Cuckfield Cricket Club: News: Match Reports 16/06/07

In the Red corner, Domininc Clapp, weighing at over 400 runs this season, contender for the title of League Run Machine. And in the Blue corner, the heavy hitting Chris Mole, weighing in at 455 runs. The reward, a win for their team and bragging rights.

On a batters paradise Clapp was to get the opportunity to land the first blow. Candfield struck in his very first over, thanks to some smart work behind the stumps by Gardner. Clapp didn't let this set-back bring the curtain down on his show, and produced some body blows to the Cuckfield seamers. He moved along to 50 with great ease and little appreciation from the home supporters. Furious with the lack of support from his corner, he smashed a wide half volley off Piolet to Tom Mole who took a fantastic catch in the gully. 68-2 and best batsman out meant that Cuckfield were edging it on points. The tender under belly of the Brighton Middle order was exposed; however, missed chances off Cuckfield's Rod Candfield let them catch their breath. Candfield (18-7-54-2) was the pick of the bowlers. Saeed Ajmal accounted for 3 wickets and Stef Piolet took a brace before some late hitting from Brighton's overseas Juan Theron (71* off 60), including 3 massive 6's off the final over, took Brighton to 233 off 58 overs. Brighton can thank Grammar (22) for breathing life back into a side that looked on the ropes.

Ding, ding, seconds out, round seven. Chris Mole, still the league's leading run scorer, came out fighting. Despite losing his brother Tom Mole in the gully in the 2 over, he traded blows with the attack. A commanding partnership with Piolet looked unstoppable until Piolet was bowled for 29 off 30 deliveries. Cuckfield stumbled to 111/5 but didn't hit the canvas, as Mole kept his team up with the run rate despite the haemorrhaging of wickets. It was to sway the game back into Cuckfield's grasp. James Robinson, after starting cautiously, freed his arms with some lusty blows of his own before falling for 25. Mole duly brought up his 3rd league hundred of the season but the job still wasn't done. At 199-7 and with 5-an-over the rate, caution was still required, but Patterson showed none as he hit 3 fours and a six to floor the opponent. Knock out. For Brighton, the opening bowlers Luke Vinter and Theron shared 3 wickets each with Ledden picking up one.

In the post fight interview Cuckfield's skipper, Nick Patterson, remarked that “it was a bright performance on a gloomy day”.

Great start, but twos only just hold on to draw

Cuckfield had another disappointing result on Saturday, drawing a game against Brighton that they should really have won.

Brighton won the toss and elected to bat on a surprisingly good wicket considering the weather conditions that had prevailed in the previous few days.

Cuckfield displayed great discipline in the field, and although they made only one break through in the first 30 overs, they had restricted Brighton to just 82 runs and kept a good degree of pressure on the Brighton batsmen.

The next 15 overs were crucial and Cuckfield seized the initiative after their good start and took regular Brighton wickets as they attempted to increase the scoring rate. At the end of their 53 overs they had reached 178-8. Goff Baker was once again excellent taking 6-51 and Neil Fairhall and Tom Flower also bowled excellently.

Cuckfield started their reply well and Billy Harris in particular scored very quickly. After 9 overs Cuckfield were 40 without loss and looking in good shape. Billy Harris tried one shot too many however and there then proceded to be the most abject batting display in which Cuckfield lost 5 wickets in the space of 10 overs. There was a slight recovery by Goff Baker and Cheg Abraham, although when they both fell Cuckfield were 9 wickets down with more than 50 required. In the end Taz and Tom Flower did well to hold out for the draw, but Cuckfield had let a genuinely good opportunity to beat the league leaders slip away.

It is imperative that Cuckfield start combining good performances in both facets of the game in the same match.

You need better executioners to win these

Toss: Plumpton & East Chiltington CC - 2nd XI won the toss and decided to bowl

Highlights: Phil Middleton 1st match of 2007 produced a sparkling 67 and ever reliable Colin Emery another 51 no. posted a 202 score which was always going to be outside Plumpton's reach. Seb Daniels with 3/21 was the pick of the bowlers

Cuckfield with high aspirations to return to the 1st Division will need to find the killer touch to convert these games they should win comfortably.

Plumpton won the toss and yes you've guessed it decide to bat second on a damp track at Cuckfield. Well you would assume they would have a go at chasing down any sort of target that was set!!! No .

Crampton was adjudged plum LBW before getting off the mark, keep September 29 th free Jeremy. Leaving Veteran Nigel Reid and this years debutant Phil Middleton to put things right. They took the score onto 78 before Reid played on for 18. This only Bringing Emmers to crease who has been in fine touch, as PC will vouch for, they carried on and the next wicket fell at 147 Middelton with 67. Tim Davy joined Colin and they took the score on to 202 with Colin on 51 NO and Tim on 22 NO off 43.5 overs. DC declaring early some would say not early enough Plumpton would always find chasing 202 a hard task.

