Yubby Match Reports 2012
Did Yubby CliMAX?
The CliMAX-Kid scores 191
The 2012 Cotswold Hills League campaign had surely come to a CliMAX. Yubby travelled to Kenilworth Wardens needing a win to secure the championship with a points advantage over second and third placed Woodbourne and Tanworth who were meeting to decide promotion fate at Woodbourne.
There was an unusually tense start as The CliMAX-Kid could only squeeze a single from the accurate S Gough’s opening over. Nevertheless the Secret Skipper’s decision to bat seemed vindicated in the second over when The Kid caused S White’s cheeks to go red. Five boundaries were struck including a six and White was removed after just one over. This was not so clever for Yubby as J Sorrell came into the attack and he proved threatening after Gough removed Jon Chambers with a fast leg cutter.
Sorrell made further inroads into the Yubby line up who were sweating as the fifth wicket fell for 100. By this stage The CliMAX-Kid had scored 50 from 33 balls and was progressing rapidly with 70 to his name, but he needed somebody to stick around. Tommo provided the foil required and gave him 20 overs of support and as the field tightened round him to make it hard to get off strike, Tommo flashed hard and found the boundary 6 times in a splendid partnership of 110 innings of which Tommo contributed 37.
Maximum batting points had now been achieved and there were 13 overs to try to take the game away from Kenilworth. The CliMAX-Kid stood on 134 with his century coming up from 88 balls. Soon he went past his highest score of the season – 139 v Stanway – but another wicket fell before he could reach 150. Squealer played with aplomb not expected of a number 9 and Kenilworth wilted as The Kid took the majority of the strike. In the 40th over he smashed Dave McCunn to all parts (6 4 4 6 6 bye) and enabled the partnership to exceed 50.
With the score well past 250, the emphasis seemed to shift to The Kid’s personal score. The Yubby players were willing him to achieve a double century though the overs were ticking away. A boundary from J Sorrell who had already picked up 4 wickets – all bowled took him to 191 and there were 8 balls left in the innings. Perhaps a moment of confusion set in, as The Kid mowed expansively. In CliMAX a maximum is worth 10 and that would have been enough, but here he would have still needed to get on strike for the last over and eke out the last few runs. But Sorrell had produced yet another straight one and for once The CliMAX-Kid had produced a swing and a miss. The groan of the Yubby faithful could be heard over the deafening roar of the A46.
Sorrell produced another straight one for the Bomber who was dazed by the emotions of the previous happenings. Missing gave Sorrell the brilliant return of 6 for 50 from 9 overs. Squealer and Skeletor safely negotiated the last over and took the Yubby score to 286 for 9.
The CliMAX-Kid asked to take the wicket keeping gloves in Super Sopper Sippy’s absence and Hicksy-Lix provided the new ball support for Skeletor. Chambers felt in attacking mood after chips and a bowl of fruit salad and positioned himself at slip. Sanders flashed at Hicky-Lix’s first ball and Chambers surprised none more than himself by raising his hands in front of his face to save his teeth and take a great catch to set the tone for excellent fielding standards to come.
Overs progressed more rapidly than runs and the required rate went up to levels only likely to be achieved in CliMAX, but Yubby bowlers could not find a way to break through the stoical 2nd wicket partnership. It took a drinks break and a change of end for Ever Ready when a successful LBW appeal saw off M Sorrell. The flight and guile of Squealer could not tempt the Wardens into anything remotely attacking so The Secret Skipper turned to Bomber Beasley, who duly obliged with a wide-ish off side delivery which McCunn slapped over cover – well not exactly over…..The Face of CliMAX leapt like a salmon from water and thrust his hand high over his head, coming down with ball safely in it.
The Wardens middle order were more positive, but this approach led to problems too. J Sorrell drove hard and high but Dross was a match for it taking a solid catch to give Bomber a return of 2 for 19 from 4 overs.
