Result: Cuckfield CC - 1st XI Won by 5 wickets

Date: Sat 28th Jul 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 bowl

 

The toss was crucial on a damp pitch, so when it came up heads, Patterson licked his chops and inserted his guests into bat.

 

This decision was vindicated immediately as wickets tumbled from the off. A moist wicket coupled with control and movement made life very difficult for the EG batsmen. Cuckfield's Rodney Candfield has seen these wickets before and usually comes out on top. Today was no different as every batsmen came to the crease, edged it and walked off. It was one of those situations where the batsmen can only shrug their shoulders and say “fair enough”. At 42-7, EG were in dire straits but an industrious and at times classy 39 from Fowle at a run-a-ball raised the EG score to 100 before he was last man out. Had Ajmal and Thorpe not snared a wicket each, it was likely that Candfield would have bagged the lot, a haul of 8-49 isn't bad though!

 

As EG had only used 33.2 overs, tea was not taken. Batting appeared to get easier as the day went on but Cuckfield decided to try to dominate to avoid the danger of being dominated. Billy Harris clipped a six to signal his intention but was shortly strangled down leg side for 9. This pattern followed for the next few batsmen who all got quick runs before being caught. Piolet made 15 and made 23 before Tom Mole (19) and Robinson (14) finished things off.

 

 

Maximum points for Cuckfield.

 

 

Tom Mole - 01/08/2007

An Alternative View

 

It's a long way to Chichester and you have to know where you are going to park, if not too fall foul of the local traffic wardens. Having left with time to spare the 2nds eventually rolled up at Chi by 1245 leaving plenty of time for warm ups and match preparation!!!

 

Cheg a man on a mission with so many different problems on his hands this afternoon was extremely lucky to win the toss and without any hesitation invited Chi to bat first. The track was damp all over and with lots of cloud cover the ball was expected to move all over the place.

 

Cuckfield decided that they were a bit light on the bowling front for this game so decided that Cheg would keep and allow Waghorn to have a bowl. Perry and Terry opened for Chi and with Taz bowling from the Pavilion end Houghie would do the honours from the other. Taz bowled a fine opening spell cutting the ball both ways, but it was Houghie who drew blood first, managing to get one on the dance floor Terry caught by Waghorn.

 

With the low bounce Cheg was finding it difficult to stoop/bend and decided to hand the gloves over to Watson!!! Perry was bowled with a Jaffa for 31 by Taz a big off cutter. We then had another change as Watson had a hernia and he couldn't stoop /bend. Welcome back to Jack Waghorn as Keeper. 3 in the first 12 overs.

 

Cuckfield started working their way through the Chi order with Baker once again showing his worth bowling unchanged for 22 overs taking 4/54. Wisdom bowled Rufey for 36 and had Budden caught by Waghorn. Allowing Chi to post a score of 164/9 Cuckfield being a little disappointed that they didn't get them all out and with at least 4 catches shelled.

 

Cuckfield started with Middleton and Mirza and Middletons journey to the middle took longer than the occupation as he fenced at the first ball from Budden and was caught behind. Watson joined the fray and looked to be a tad harsh judged LBW by Gannon for just 5. Cuckfield 5/2 at this stage. Hart was rushed to the crease and put on 40 with Mirza who was then CAUGHT behind off his glove!! This brought Waghorn in who with Hart took the match firmly away from Chi with some glorious shots and never allowing the Chi bowlers to dominate, Hart very quick between the wickets the game ended with 13 overs to go. Hart not out for 85 and Waghorn not out 51 28 points in the bag. MOM Graham Hart who took 2 excellent catches off Baker earlier in the day.

 

Nigel Reid - 31/07/2007

 

 

3rd XI

Result: Cuckfield CC - 3rd XI Won by 63 runs

Date: Sat 28th Jul 2007 @ 14:00

Ground: Cuckfield Cricket Club

Type:  League : Stoner Mid Sussex League Div 2

Toss:  Clayton CC - 1st XI won the toss and decided to bowl

 

Having deployed his Machiavellian skills on Friday night to secure the services of 'Old Man' Mole and 'Reluctant' Jono Goodwin, the skipper then absented himself for the game against Clayton. Both actions received the unanimous approval of the rest of the team.

 

Vice-captain PC lost the toss and Cuckfield were duly inserted on a low, wet pitch. Jono then played a stormer to anchor the innings and guide CCC to 164-9 with support from Emery, Pringle and Lynch whose fluent cameo was halted by a beached Mole. Collins, having bizarrely practised his forward defensive in the 46th over of the CCC innings, then took a couple of key wickets before disappearing for some tax-deductable corporate jolly nonsense. The chairman - inevitably - bowled like a dream again before the groundsman took a couple of quick LBWs (decisions given by a certain Tom Mole) to leave Clayton 9 down with 13 overs remaining ... it has to be said that assistant VC Crampton was starting to panic when Mole finally got the last wicket with less than 4 overs remaining.

 

A victory due, without doubt, to the grumpy old men. Hopefully, the skipper will engineer a similar team for forthcoming fixtures ... well, here's hoping anyway!

 

Jeremy Crampton - 30/07/2007