Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club

All bowlers shine in nervy home win

We welcomed Stratfield Turgis back to St. Sebastians and skipper Will was very keen to get our first home win of the season. Stratfield have been struggling but all their games have been close, and so it proved again as we did as the skipper asked, albeit he was not there to see the winning moment.

It was a VERY good toss to win, as the pitch was a little damp and could not be rolled. James Sussex came in from the 2s and opened the bowling with Sin. They both bowled very well, used the facilities and produced balls that were unplayable, popping off the drying surface. Sin struck by getting one opener caught behind, his intent seemingly to hit the ball out of the park! Sin then bowled the experienced Spence with an outswinging yorker. James was unlucky not to get a wicket in his opening spell. Stratfield's best batsman, Butcher, was at the wicket and was playing well and the score crept up. Crinnerz and Big bad Emes came on, arms pumping, and Emes snaffled a wicket caught behind. He deserved it was we had managed to drop the batsman twice already. He then took a worldy of a caught and bowled to dismiss Butcher showing that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself! A surprise bowling change saw Nick Outram and Dan Cartledge come on. Nick's first ball was ball of the day (obvs didn't get a wicket) but he sent down a tidy spell of 5 overs for 13 runs. Dan got some turn and dismissed the wildly swinging Strafield captain. Meanwhile the ever reliant 'evergreen' Godbole was bowling tight and rewarded with a caught and bowled. At this stage we were looking at getting Stratfield all out for 120 ish but Singh and Vignesh had different ideas, pumping the ball to the boundaries. A cunning plan of putting Ravi at square leg paid off as Singh hit it straight to him, and a juggling catch was taken. Vignesh continued to find boundaries and Stratfield closed on 151-9. Sin finished with 4-20 off 9 excellent overs, and all the bowlers should feel very happy with the way they bowled.

After a 5 star tea by Nick, the pitch was getting better. Nikunj and Saviour opened. Nik was out pushing at a popping delivery from the 74 year old Tom Clay. He's bowled many of those in his time! Nick Outram hung around with a blossoming Saviour, a straight six being a highlight in a very well paced innings. Nick got bowled (in his usual manner!) and shortly after Saviour was unfortunately out for 49 hitting a short ball to cover. It was a valuable innings and deserves the MoM award on a day where batting was tough. Dan Cartledge came in and he and Brundish rebuilt, facing some of the best bowling of the match from Vignesh, who was turning it both ways at pace. The Goblets did a fine job, sharing a 69 run stand, before Cartledge was bowled by a zinger with CCWCC on 126-4 needing 26 to win. Panic ensued when Emes was LBW to Vignesh and then Crinnerz bowled by the same bowler. Mikey was batting well and putting the bad balls awaym and together with the Evergreen Godbole we knocked the remaining runs off. Unfortunately the skipper was at home, ill, at this point, talking to the the big white telephone. This one's for you skip!

MoM: Simon Sheppard