Sunseekers Cricket Club

v Sutton, June 3, 2006

Posted Sunday, June 4, 2006

Sutton on the Hill 163-7 (B Land 70 not out, Coxon 3-55).
Sunseekers 92-8 (Woodward 22, Sibson 21, Bull 20, Ingley 5-33).

by Colston Crawford

This was a game that promised better for Sunseekers for a long period, although that long period, I hasten to add, does not include the withdrawal of the Little Fat Captain at 12.45 with dizzy spells.
Encouraged by first-time captain Carpo's team talk before the start, we restricted Sutton well for most of their innings, with several batsmen, including the dangerous Steve Taylor, frustrated into bad shots after being tied down.
Much credit to Ross Coxon here for settling into a good rhythm, swinging the ball and fully deserving his three wickets from two spells.
Sutton were in trouble at 57-5 but rescued by Brian Land's unorthodox and, it has to be said, somewhat fortunate hitting, with the inside edge past leg stump prominent. Surely this has to be the most frustrating shot for a bowler (especially an old, creaking left-arm seamer swinging it in on a hot day)!
The end result was one wicket each for Fred, Colston, Chris and Jim and, at least, a total less than Sutton are accustomed to posting at tea.
Early fours from Jim Taylor promised a chase and some wayward early bowling from the Sutton spinners allowed Chris, Kevin and Robin to keep up the required rate for a while but Kev's unfortunate pull shot on to his pads and then, unnerringly, inevitably, on to the stumps pretty much put paid to the chance of winning, especially as Carpo had collected a first ball duck, bowled by possibly the only ball either of the spinners turned.
After that the stage was set for the Chairman's favourite situation, ignoring or blocking the ball and impassively ignoring the glaring surrounding close fielders until the draw was secured. Ross (perhaps worryingly) watched and learnt from Evans Senior and presented an equally broad bat at the other end. Only joking - good effort Ross.
And much thanks to Evs,not-so-fresh from a drive back from the East Anglian coast, for replacing the ailing skipper at the very last minute. (Stock joke: "That'll be the only drive you see from him this season..." etc).
An honourable draw and some real positives on the best day of the summer so far.

CC