Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club

Scorecard

Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club Crowthorne Saturday 1st XI v Peppard 2 on Sat 28 Jul 2012 at 1:30
Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club Won by 147 runs

Match report The Crows put last weeks disappointment behind them as a very comfortable win put them back in contention for promotion or may be even the title.

On a lovely day at Crows HQ a confident team was met with the arrival of a very young Peppard team. Missing Ross, who had caused himself an injury drinking too much cream soda the night before, McDowell had been given the last minute call up. The Peppard team consisted of 3 under 11s, 2 under 13s, 1 under 15 and 1 under 16, the Crows were wondering whether the opposition were on a school trip.

The skipper marched out to the centre and promptly lost the toss. The Crows were put into bat, and the skipper decided to open with Ant and Barron.

When Peppard opened with Legg junior bowling a good medium paced line, and skipper Legg senior bowling grenades, it was soon clear that Peppard lacked any strike bowler.

Barron and Cluett made short work of the opening exchanges with both batsmen picking up boundaries with good timing and perfect placement. After crashing a couple of 4s either side of the wicket, Barron crashed a square cut straight to gully, where a 15 year old somehow nabbed it (6 inches to the left and the lad would have been eating his packed lunch through a straw).

With Barron gone, Ricky McDowell went into bat and it wasn't long before he also found his timing. Ant at the other end was making short work of the slow bowling hitting 5 fours in succession. The partnership was building well and Crows were making good progress.

The distraction from the side came in the shape of the opposition scorer. A case of mistaken identity between McDowell and Cluett (?) reaked havoc with the scoring, however score specialist Jouanides corrected everything and Cluett's score was rectified. It made no difference to Ant who continued on his way to his half century.

McDowell was dropped shortly afterwards as 3 players descended on the ball and almost caused a school yard pile up. Ricky shook this off as he launched a fine 4 to the long midwicket boundary with only 1 bounce. With the score just short of the 100 run partnership McDowell was dislodged, bowled by one of the more mature members of the Peppard team. A good knock for Rocket Ricky.

With the score at 108 off 26 overs, Smokey Joe joined Ant at the crease. Fresh from being run out the previous week, when they batted together, Joe's intent was clear to see as his first ball went screaming to the extra cover boundary.

Ant was still untroubled at the other end and punishing the bad balls and running singles to keep the left/right combination a constant nuisance for the opposition. A couple of gorgeous pull shots accelerated Ant to 70 and Joe decided to get in on the action too with some quick boundaries.

At 139 off 33 overs, the guys really kicked on. By over 38 the guys had pushed the Crows to 200. Ant had a tactical drinks break and brother Jeff delivered the news that Ant was close to his century.

With Joe now firmly in and timing the ball beautifully, Crows hit 17 off the over with the Aussie wizard effortlessly clearing the boundary with a pulled 6. The fielders were having a torrid time as Joe laced the ball straight to a fielder in the deep who's hands were stung from the pace of it. Bless his cottons.

Ant then made it his first century for the club and the first for a league batsman in over 10 years. A top knock as the patient Ant never gave a chance away all afternoon.

Joe was next to celebrate as his fine hitting saw him through to his half century following another 6 and a 4 at the expense of the young bowler.

By the 43rd over the Crows were on 261 and with both batsmen scoring big runs with ease, the skipper made the difficult call to declare. Ant on 105 and Smokey on 78. A great effort.

With the pitch showing wear and tear and the old ball in good nick, the decision was made to open with Partridge and Joe. Partridge found good areas, however it was Joe who found the early chance with one that spat at the young batsman like an angry cobra. The tight opening spell from both bowlers reaped it's reward as Joe outfoxed the young bat and clean bowled him.

Jeff was given the old ball for an over in place of the cheap Partridge, but Davies struck again as the number 3 bat, having swept a boundary first ball, tried the same shot again and looped a catch to safe hands McDowell.

The skipper made the decision to rest Joe for later in the innings and Turbo Terry was brought into the attack with the new cherry, with the ever dangerous Jeff.

With the score at 40 off 15 the skipper made the most controversial call of his tenure, by insisting the Crows would only have 1 drinks break. The team were beside themselves. However this spurned Jeff on, and made a great break through as the experienced opener chipped a shot to McDowell, who safely took his second catch of the day.

