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Like so many other matches this season, this one went to the last ball. Like most of those other matches, CCC were unable to close the game out, and lost by 1 run.
On a humid evening, Heaton presented perfect batting conditions, with a hard beige strip and a shortish boundary towards the pavilion. The Adders skipper on winning the toss had no hesitation but to bat. It looked as though that decision had paid off as Wilkin set about the bowling with relish, easing the visitors to 60-1 off 7 overs. Then two wickets in two balls by Matt got CCC back into it, and in the following over Derek made a breakthrough and effected a run out. Adders never recovered and amassed only 87 all out from 13 overs. Superb spells from Matt (3-24), Derek (3-19) and Mudassar (1-3), and excellent all round fielding and catching.
It should have been a cakewalk for CCC, but alas it wasn't to be. Mudassar was out early, but Alan and Greg steadied the ship and set up the victory, reaching 36 before Alan was bowled by Wilkin (2-16). At 40-2 off 7 overs CCC were well in charge. Greg then hit a long hop down the throat of (guess who) Wilkin at short mid-wicket, and Matt was caught behind chasing a wide half volley.
More importantly Adders change bowlers were as good as their early bowlers. Mavin, a former Tynedale pro, took 2-15 bowling left arm seamers around the wicket, and was well nigh impossible to get away. In the end Wilkin took two more catches at short mid-wicket as people looked for the short boundary from outside off stump. Needing 5 from two balls of Mavin's final over, Simon E smashed a cast iron down the ground four straight into the beer gut of the bowler and skied the following ball too high and not far enough towards the pavilion, leaving CCC one run short.
CCC had 12 players unavailable for this match and at one point looked as though they would only have a team of 9. Thanks to Andy for volunteering to play despite a shoulder injury AND a side strain, and for 15 year old Sam Ruddick coming into the side, a full 11 was fielded, and CCC can most certainly be proud of their bowling and fielding. The batting, though, for the second week running, left something to be desired. Adders 7, CCC 4
Team: Alan, Mudassar, Greg, Matt, Simon E, Ian, Sam, Andy, Derek, Cliff, Tim
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