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Last week saw CCC participate in two fantastic games of cricket in two days. Both finished in the last over, but were in fact very different.
On Tuesday CCC met Coquet at Heaton, won the toss and batted. 115-4 was about par. This was reached with solid opening from the two Simons, and a spectacluar 52 off about 26 balls by Rian (at number 4). CCC remained in control of the game taking wickets at the right time, though the Coquet opener scored 60. A win seemed to be on the cards until with two balls remaining and 5 required, a Coquet tailender top edged the ball over the short boundary for 6. This was a gut-wrenching defeat, but if CCC take a long hard look at themselves, it was once again the catching which lost the match, with 5 chances being spilled compared to only one (and that a hard caught and bowled) by the visitors.
Coquet 8, CCC 3
Team: Simon W, Simon E, Mudassar, Rian, Ian, Keith R, Alan, Peter, Andy, Cliff, Tim
On Wednesday CCC arrived at the County Ground, Jesmond, to find one of the smallest bounded pitches ever seen, approximately 70 yards from midwicket to cover boundary. This was to lead to a run glut, and it has to be said, made for a frustrating bowling/fielding experience. TTTV, despite an absence of screen stars appeared to have recruited about 5 club batsmen. Winning the toss they chose to bat. It soon became apparent that slow bowling was the order of the day. Gerry made his first league appearance for 3 years, bowling two overs, and Cliff excelled with 4-0-23-3. Rian and Tim had less luck, though both bowled well enough. The last over from Tim was targeted and went for 37, though it should be said that at Heaton (say) the damage would have been much less. Incredibly, from a totally demoralised half time, CCC picked themselves up and won, thanks to another blistering effort from Rian (51 off about 25 balls), 19 from Ian, and (after a slow start) a brilliant 50 from Mudassar. CCC's fielding was much improved in this game with excellent catches from Alan and Mudassar, and superb ground fielding, especially from Keith Hayward.
CCC 8, TTTV 3
Team: Rian, Greg, Mudassar, Ian, Simon E, John, Alan, Keith H, Cliff, Gerry, Tim
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