Now Yubby tried to turn the screw and bowl out Wardens for under 120 for extra bowling points. Ever Ready could not come up with an extra wicket though was aggrieved not to find favour from Bunny Baldwin when Gough snicked one to the keeping Kid. Hicks-Lix took the direct route with two bowled in two balls and Dross learnt from this and bowled two more hapless Wardens bats. Despite these efforts Wardens sneaked past 120 with two overs to go and produced the opportunity Jon Chambers was looking for…..
Wardens final score 127 for eight from 45 overs and with this a 19 point victory for Yubby. JOB DONE!
There was an unusually tense start as The CliMAX-Kid could only squeeze a single from the accurate S Gough’s opening over. Nevertheless the Secret Skipper’s decision to bat seemed vindicated in the second over when The Kid caused S White’s cheeks to go red. Five boundaries were struck including a six and White was removed after just one over. This was not so clever for Yubby as J Sorrell came into the attack and he proved threatening after Gough removed Jon Chambers with a fast leg cutter.
Sorrell made further inroads into the Yubby line up who were sweating as the fifth wicket fell for 100. By this stage The CliMAX-Kid had scored 50 from 33 balls and was progressing rapidly with 70 to his name, but he needed somebody to stick around. Tommo provided the foil required and gave him 20 overs of support and as the field tightened round him to make it hard to get off strike, Tommo flashed hard and found the boundary 6 times in a splendid partnership of 110 innings of which Tommo contributed 37.
Maximum batting points had now been achieved and there were 13 overs to try to take the game away from Kenilworth. The CliMAX-Kid stood on 134 with his century coming up from 88 balls. Soon he went past his highest score of the season – 139 v Stanway – but another wicket fell before he could reach 150. Squealer played with aplomb not expected of a number 9 and Kenilworth wilted as The Kid took the majority of the strike. In the 40th over he smashed Dave McCunn to all parts (6 4 4 6 6 bye) and enabled the partnership to exceed 50.
With the score well past 250, the emphasis seemed to shift to The Kid’s personal score. The Yubby players were willing him to achieve a double century though the overs were ticking away. A boundary from J Sorrell who had already picked up 4 wickets – all bowled took him to 191 and there were 8 balls left in the innings. Perhaps a moment of confusion set in, as The Kid mowed expansively. In CliMAX a maximum is worth 10 and that would have been enough, but here he would have still needed to get on strike for the last over and eke out the last few runs. But Sorrell had produced yet another straight one and for once The CliMAX-Kid had produced a swing and a miss. The groan of the Yubby faithful could be heard over the deafening roar of the A46.
Sorrell produced another straight one for the Bomber who was dazed by the emotions of the previous happenings. Missing gave Sorrell the brilliant return of 6 for 50 from 9 overs. Squealer and Skeletor safely negotiated the last over and took the Yubby score to 286 for 9.
The CliMAX-Kid asked to take the wicket keeping gloves in Super Sopper Sippy’s absence and Hicksy-Lix provided the new ball support for Skeletor. Chambers felt in attacking mood after chips and a bowl of fruit salad and positioned himself at slip. Sanders flashed at Hicky-Lix’s first ball and Chambers surprised none more than himself by raising his hands in front of his face to save his teeth and take a great catch to set the tone for excellent fielding standards to come.
Overs progressed more rapidly than runs and the required rate went up to levels only likely to be achieved in CliMAX, but Yubby bowlers could not find a way to break through the stoical 2nd wicket partnership. It took a drinks break and a change of end for Ever Ready when a successful LBW appeal saw off M Sorrell. The flight and guile of Squealer could not tempt the Wardens into anything remotely attacking so The Secret Skipper turned to Bomber Beasley, who duly obliged with a wide-ish off side delivery which McCunn slapped over cover – well not exactly over…..The Face of CliMAX leapt like a salmon from water and thrust his hand high over his head, coming down with ball safely in it.
