Fiaz, Peter, Simon W, Mudassar, Mark, Ewan, Matty, Guy
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