Logo: Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club
The saints travelled to newly promoted Marple for the season opener. During the summer transfer window Bedbury have not brought in an overseas player just yet, however Dan Wigley was brought in from Hazel Grove.
As Bredbury arrived at the ground they were pleasantly surprised by the green outfield and good looking track. Under closer inspection the outfield was a bit soft and the wicket low and slow, but given the recent weather Marple did a good job of preparing a decent track.
The two skippers exchanged pleasantries and sure enough the toss was lost and the saints were asked to bat. D.Carr and Leesy were sent out as the saints watched from the Marple balcony. Leesy started off in typical fashion sending his first two to balls to the fence for 4 before getting a top edge off a pull shot and was caught at fine leg. Legs strode out at three but then strode back as he was judged to have been caught behind. At 13-2 the good start the saints were looking for had obviously eluded them. Woody and D.Carr offered some resistance and brought the scores to 51-2 off 21overs.
Whilst watching the match the Bredbury lads saw Sullyman’s car driving out of the ground as he and Barley made a pit stop for some food. I should explain that before the match in the changing rooms Bredbury had decided upon the re-introduction of fines, and a fines committee being elected. Leaving the ground without the captain’s permission can only be described as a school boy’s error! And a fine was quickly enforced. Keys seemed to decide he didn’t want to be left out of the fines as his bat fell from the Marple balcony bounced on the concrete and landed just outside the boundary.
It wasn’t long before D.Carr brought up his 50 playing good quality shots receiving a warm applause before falling on 69, Woody fell next for a gritty 24. Sandsy was next to make a good contribution to the score with his 29 getting his eye in fist then playing aggressively in the final few overs.
At tea Bredbury had posted 167-7 which seemed acceptable if not quite the score Bredbury were looking for. Marple offered us another pleasant surprise in the form of the teas which included sausages and chicken drumsticks, easily the best teas of the season so far!
After tea Bredbury looked at the weather conditions and followed Tango and D.Carrs example in wearing three and four jumpers respectively whilst some of us were left with only t-shirts on!
Sullyman was given the new ball and started by offering the Marple batsmen two full bungers to start the innings, thankfully Sully saw the error of his ways and then beat the bat with his next delivery using the angle achieved from a left arm over bowler to a right handed batsmen. Sully then settled into this line and length bowling very tightly and picking up two wickets in his first spell. Wickets did not fall quickly but steadily as Marple fell to 30-5, with Nutt’s, Woody and Legs each picking up a wicket. Barley and new boy Dan Wigley or Wiggers were given the ball. Barley started off well enjoying plenty of grip from the track and picking up a wicket. After a nervous first over Dan settled into a nagging line and length from a batsmen’s point of view and picked up his first wicket for the saints. Marple finished around 20 runs short leaving the saints with 10 points. Credit must be given to a young number 5 who frustrated the Bredbury attack and finished on 71 not out.
Next week the saints will entertain Grappenhall at the BCG looking for the first win of the season.
Bredbury entertained Grappenhall in the first home match of the season. After a solid but frustrating match last week the saints were keen to make amends.
As per usual Woody lost the toss and Bredbury were inserted on a slightly damp track. Gippo and Leesy opened up just as last week and the saints got off to a remarkably similar start Leesy hit a couple of boundaries in his first over and then just as last week top edged a pull shot that went straight down fine legs throat, luckily for Leesy however the fielder was not the same as last week and the catch was dropped. Leesy continued to try and score whenever possible but this proved tricky on the wicket as he skied a straight drive that was again dropped. The two openers looked to make Grappenhall pay for the dropped catches, unfortunately just as Leesy and Gippo seemed to be settling down into a good rhythm a good diving stop at gully led to a mix up and Leesy run out for 30. Leggo was summoned next but found the going tough as balls would pop up off a length or shoot through without warning, whilst Leggo was concentrating on the pitch Gippo seemed to develop a hip injury which worsened as Gippo remarkably hit a six and then fell to a knee in pain as if he was about to be knighted. Some deep heat spray allowed Gippo to move more freely only to fall for a hard fought 25. Leggo fell next in his high teens leaving the saints 100-3. Woody and Keys consolidated for a few overs before trying to push the score along. This was easier said than done however as the ball stopped on the very slow pitch. Woody seemed to be coping with conditions the better of the two finding the boundary wherever possible. Just as Woody seemed to be getting into his stride he dollied a full toss to a short mid wicket for a gritty 34. Sandsy was the net man in but fell for 2 as he was caught and bowled quite brilliantly, meanwhile Keys tried to keep the score ticking along. Tinker came in at 7 but was again well caught and bowled as he hit a sweetly timed straight drive straight back to the bowler. At the end of the 50 overs Bredbury struggled to 168-7 with Keys 36 not out and Nutt’s 1 not out.
