Match Report Weekly

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BREDBURY 2nd XI V MOBBERLEY 16/08/08

After a week off due the miserable weather we’ve been having this summer, the seconds headed out to Mobberly with the weather forecast promising rain at some point before dark. Some how the team had managed to retain second place in the league but only by a couple of points however Bredbury were now 30 points behind leaders Sale, poinst were needed. The second team had been put together on the previous Monday from the wreckage left after first team absenteeism was covered, Mounty staying in the side, Barly senior coming in just before the transfer deadline for his first appearance of the season and young Nutts making a second appearance. The team arrived at Mobberly before any of the Mobberly players and had to wait a few minutes before anyone from the opposition turned up and then a few minutes long for someone from the opposition to turn up with the keys. The wicket looked good if a little damp but given the weather a little damp was pretty good going. Captain Evo continued to defy the laws of probability and Bredbury were asked to bat first.
A big debate eschewed, who should open, experience was decided upon and Mounty and Barly senior opened up with a combined age close to 100. The Mobberly openers looked a little rusty and Mounty punished anything loose, Barly contented himself with runs through third man much to the annoyance of the opposition. Eventually the young opener got one in the right spot and Barly top edged the ball straight up, the Mobberly slips and gulley converged on the ball but the difficult chance was not taken. The score passed all the usual markers, 30 after 10 overs, 60 before 20 overs, then the 100 came up before the 25 overs mark. Both batsmen were now playing some glorious shots all around the ground including cover drives by both batsmen that were straight out of the manual and not the Morris Minor Owners manual either. Barly reached the 50 mark first, Barly junior was by now asking for a lift home in someone else’s car, any car, just so long as his dad was out of ear shot. Mounty claimed his 50 soon after but perished immediately playing an ungainly slog to mid on. Young Green up next looking to emulate his dad and score a fifty. Initially Barly had to play school master and bark running instructions to his young partner, Barly not wanting to fall run out as he was now enjoying his batting and slapping the ball around at will. Fortunately for young Barly, senior misjudged a shorter ball that he thought was outside off and was bowled for 83, great come back innings. Smoking out next and out next, LBW, missed a straight one that he should have played straight down the ground rather than to leg. Captain Evo strode to the crease looking to push the score along and grab an early declaration but after a couple of nice shots, missed one and was bowled. Ben during this little collapse had been quietly building his score, nothing stood out as a powerful blast with lots of follow through but the ball ended up over the rope on a regular basis. Shot of the day was a drive, on tip toes, off the back foot all along the floor through long off . Young Nutts joined Greeny with the score on 180 ish, maximum batting points achieved and still 12 overs left. Nutts started cautiously not quite getting the pace of the pitch but getting Greeny on strike when ever possible, Young Green was now enjoying himself, especially savage on anything short, his height allows him to get under balls other batmen can’t get away. Then Nutts started to join the party and the score raced past 200, 220 until 230 with 3 overs to go and Ben on 49, Captain Evo thought about the declaration. Luckily for Ben it takes a long time for a thought to get from Evo’s brain to the working parts of his body and Ben completed his well played 50 before Evo declared on 239, giving Mobberly 2 additional over to get the runs or get themselves out.
After a splendid tea, Berty opened up with Becks, both started below par, Becks improved after a couple of overs, Berty did not, it seemed he wanted to use the bits of the pitch no one else had bowled on, the middle bit and the bits that had not been cut to the side of the wicket. However Berty did force a mistake in the first over but the chance was spilled by Young Green at cover, supposed to have your best fielder there. That was as good as it got for Berty, Becks at the other end built his pace and improved his line and was rewarded with wickets. First one opener beaten by the pace, then a pearl of a ball that squared up the other opener and took off stick, the number three did not last long but did very well to get an edge on a brute off a ball that lift up and way from the batsman, Greeny did the rest behind the stumps. Same over leg stick yorker got Becks his fourth. Captain Evo dropped a low chance at first slip, Ben went for a high catch that should have been left for Barly coming round from point and Becks was replaced by Barly senior before he could grab his fifth. At this point the Barlows were monopolising the bowling, younger had replaced Berty and was finding a great line and a little turn. His father showed him the way, clean bowling Simon Burgess, then getting slapped for 3 fours in an over followed by another wicket LBW. Young Barly was now pleading for someone else to take him home and put him up for a few weeks ! Then the heavens opened, well properly opened, Mobberly had gamely played on through the lighter stuff but a heavy burst saw everyone dive for the covers. Two hours pasted as the rain eased, almost stopped then started again. Finally it stopped, Bredbury had 9 overs to get 4 wickets, the covers were removed, the fielders took position, the batsmen walked out, turned around and walked back as the rain came back, all very frustrating. Bredbury had to settle for the draw, fair play to Mobberly who took the situation in good humour and didn’t moan about having to hanging around.

