Cuckfield Cricket Club: News: Match Reports 10/06/07

Result: Eastbourne CC - 1st XI Won by 4 wickets

Date: Sat 9th Jun 2007 @ 12:30

Ground: Cuckfield Cricket Club

Type: League : Sussex Cricket League - 1st XI Premier League

Toss: 1st XI won the toss and decided to bat

Cuckfield hosted a star-studded team, where the favourites and league leaders scraped home with an over to spare. Cuckfield pushed all the way, but the experience of their County contracted players proved the difference.

Cuckfield's young autograph hunters provided Sussex star James Kirtley with more problems than the Cuckfield openers after Cuckfield won the toss and were looking to post a winning total. Tom Mole (11) started to take control and took the battle to Kirtley by removing his helmet in the 3 over. A series of short deliveries followed and pleasantries were exchanged until Mole finally held out hooking to long leg. Cuckfield's new signing and inform batsman, Marc Gardner, promoted to no3 then took up the attack and together with Stef 'The Pom' Piolet (29) grafted a patient partnership of 78. spinner Ollie Rayner (2/84) finally broke the partnership with Piolet caught trying to increase the run-rate, followed by , adjudged LBW for a crafty 73. Kirtley (2/39) was re-introduced into the attack claiming a brace of Moles having Chris trapped in front for 31. At 157-4 it looked like Cuckfield would set a target in the region of 215 from their allotted overs. Enter Widdup. He has had little opportunity to shine this year, but his controlled aggression produced a chanceless 42 from just 33 balls, twice dismissing Rayner for six. This burst, with able assistance from Oates (22) and Robinson, ensured Cuckfield carried the initiative into the break finally ending their innings on a very competitive 230/5.

made light work of some erratic bowling and quickly moved along to 43 before veteran Candfield (1/44) enticed a loose shot from Garnet. With runs coming fairly easily from the medium pacers, it wasn't long before Saeed Ajmal was introduced into the attack to slow the run rate. After toying with the batsmen, Ajmal (3/59) accounted for Cane-Hardy (39) Rayner (27) swinging the game in Cuckfield's favour. Eastbourne's skipper, Tom Smith (45*) wasn't about to let his team down and with some lusty hitting from Aga (55) took closer to Cuckfield's total. Piolet (2/29) and Ajmal bowled brilliantly however Smith's cool head saw Eastbourne home with an over and 4 wickets to spare in what was a great game of cricket for both player and spectator with both teams attacking all the way to the finish.

2nd XI v Eastbourne CC 2nd XI

Result: Drawn

Date: Sat 9th Jun 2007 @ 13:00

Ground: The Saffrons

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

Toss: Eastbourne CC - 2nd XI won the toss and decided to bat

After the frustration of the previous week Cuckfield Thirds returned to winning ways thanks to a superb bowling and catching display. Probing, yet economical bowling from Davy, Collins, Hardy and Jamie Fitt (four wickets on his seasonal debut) and a late brace from Lynch saw Roffey Thirds all out for 112 having been inserted.

The only threat to the home side was the possibility of a downpour as they cruised to a comfortable eight wicket win with plenty of overs to spare.

Cuckfield 4th's were confident of holding their own against a Roffey 4th XI with an almost equally wide age span, but were beaten by a better side. Playing for the first time at the picturesque Faygate ground, Cuckfield lost the toss and had to work hard on a humid afternoon. Piolet and Fitt hads Roffey 3 down after 12 overs, but a stand by 13yo Matt Bidlake and Andy Southern who gave several half chances but rode his luck for 42, saw Roffey past 100. Cuckfield's youngsters then bowled well, particularly Jack Bowman whose tantalising leggers brought him 2-14 off 6 overs. Matt Wynn took 2 good catches standing up but low bounce and lack of cover meant too many extras and Roffey finished on 164-8.

Cuckfield made it difficult by losing their first 3 wickets for 6 runs and it was always a struggle after that, despite Iain Pringle showing excellent form in a stylish 42 and threatening to lead to victory while he was still there. He was bowled by Andy Smallwood who went on to finish off the innings for 95 with accurate yorkers, but not before 12yo Greg Wisdom had shown skill and no little composure in sharing a 50 stand with Pringle and being last out but one for a sound 16 in 22 overs.

Cuckfield stuffed by Ansty. Independent Committee to be set up to establish the way forward for the Cuckfield Sunday XI

Following a debacle of a performance (see below) an emergency meeting was convened and resulted in the establishment of an independent committee (to be chaired by Dame Jo Mitchell) to examine how the performance of the Sunday XI could be improved. It goes without saying that the leadership abilities (and possible treason) of the skipper for the day (yes, that's you, Robbo) will necessarily come under close scrutiny. A lynching was narrowly averted ...

Ansty won the toss and chose to bat. Following a hostile opening spell from the refusnik (aka W.Harris, Esq) and a promising debut from newcomer Leefe, Ansty were rocking at 120 for 8 with Tommy "Banks" Watson taking three corkers at slip. Whilst it would be inappropriate to anticipate the results of Dame Jo's inquiry, the spotlight will inevitably fall on the captain who allowed (in his words) the "feeder club" to reach 223 for 9 though the batting of Wright, Machin and Janman was not unimpressive.

... a disgrace! The openers were soon gone but Wizzo and Leefe took the score to 68. However, Watson played a 'Tommy Special' first ball and the captain chipped up to mid wicket for the second week in a row; a few lusty blows by the refusnik aside, the rest went quickly. The resting Sunday Co-ordinator could only watch in horror from the bar. He can only hope that KP manages to steady the ship next week before Dame Jo reaches her conclusions.

Women's

Highlights: Highest opening stand for Womens eleven Tash Sole 109 n.o. Elaine Hardy 65n.o.

A depleted Cuckfield side visited Seaford this weekend, with a couple of cry offs due to injury and with vice-skipper Catherine Jackson still out with an ankle injury.

Skipper Elaine Hardy now back to full fitness, lost the toss and Cuckfield were asked to bat.

Bearing in mind this was their first ever match Seaford's opening attack of Pammet and Wijesinghe bowled their first spells tightly and Cuckfield's opening batsmen Hardy and Sole took a few overs to comes to terms with the speed of the wicket. However with a combination of some power hitting and a relatively small outfield, the fifty stand came up in the six over and the two batsemen didn't look back from there.

Despite the endeavours of the Seaford bowling attack, Sole and Hardy continued their onslaught to reach 196 without loss in their 20 overs with Sole (109 no) reaching a fine first century and Hardy (65n.o.) collecting her first half century for the Club. This record stand beat their own opening partnership set last season against Bells Yew Green.

Defending such a mammoth total Cuckfield opened with the mixed attack of Pip Dagger and Helen Tuddenham . The former was quick to strike in the first over removing both Woodhurst and Pamment in consecutive balls, however a studied innings from Shami Wijesinghe who hit four boundaries in her 26, was the higlhight of the Seaford innings.

Despite some good batting from Beth Allen (10) later on, the inexperienced Seaford side were never in the hunt but creditably held on to their final wicket to reached 56 in their allotted overs, as Cuckfield won by 140 runs.

Cuckfield march on in their defence of the title they won last year although sterner opposition will be facing them and they must ensure that there is total commitment on availability and more accuracy with the bowling to reduce the wide count.

Match Reports - 10th June

Men's

Women's