With Terry bowling tight, and Peppard struggling to make any threat on the score, Jeff took another wicket as a genuine edge carried to the Knight at second slip and somehow held onto the catch low to his left. Noone was more surprised than the skipper.....

The young county player Legg was looking very comfortable and mature beyond his years, but Crows continued the pressure and 2 wickets in 2 overs again took it's toll on the fragile Peppard. First Jeff getting a clean bowled and then the returning Davies trapping the young Legg leg before.

The Crows tight fielding was led by the "man from Sussex" Jouanides. His Jonty Rhodes-esque diving stops and great ground fielding resulted in the inexperienced batsmen try to hit over the top.

Jouanides was brought into the bowling attack, however Legg senior soon took a liking to Luke and despatched him to the boundary on several occasions. However Luke wasn't to be denied and following an inside edge, bowled the dangerous Legg with the score at 96-7 off 31 overs.

With the players getting young, the decision was made to go for an all out spin attack. Cluett was soon in the hunt for wickets as the young batsmen chipped a comfortable catch to Knight who took it in the cleavage. But Partridge wasn't to be denied any reward for his tight bowling. Firstly taking an LBW, with the young bat throwing the toys out of the pram.

Saviour had been doing a stirling job behind the stumps all afternoon missed the signal for the quicker ball from Partridge and almost lost a limb in the process. The game was soon over as the last of the young bats went for a big hit through midwicket only for Knight to take his 3rd catch comfortably on the run. Game over. Maximum points.

All the batsmen performed well and hopefully they can continue this form into the next few big games. Jeff, Dan and Joe performed great with the ball. Congratulations to both Ant Cluett and Joe Davies for their great knocks.

In a game where a number of players starred, it is important to acknowledge the contribution of others. Mickey Gopie did not get a bat, but cheered loudly throughout and fielded very well when called upon. Ricky McDowell was called up late (in the absence of Ross), but batted very well and took 2 good catches at crucial times. Luke fielded like a gazelle and bowled good lines capturing the crucial wicket of the dangerous Legg. Turbo Terry moaned all the way through our innings, but bowled exceptionally well to end with only 5 runs conceded off his 6 overs.

Special mention to Saviour who made his last outing of the 2012 League season. A consistent and solid performer at all times with bat (49 first game of the season), ball, behind the stumps or in the field, he always gives his all. It was a shame we didn't get him into bat today, but I'd like to thank him for his contribution this season.

The Crows go marching on to another must win game against West Reading. Bring it on!!!

Man of the Match: A Cluett (105* and a wicket)
Captain: Mark Knight
Wicketkeeper: Simon Sheppard
Club Debut: n/a
Ducks: n/a
6s: J Davies (2)
Catches: R McDowell (2) M Knight (3)
Umpire: A Brown

Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club Crowthorne Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
8nb 10w 12b 1lb 
for 2 wickets
31
261		        
Richard Barron Caught  11 2
Anthony Cluett Not Out  105 17
Recardo McDowell Bowled  35 4
Joe Davies Not Out  78 10 2
Simon Sheppard  
Micky Gopie  
Mark Knight  
Jeff Cluett  
Terry Charles  
Luke Jouanides  
Dan Partridge  

Peppard 2 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
W Legg11.0161161.005.55
G Legg3.002100.007.00
J Wilson11.0054154.004.91
A Mayers12.004600.003.83
J Leach4.004800.0012.00
O Fountain2.001800.009.00

Peppard 2 Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 2w 7b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
17
114 (36.1 overs)		     
D Townsend ct McDowell J Cluett 18
J Leach b  J Davies 1
G Healis ct McDowell J Davies 4
W Legg lbw  J Davies 14
B Pradeep ct Knight J Cluett 0
D Rogers b  J Cluett 9
G Legg b  Jouanides 31
J Wilson ct Knight Partridge 12
O Fountain ct Knight A Cluett 5
D Bacon lbw  Partridge 1
A Mayers Not Out  2

Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club Crowthorne Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Dan Partridge6.11723.501.14
Joe Davies9.042939.673.22
Jeff Cluett9.0232310.673.56
Terry Charles6.02500.000.83
Luke Jouanides4.0018118.004.50
Anthony Cluett3.0014114.004.67

  • Umpire :
    A Brown
  • Scorer :