Cuckfield Cricket Club: News: Match Reports 02/06/07

Cuckfield won the toss and elected to bat to take advantage of good batting conditions. Midweek rain meant that the pitch wasn't fast, but there was a little moisture in it for the bowlers. Tom Mole survived and early chance off the bowling of Creed but then ensured his team got off to a brisk start. This allowed his brother, Chris, to take a more careful approach. They both reached their 50 at the same time and looked odds-on for both reaching a ton, until Tom holed out off the bowling of Danny Alderman for 75, ending a partnership worth 190. A flurry of wickets followed (Oates was unlucky to have been given out LBW having hit the ball) but Chris Mole (112*) remained focused, reaching his ton with a reverse sweep. Thorpe (11) continued to look in fine fettle and Widdup finished with a brief 7*. Alderman (3-52) was a handful to face, as usual, and Parekh (1-66) got some reward for his 21 tight overs of spin. Cuckfield finished on 243-4.

Given the slow pace of the pitch, this was a pretty big target, however, Three Bridges have a reputation of chasing large scores so it was well needed.

Unfortunately for Bridges, Cuckfield's bowlers were right on the money from the off - they extracted so much movement out of the pitch that batsmen as good as Mark Newell (36) struggled to even lay bat on ball. Candfield (2-30), Thorpe (1-30) and Stef Piolet (1-35) were exemplary, however, they just couldn't find the edge of the bat. This early pressure put paid to any hope of victory for Bridges, and given the slow nature of the pitch, bowling them out was going to be a tall order for Cuckfield. A stunning catch from Tom Mole with the score on 80-5 revived Cuckfield's hopes of victory, however, with time running out the game was effectively dead.

Bridges finished on 177-6 and Cuckfield were left cursing another game they had the better of but failed to capitalise on.

Cuckfield take on table toppers, Eastbourne, next week at Cuckfield Park.

Tom Mole - 04/06/2007

Cuckfield 2^nd XI v Three Bridges 2^nd XI

Result: Three Bridges CC - 2nd XI Won by 5 wickets

Date: Sat 2nd Jun 2007 @ 13:00

Ground: Three Bridges Cricket Club

Type: League : Sussex Cricket League - 2nd XI Division 1

Toss: Three Bridges CC - 2nd XI won the toss and decided to bowl

Cuckfield had a disappointing result against Three Bridges on Saturday, losing by 5 wickets when they really would have hoped for a win.

Three Bridges won the toss and elected to field. Cuckfield made the worst possible start as Abraham was run out for 0 on the first ball of the match. Although Cuckfield recovered well from this set back, with Jack Waghorn (64) batting very well, they fell away from a relatively comfortable 94-1 to 149 all out. Each of the Cuckfield batsmen will feel disappointed at the manner of their dismissal and the ease at which they capitulated. What's more Cuckfield were dismissed in 43 overs which gave Three Bridges a full 57 overs in which to obtain their modest target of 150.

Cuckfield started their defence of the total well, with Tom Flower bowling the more confident of the two Bridges' batsmen. Cuckfield worked hard in the field to try and take the rest of the Three Bridges wickets and toiled admirably on a hot day. Jack Denyer's leg spin in particular was outstanding and he was ably supported to the ever reliable Goff Baker.

As hard as Cuckfield toiled all they succeeded in doing was pushing Three Bridges to the wire in achieving their target. It was to Cuckfield's credit that Three Bridges required 54 overs to pass their target. They had lost 5 wickets.

In the final analysis Cuckfield just didn't get enough runs on a good track and with a batting line up that really shouldn't fail at this level. Cuckfield will very much be hoping that this is the last time that they produce such an abject batting display. But the positives of an excellent spirit and attitude in the side can certainly be built upon.

Cheg Abraham - 04/06/2007

Jeremy Crampton reverted to type this weekend as he made his way to a fine century with the usual array of strokes. A marvellous and timely hundred partnership between the solid Waghorn and the powerful Watson allowed the Thirds to declare early on 260-5.Despite fine seam bowling from Collins and De Reuck and a great effort from seven other bowlers Ashdown clung on for the draw at 126-8,a frustrating day for the away side who nonetheless picked up 14 points.

