DOWNE CRICKET CLUB
MATCH REPORTS 2008
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Sunday 4th May -v- Catford Cyphers ----Lost by 7 wickets
A sorry tale of woe !!!!!
Downe batted first in a 40 overs game and struggled to be all out for 58 miserable
runs. Top scorer was Matt Warne with 14.
Catford did lose 3 wickets but were in no trouble reaching their target in just 12
overs.
Not much to talk about really..........it didn't rain......it wasn't sunny......
nobody fell over.......zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Oh - Captain Jack did mend the showers, up a ladder, naked, unfortunately I didn't
have my camera with me ---- but on second thoughts it's probably best left just to
your imagination.
Bob Holden
Sunday 27th April -v- Farnborough ----Won by 1 run
The Perfect Start
The first match of the season is eagerly awaited by all, especially those lovely
tea ladies who have twiddled their fingers and thumbs not quite knowing what to
do on a Sunday afternoon.
The weather held up nicely until people began to turn up, and the first of many
showers began.
The skipper had obviously been recruiting hard as the same ragbag mix slunk into
the changing rooms. Smudger appears to be defying the rules of nature as he
appears younger each year or has he been dying that tash !!
Skip continued his winning streak by taking the toss, and as per usual electing
to bat. Things did not start particularly well with an early wicket falling.
The wide short ball can be lethal at this time of year when timing has not been found, and an easy catch given.
JD had obviously set the bowling machine for the forward defensive as he
stoutly remained defiant for 13 overs before being bowled for 5.
Parf raised the tempo at the other end hitting a robust 44 including 3 sixes,
before hitting one big shot too many. A big hitting partnership then arose
between Chris and Baby David making 77 and 21 respectively. A further 11 sixes
being struck between them, Chris making the lions share with 9.
A useful looking total of 172 - 5 was made, and everyone settled down to a
hearty tea. In fact some found in difficult to move afterwards and trudged
begrudgingly out to field.
Strike bowlers were hard to come by in 2007 and 2008 does not look to be any
different. The new season saw the demise of Denzil who is apparently injured,
so Warney and Tom opened up. I know the wicket was slow but the keeper even
managed to read the papers whilst waiting for the ball to arrive. The oppo did
not seem to be bothered too much and posted a useful opening partnership.
Tragedy then struck as Warney, who does appear to be carrying some extra pounds,
crumpled under the spindles that he calls legs. Disaster, no not the injury,
but 2 balls from our skipper. The first the batsmen tried to send into orbit
and was nearly stumped, the second merely troubled the local aircraft.
The skipper then rotated the 'spin triplets' of Chris, Baby David and Parf. Baby
David gaining early success with one that turned sharply to take the stumps.
Not much then really happened with a mixture of defensive batting and some mighty
blows over the ropes.
The skipper mindful of the need to find some pace looked around his team before
electing on Sweet. The time in the gym was obviously well spent as all of a
sudden the wicket quickened and the batsmen look hurried. One batsmen bowled
and another dropped changed the complextion of the game.
With 5 overs remaining the run rate was around 9, though a comedy over from Tom
knocked that down a little. The last over saw the oppo needing six to win. Tom
came good and bowled a superb over winning the game by one run.
Not only was a winning start made but everyone even managed to get a hot shower
as the skipper had doubled capacity to accommodate Spindles.
Man of the match - Chris Trevatt. (despite a few forward defensive shots in the
last over)
Matt Walker (Match reporter)
For those not in the "know" here is a translation of the nicknames used :-
Smudger or JD - John Denton
Skip - Graham Hobbs
Parf - Martin Parfett
Chris - Chris Trevatt
Baby David - David Holden
Denzil - Jon Sandford
Warney or Spindles - Matt Warne
Tom - Tom Hobbs
Sweet - Matt Walker
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