BREDBURY 2ND XI VS WARRINGTON (CUP)

Bredbury seconds were back on the road to first division Warrington for the second round of the cup, this would be a good test as the teams’ ambition is to play in the higher division next year. The team arrived at Warrington with an under 15s game drawing to a conclusion but this was interrupted by a heavy down pour which lead to a delayed start to our game a reduction in overs to 35 each. Catain Evo’s tossing doesn’t get any better and Bredbury were asked to bat on a wet looking wicket.
Rips and Snicker Wilson opened up but neither lasted long with single figures against their name. Clarkie was joined by Ben with the former being tested by a early barrage of short pitch bowling, copping one on the thumb and one on the elbow. A change brought about his demise as he spooned a cut shot to point. Joe in next looking to avoid the king pair for the weekend, played some forceful shot with Ben to move the score along to a more respectable level before Ben fell. Young Keys came in next, the left hand right hand combination up setting the returning opening bowler, allowing Keys to play some glorious shots off the front foot and some less than convincing shots off the back foot. Both batmen fell around the same time leaving Captain Evo at the wicket with Mellor P. Evo never looked comfortable and spooned one to gulley. Young Knuts joined Mellor and they formed a nice little partnership until Mellor was run out with a direct hit from the deep. Bertie and Knuts saw out the final few overs with Bredbury posting a respectable 144.
After a brilliant tea, butties, hot snacks and apple pie, Bredbury took to the field, Bertie and Macca opened up. First ball wide of the off stick from Bertie, ball jagged back in and kept very low taking the off stick, fantastic start. The Warrington captain in next and he could have gone first ball however it was the batsman at the other end who committed hari kari charging down the wicket from the non strike end, Snicker zoomed in threw to Bertie for an easy run out. Time for Warrington to dig in maybe, no, Macca had found a better rhythm at one end while Bertie was being punished for anything on the stumps by the opposition captain, who flicked and pulled everything to leg. Change the field thought Evo, so Bredbury spent a good 4 or 5 minutes adjusting the legside field, two on the boundary one in and one behind square. The very next ball the Warrington captain chipped one to Ben at deep mid wicket who took a good low catch, it was probably the most stupid bit of cricket we’ve seen all season. Macca then chipped in with an LBW to leave Warrington 4 down, we had been tipped off before the match that Warrington were a bit light on batting, get through the first 4 and its yours. Bredbury felt comforatable especially when Warrington contrived another run out and Bertie got his third caught by Knuts behind the stumps. Six down for 40 and two young lads at the wicket however Bertie and Macca had bowled out leaving Evo to find 21 over from the part timer bowlers. Keys bowled an excellent spell and Snicker bowled with pace but the two young Warrington batman consolidated then started to mix hard hitting with good running. Rips came on to take the pace off the ball but the Warrington players simply put the pace back on the ball, thumping it to the boundary. Ben had a go, then Snicker returned but no wicket could be forced and Warrington knocked the runs off with 5 overs to spare. Job done though, out of the cup and having Warrington 6 down for 40 certainly gave them a scare.

Other pages:

Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club Official Website