Having been warned by the curator that the wicket would be softer than a Slumberland mattress, the wily skipper decided to insert the opposition on the grounds that by 6 o'clock it might be more like the orthopaedic version. It paid off early, as Seb and Fitty reduced Edenbridge to 10 for 3, with debutant keeper Matt Wynn taking a great steepling catch despite the counter-claims of Seb rushing in like a banshee, and Geoffrey Longfield also taking one of patented one-handers. Phil Matania then presented a broad bat and laid anchor, well supported by Seb Goodhew and Henry Evans, and they took the score slowly up to 103-4 after 36 overs. Cue demon slow left armer Clive Bunce with three wickets falling in his 10th over, the first to a lightning run-out of Matania for 35 by young Geoffrey Longfield (yes, it's true) and then two wickets in two balls. He couldn't manage the hat-trick, but did end up with a deserved fivefor. as he and Harry Clarke, who trapped Evans lbw for a brisk 31, helped him finish the innings for 127.

Charlie and Pringo began steadily and put on 28 in 6 overs before Pringo was bowled by a swinging delivery from Howard Johnson. Enter U14 JJ Kilmartin, on half term break, who looked solid from the start, added 34 with Charlie, then after Andy A-D was stumped, saw Cuckfield home in partnership with Seb. Peter Jeffery and skipper Bob Langton bowled well, but both batsmen were increasingly confident with JJ giving two hard chances towards the end on his way to an unbeaten 54 off 74 balls.

Clive and JJ joint men of the match, fielding prize to Longfield! An enjoyable game which keeps us near the top of the table.

Women's

Cuckfield Women set out on their quest to retain the Sussex Women's Development 20/20, 8-a-side Cup on Sunday with a resounding victory at home to St Peter's, .

With both the Skipper Elaine Hardy and her Vice Catherine Jackson out with injuries, youngster Tash Sole took over at the helm.

After winning the toss and deciding to chase, the Cuckfield side inserted the opposition on a good track. Pippa Dagger opened up and claimed the wicket of Trott for a duck with her final ball of her first over.

But it wasn't until the introduction of Amy Harris in the seventh over that things started to go wrong for St Peter's. Harris (4-8) with her whippy action soon removed Narzi as one of her four victims. Whilst Tash Jackson mopped up the tail taking 2-3 off her two overs, as St Peter's were all out for 26 in 11 overs.

In reply Cuckfield knocked off the total without loss with hard hitting skipper Tash Sole undefeated on 17, with support from Tash Jackson on 7 n.o.

Sole showed her general cricket knowledge with her captaincy but in the weeks to come Cuckfield will have sterner opposition and must avoid complacency with this emphatic win.

Colts

Only four games have taken place over the last two weeks for Cuckfield junior colts due to bad weather and half term.

Firstly the under 9's travelled to Barns Green where skipper Joe White won the toss and elected to field. Domonic Sear, Vincent Lawson and Stephen Moorton grasped two wickets a piece as Barns Green were restricted to 239.In reply Joe White hit 27 and Domonic Sear 20 as they won by 63 runs reaching a total of 302.

The under 10's played there first of two matches at home to visitors Crawley. Fielding first Joe Cambridge took three wickets from the first four balls finishing with figures of 4 for 10, well supported by Ben Meyerakken taking 4 for 16 opening at the other end. Ben Candfield 2 for 2 and Hayden Baker 2 for 1 followed up to leave Crawley on 168. Seven Cuckfield batters then hit double figures in there massive total of 430 with Joe Cambridge 30 and Rob Cope 29 leading the way to a victory by 262 runs. In the next game Horsham put Cuckfield into bat and following the loss of early wickets they managed to set a target of 301.Joe Cambridge with 6 wickets and Ben Candfield with 7 left Horsham 168 runs short on a total of 133.

The under 12's also continued their winning start beating Ifield by 106 runs. Freddie Newmarch 29, Jack Bowman 26 and Joe Ludlow 20 saw them post a total of 149. Jamie Cowie then blasted out the Ifield top order taking 4 for 10 in his opening 3 overs.

Match Reports - 2nd June

Men's

Women's

Colts