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As CCC prepares for the opening match of the 2007 season away to Seaton Burn, it's worth casting our minds back to the previous visit to play the side then known as Travellers, in mid-summer 2004.
Travellers batted first. Their line up contained at least five Seaton Burn under 12s and CCC realised if they could get through the top order quickly their hosts could be kept to a small total. This was the outcome as only Morrison with 27, Knight (11) and Gray (11) reached double figures. To their credit the youngsters at the end of the innings did not give their wickets away without a fight, but were prepared to play straight and defensively. Travellers finished on 63 all out. Rian (3-16) and David Graham (3-25) did most of the damage, with Cliff (1-9) and Derek (2-13) also chipping in.
It should have been a cakewalk for CCC, but like Australia they sometimes struggle chasing small totals. Even so an opening partnership of 23 between Rian (17) and Tom Woolhead (9) looked to have set them on their way. Rian hit two huge sixes over cover, and one four. Then the collapse set in as no one else could reach double figures. In the end Roger played the Mike Hussey role making 9 not out, and Derek hit a couple of punchy shots to see CCC home by 3 wickets (66-7). It could have been very different but for the sun momentarily getting in the umpire's eyes as Derek atempted a risky run, thus forcing him to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt.
One final querk - all seven CCC wickets were bowled, on a pitch that offered a little bit of movement for the slow-medium brigade. Even so, some complacency had seeped into CCC's performace in their generally relentless roll towards promotion.
Team: Rian, Tom W, David Graham, Simon E, Simon W, John Reed, Roger, Keith Hayward, Derek, Andy Holburn, Cliff
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