After a discussion in the changing rooms Woody and Sully decided to swap end’s and give Sullyman a chance to come down the hill, a decision that would turn out to be entirely justified! Sullyman took the first over and dismissed one Grappenhall opener with his second ball. Both Woody and Sully enjoyed some indifferent bounce as they each found green patches just back of a length. It has to be said that Sully’s line and length was excellent as he took wicket after wicket claiming 5 in his first mammoth spell of 14 overs. At the other end Woody bowled equally well in his spell of 13 overs but was left frustrated as balls continually went passed the outside edge. Woody bowled maiden after maiden and really worked hard for his 2 wickets. Leggo took over from Chris and enjoyed even more bounce from his superior height and soon took a wicket with a ball angled in at the batsmen that Tango eagerly took under the helmet. At 59-8 the game seemed as good as over but a spirited partnership took the scores to 119-8. Thankfully Barley broke the partnership leaving Sully to claim the last wicket with only 3 overs to go securing the win. Credit must be given to Sully as he deservedly claimed his best figures for the saints of 6-29.
The saints made the long trip up the M53 to Irby this weekend, the two skippers did what they do best ‘lie about last week’ and finally tossed up, At last Woody won the toss on a wicket that looked good given the weather recently, It has to be said that Irby’s track is usually a road but this week it was a road with a lowish bounce although Irby did a good job of preparing a decent track regardless of what time of year it was. Rips was brought in instead of Leesy and took on the unfortunate responsibility of opening with Gippo (If anyone knows how to spell his knick name Carey? please tell me as this would make my job so much easier). Rips was under instructions to play his natural game and basically put away the bad ball but fell for less than 10. Leggo eagerly strode out next but it was not long before he was caught behind for 4. Adi was given the privilege of the number four spot and seemed to be very relaxed at the crease, with Gippo and Adi at the crease the language barrier must have been a problem as Gippo rather uncharicteristcally charged down the pitch and drove the ball straight to short cover. Woody resumed his more natural number five spot and brought out his long practised sweep shot wherever possible (ok maybe a nurdle off the legs as his dodgy knee would not allow a sweep shot). Adi fell next for a hard worked 19 but not enough unfortunately for him not enough to escape from a fine for scoring less than 20 in the top six. Keys was summoned next and tried to play shots but it soon became obvious that this was a slow and low pitch and every run would be hard worked for. Woody fell as he tried to push the score along for anther gritty 34. Sanos fell next for 7 including a effortless 6 off that quality piece of willow he holds. Keys was excellently bowled by a leg spinner that pitched outside leg yet clipped his off stump (ok maybe slightly biased) in the late teens. With Tinker and Sullyman at the crease Bredbury had no option but to bat the full 55 overs. Tinker Batted well but fell late on for 10. Sullyman meanwhile scored more runs than the whole of last season with his 15 including his first maximum for the saints. To put it bluntly the saints limped to a very disappointing 141 all out.
After a tea that was worthy of the one hour drive which included pizza, sausages and home baked cakes Bredbury looked to strike early and put Irby on the back foot and strike we did!
After a kiss on Keys’s lucky head from the office (the newly shaved and visible one to all those with a dirty mind!). Woody took a wicket with only his second ball that dropped into Keys eagerly waiting gloves. Sully bowled well but was unlucky to go wicket less. Adi replaced Sully and set about mixing his balls up that confused our wicketkeeper, never mind the opposition batsmen, the delivery from 25 yards was a particular favourite!!! Woody meanwhile kept plugging away at his end and finished with figures of 2-14 off his opening spell off 13 overs (a very effective partnership of Adi and Woody from my point of view at least). Nutt’s was the next bowler to make a effective contribution with his usual (quite frankly quality) in-swingers and picking up his first notable wickets of the season and figures off 3-18, however the pick of the bowlers must be Adi with 3-49 off his 17 overs, his variation was what could be described as a breath of fresh air kept opposition batsmen cautious and unsure in what was next to come out of his hand!