In reply Earl and Plummer opened for Plumpton, Seb Daniels clean bowled Earle for 1 which brought Eason in to occupy the crease. Tim Davy had Plummer caught by Reid and then Tim Davy caught Coltham trying to sweep Hardy. It was at this stage that Reid had to leave to go to a previous booked dinner and Caleb Hawkins took over behind the stumps (note no byes at this stage!!!!) A little bit of skullduggery then took place with Chaffey throwing down the wicket at the bowlers end with Eason on in the frame. The umpire was unsighted!!! 2 balls later conscience pricked and Eason dollied up a catch to Crampton having scored 50. A variety of bowlers were then used and Tim Lynch chipped in with 2 wickets and Seb Daniels brought back clean bowled 2 more but the last pair hung on for a draw in the gathering gloom.

Cuckfield certainly disappointed to only take 14 points from this game.

Women's

.. and still they march on !

After the records of last week still a vivid memory, this Sunday the team braved crossing the line of the London-Brighton bike ride and visited Steyning.

The game was not without incident with Steyning winning the toss and inserting Cuckfield for the first shout at the 20 overs. After a rather quiet start it was discovered that the umpires had missed the fact that the wicket appeared to be 2 yards short as it was marked out for colts! and a hasty move of the stumps to the adjacent pitch was made.

After these quiet three overs, openers Elaine Hardy and Tash Sole began to find their range with a flurry of boundaries from both openers including a big six from Sole the score at the drink break was 86 without loss off 10 overs. As is customary with the drinks break, a wicket followed when Sole was lbw to Glynnis for a well struck 42 with Cuckfield on 93 . But as Caroline Wright came to the wicket, Hardy was focussed on getting another half century following on from last weeks effort. But having successfully reached 57 a top edged pull was neatly caught by Michelle at deep square leg with the score on 137 off 17 overs. Meanwhile Wright (27n.o.) played some majestic pulls and drives with Pippa Dagger (8 no) in support. Cuckfield finished their allotted overs on 163 with two wickets down.

With Steyning requiring over 8 an over, disaster struck with Pippa Dagger's habitual wicket in the first over when Glynnis was bowled 'neck and crop' for a duck. This brought the dangerous Kirsty to the crease, but a mix up led to Rosemary being run out from a great throw from Nat Dodd in the fourth over.

With her sister Michelle joining Kirsty, there was a combination of classy drives and backfoot shots as the runs started flowing, as they quickly upped the run rate to a run a ball. It was then with the introduction of Wright (3 for 2) into the attack that Michelle was adjudged LBW for 3 and skipper Diane quickly followed after a superb catch by wicket keeper Hardy off Wright again. Wright's final scalp was the hard hitting Kirsty for a crafted 28 who played on and the remaining wickets then tumbled as Steyning were all out for 45 in 11.1 overs. With Tash Jackson (1-9) and Nat Dodd (1-0) entering the fray with a wicket a piece.

Another workman like performance from Cuckfield in the defence of last years title but they will have to be on their mettle as the dark cloud of Horsham appears next Thursday and could potentially rain on their parade.

Colts

Harry Clarke and Jack Bowman both reached their 25's and retired posting a total of 105. In reply East Grinsted batted well but it was poor fielding and too many extras that helped them to win with three balls remaining. Back in operation again at home to Three Bridges in miserable conditions it was Harry Clarke and Marcus Campopiano both retiring having made 25 that set a target of 111.Some accurate bowling from Clarke and Campopiano, and two stumpings from Freddie Newmarch restricted Three Bridges to 60 for 6 at the end of play.

The under 11's played Scaynes Hill at home in the NMSL and won comfortably by 36 runs.Fielding first Cuckfield started of taking wickets with Adam Willis 2 for 12 and Joe Cambridge 1 for 4 having good opening spells.Ben Candfield then starred with the ball taking 3 for 4 in his three overs pegging Scaynes Hill back to 214.All the Cuckfield batsmen then chipped in to a total of 260.

Some good practice for the under 10's with two friendlies at home against West Chiltington and Ansty saw them keep their unbeaten record for the season. Their league match abandoned before play started, against Lindfield, will be rescheduled in the near future.

Finally the under 9's beat Ansty away.Fielding first it was the combination of Stephen Moorton and Sam Candfield taking three wickets each that kept Ansty to a modest total of 239.Domonic Sear then lead the way with 17 and the refusal of the under 7 players in the team to lose their wickets helped them on the way to victory.

Match Reports - 16th June

Men's

Mole v Clapp, the battle of the run machines!

Great start, but twos only just hold on to draw

You need better executioners to win these

Women's

.. and still they march on !

Colts