Sunseekers Cricket Club

Ticknall

Posted Saturday, September 23, 2006

Ticknall is always a great fixture with a warm welcome - this year was no different. With the church spire above the trees and chimneys to die for - 'just look at the detail in those, you don't see that quality anymore' quipped BB after the match - Sunseekers won by a margin of 39 runs.

Dizzy won the toss (I think) and chose to bat. Must still be feeling off it. He (86) and Carpo (74) declared their intentions to build a good score right from the outset as Carpo played a ball beautifully for 4 off his legs at the end of the first over. Wenny was a little more cautious but suddenly came to life in the 3rd and 4th overs, hitting a succession of 4s to briefly outscore Carpo. The latter responded and edged back into the lead, passing his 50 in the 20th over. At that point Wenn went into a bit of a shell in the 40s, it was not until the score had moved into the 120s that he achieved his. The loss of Carpo brought Paul Downes to the crease, where he maded a steady 24 before impatience and a missed shot led to his being stumped off Ticknall slow bowler Randall. Walters, Nicholls and Sibson all made valuable runs to take the score on to 218 - "not enough" bemoaned Carpo at tea time, shaking his head.

Tea was the usual excellent spread. Out we went and the first 3 overs saw the Ticknall batsmen settling in before stating to get after Jim Downes on a wicket that offered very little to the bowlers. Stewart bowled meanly, ending with a creditable 0-15. So easily this could have been 2 or 3 for 15, having beaten the bat several times. Freddy came on just as the batsmen were looking to open their shoulders and using his all of his wisdom and guile, gleaned from years of car sharing and card playing with the skipper, avoided a mauling. The best figures in terms of wickets were returned by Ross Coxon, who, like Stewart, with a little more luck could have easily had another couple. Steve, Paul and Stewart looked sharp in the field. Paul swooping on a ball played short, capitalised on a cock-up in the calling. With both batsmen at one end, he picked up the ball and ran in to remove a bale to run out their opener - a lanky 15 year old who was starting to smash the ball around the ground - possibly the turning point of the game.

Mention must be made of Brian's umpiring. He officiated in the blazing sun throughout both innings and by the end had turned a shade of brown that even Chris Bull would find it hard to match!