Irby finished on 113-9 after their 45 overs in which (although very early season) turned out to be a far from exhilarating top of table clash.
Bredbury travelled to Mobberly on Saturday hoping for a win to charge up the table.
Just as every other week Woody lost the toss and the saints were inserted. Gippo and Leesy opened up and made a steady start. Gippo fell first for 14 with the scores 35-1 from 15 overs. Our newly appointed number 3 Tinker scratched around for runs and was frustrated by some back of a length bowling, Unfortunatly Leesy was also experiencing the same problems and fell for a frustrated 22. At the half way stage the scores were just 50-2. Woody looked to put his foot on the gas but fell in the mid twenties. Tinker was the next to fall caught behind after a blatant edge onto is belly that fell into the wicket keepers hands. Coxy fell next for a quick fire 25, followed by Keys for 30. Adi and Keys junior put the hammer down as Keys junior took one over for 29 (with 4 leg byes) including two superb maximum’s which secured the full 10 batting points and gave the crowd something to cheer about. Unfortunately Keys fell in the next over going for another maximum and was caught on the edge for 26. Nutts fell next for 6, and then Beck’s fell for a golden duck and a £1 fine. Bredbury finished on 208.
Woody and Becks opened the bowling but unfortunately Mobberly got off to a better start than the saints. Woody struck first and then Beck’s took a wicket only a couple of overs later. After 11 overs Mobberley were 30-3, the introduction of Adi proved beneficial as he took a wicket in his very first over and put Bredbury firmly in the driving seat. Barley was introduced into the attack and enjoyed some good turn and was unlucky to pick up only one wicket. Nutts was introduced and enjoyed some big swing even by his standards. A late order spurt put Mobberly in reach of the target and some lusty blows helped them home.
Bredbury hosted Tattenhall this week as the saints looked for a good result to push up the table. Predictably Woody lost the toss (in fact we are thinking about just asking next weeks skipper whether he wants to bat or bowl as the outcome would be exactly the same) and the saints were inserted.
Monty (Gippo’s new nickname as Leggo likened him to Montgomery Burns from the simpsons as he struggles to summon the strength to lift his bat) and Leesy opened up again and got us off to a flyer. Last week Monty was outscoring Leesy up until the 10 over mark, this week Leesy had no desire for that to happen again and set off like a train. With just 5 overs gone Bredbury were 50-0 as Leesy dispatched balls to all parts of the ground and to numerous roof tops as well. It would be unfair to give Leesy all the credit from the opening stages as Monty was not as slow as usual with some glorious drives and cut shots popping up in between his beloved forward defensive. Leesy fell first for 44 in the eight over which brought Tinker to the crease, Tinks was hoping to make the number three spot his own but things didn’t go to plan as he was dropped early doors then got the benefit of the doubt with a run out and was finally bowled round his legs for an unprecedented 7-3. This brought Woody to the crease who started off with some great cover drives, unfortunately Monty fell on just ten short of his 50. Woody continued to score freely and it was not long before he brought up his 50. Keys fell next for 21 which brought Coxy to the crease, unfortunately Coxy fell for 6 which does not reflect his recent form. It must be said that since Coxy has been promoted he’s really stepped up to the plate and now is a reliable number in the batting order. Woody fell for a fantastic 74, which brought Tango to the crease who’s 30 run cameo saw balls dispatched to numerous gardens. Bredbury finished on an impressive 254.
After a good first half Woody and Becks took the new ball, Tinker keen to make a good impression specifically requested to go in the office. Woody obliged and only the second ball of the innings took the batsmen’s edge and looped straight into Tinker’s eagerly waiting hands but then fell from Tinker’s eagerly awaiting hands to the floor and since the batsmen was on 0 it was easy for the fines committee to enforce the 2p per run scored after the dropped catch fine. Woody struck in his next over trapping the other opener LBW. At the other end Becks enjoyed some good swing and was unlucky not to pick up an early wicket. The first bowling change saw the introduction of Dicko and Nutts, Dicko enjoyed some good turn and bounce and picked up 3 wickets throughout his 12 over spell. After Nutt’s spell Tango was introduced and made sure Tattenhall we not going to get near the Bredbury total. Tattenhall finished on 213-8.
The saints arrived in high spirits this weekend where unbelievably Woody came back from the middle grinning and bragging that he had won the toss! Woody elected to bat, but before the game could start we had a court hearing! The now infamous fines book had a complaint, non other than Sullyman who decided to appeal against fines for being injured. The fines committee assembled (Leesy, Keys and Woody) who advised Sultan that a precedent had already been set with Leggo who has been fined 50p every week since his injury. Sully argued that his situation was different as Leggo’s injury is not cricket related where as Sully’s was. The fines committee advised Sultan that the fine being imposed on Leggo just states ‘injury’ and nothing else and duly found Sultan Guilty and his fines where doubled along with Sultan being ordered to pay legal fees. With order restored Monty and Leesy opened up and just like last week got us off to a flier and raced to 53-0 from 12 overs, Leesy fell first going for one shot too many for a good 45. Tango had been promoted up the order after last weeks display but only troubled the scorers for one before being trapped LB. Monty fell next in the 22nd over for a patient 24, this seemed to start a collapse as the scores slumped from 72-0 to a dismal 118-8. After such a good start Bredbury were now staring down the barrel. Cometh the our cometh the man, Becks strode out at number 9 and showed our middle order how to bat starting off slowly then accelerating to earn Bredbury 6 batting points. Becks fell in the 48th over for a priceless 31 which included two maximums worth mentioning. It would be unfair to give Becks all the credit as he was helped out at the other end by Macca who proved a solid bat at the other end and carried his bat for an equally valuable 11. At tea Bredbury had posed 169-9.
Woody and Sullyman opened up and Woody took 2 wickets in his fifth over, Sully at the other end was still struggling with his hip but put the ball in the right places and was unlucky to go wicket less. Dicko was introduced and enjoyed some good turn and bounce which led to Coxy putting down a chance at short backward square (this would go on to cost him £1.24). Woody continued from his end and picked up his third wicket in his first spell of 13 overs. Tango was introduced to keep things tight and duly picked up a wicket. Becks replaced Dicko who was unlucky to only take a single wicket from a superb caught and bowled, and enjoyed the same bounce as Dicko, so much so that a ball popped up off a length and hit Keys in the eye stood up to the stumps (a kind gift from one friend to another). The next bowling change introduced Macca who even in his short spell got a valuable break through. Some lusty blows from the Georgians lower order saw them reach the target with just nine balls to go. Coxy topped the fines this week as he accumlated £2.24 where as he pick of the bowlers was C.Wood who finished with figures of 3-27 from his 15 overs and was unlucky not to take more as he continually watched the ball go past the outside edge of the batsmen.
Winnington park travelled to the BCG this weekend where after last weeks fluke Woody was back to his old ways and lost the toss as the saints were asked to bat first. Gippo and newly promoted Clarky opened up, Gippo started off just like previos weeks positively with some glorious cover drives. Unfortunately Clarky fell first for 11 after some delicate flicks off the legs. Adi occupied the number three spot but struggled to make an impression and fell around the 10 mark. Woody joined Gippo at the crease with the saints 21-2. Both Woody and Gippo kept up with the positive start as they both raced to 50’s, the fast pace continued as Gippo secured his ton with some breath taking shots scoring freely all around the wicket. In fact they nearly brought up a 150 partnership before Woody fell for an excellent 72. The arrival of Keys did little to alter Gippo’s free scoring mood as Keys took a few balls to get his eye in Gippo advised him to let Gippo take the stike as he was boring! After a flurry of boundries Gippo went for one shot too many and nicked one behind for a tremendous 117. A quick 29 not out from Keys saw the saints declare on 263-6.
At tea the reality sunk in that although it was an outstanding innings Gippo would be unbearable both in the field and at Leggo’s party that night. With this in mind the saints took the field and did not have to wait long before sully produced an edge that was atrociously dropped by Keys. Beck’s was introduced and took the wicket of both openers although he was rather expensive landing him a £1 fine. Both Nutt’s and Adi came into the attack and bowled well with them taking a couple of wickets. As the match wore on it became evident that the weather was not going to allow the saints to finish the match and the umpires called for the covers. The conditions did not improve and Bredbury were forced to listen to every run of Gippo’s 117. After the match we realised that we could not avoid another hearing of his innings as we had all agreed to go to the same party, usually when Gippo gets runs we just go to a different pub but we had no get out of jail card tonight with Leggo’s surprise party.
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