The Wardens middle order were more positive, but this approach led to problems too. J Sorrell drove hard and high but Dross was a match for it taking a solid catch to give Bomber a return of 2 for 19 from 4 overs.
Now Yubby tried to turn the screw and bowl out Wardens for under 120 for extra bowling points. Ever Ready could not come up with an extra wicket though was aggrieved not to find favour from Bunny Baldwin when Gough snicked one to the keeping Kid. Hicks-Lix took the direct route with two bowled in two balls and Dross learnt from this and bowled two more hapless Wardens bats. Despite these efforts Wardens sneaked past 120 with two overs to go and produced the opportunity Jon Chambers was looking for…..
Wardens final score 127 for eight from 45 overs and with this a 19 point victory for Yubby. JOB DONE!
Black Sheet can't save cricket
Hicksy Licks Grafton with 4 for 36
After much talk, Ebrington secured a large black sheet this week and Groundsman Ken Smith and Groundskid Nat Gregory spent Friday evening securing it over a belter of a wicket they had prepared for the battle of CliMAX teams Yubby and Temple Grafton. The forecast was grim and correct. The clouds opened at 10pm and the rain had not long stopped when Smith, Gregory, Gregory Senior and James Hicks arrived to explore the damage. The sheet, intact, had collected a vast volume of rainwater and this had to be removed painstakingly with a pint glass and a dustpan. Ninety minutes later a few other Yubbites arrived and the workforce was able to slide off the sheet to reveal a dry surface, as the occasional burst of sunshine started to dry a sodden outfield and players gathered to prepare for the battle.
The toss was lost by Simon Kirk of Grafton and sensing more rain on the way, The Secret Skipper pounced on the opportunity to put the visitors in to bat. The CliMAX-Kid was tentative in his approach to the first delivery and overpitched and the in-form Kirk punched it through the covers for two easy runs being perhaps the only runs the tearaway fast bowler has conceded in front of square all season. At the other end, Skeletor risked using Kirk’s confidence on the front foot to Yubbys advantage and second ball floated a half volley up. Kirk’s eyes lit up as he moved into the drive, but he had not picked the slower ball and was off balance as he adjusted the shot. The deviation caught a thin edge and the off-bail was tickled from the stumps. Kirk trudged back through the marshy outfield to the pavilion, replaced by Grafton new comer Matt Harvey.
Now Matt Harvey was captaining Blossomfield when the mighty clubs (Yubby and Grafton met in a CliMATCH in 2010), but he did not let this disadvantage him. He soon was working the ball into the leg side. The Secret Skipper had to plug gaps on that side in the field and this slowed his progress down to the rate of Grafton opener Neil Powell. Unflustered the pair put on 98 and it took a full toss from Tommo after drinks to separate them. The Face (Prince Harry of Ebrington), dived like a swallow to catch Powell on 37 in the covers and was in action a while later scooping one up in front of his CliMAX Face to give Hicksy-Lix his first wicket. At this stage, The CliMAX-Kid had bowled eight overs for just seven runs and had then replaced Hicksy-Lix as wicketkeeper. After a couple of vociferous appeals for run outs had been turned down, he was not in the mood to take any chances with the umpiring skills on offer. He appeared to take a catch from the edge of Harvey’s bat and as bowler Tommo appealed, The Kid, threw down the stumps. Kirk at square leg had to concede that Harvey, who had just turned 51 was out of his ground and Grafton’s grip on the duel had slipped.
Another wicket fell on 118 as Gould was bowled by Tommo, and then on 119 Hicksy-Lix bowled Waters. Next delivery Hicksy-Lix used his massive frame to extract extra bounce from back of length and Howard Benjamin was unable to withdraw his gloves from which the ball ballooned towards the vacant first slip area. The CliMAX-Kid dived across and got the right glove on the floor before the ball could hit it. The Yubbites were jubilant in their celebration, but Benjamin took Bunny Baldwin’s uplifted finger badly. He rubbed his elbow and offered to reveal the anatomy to anyone interested. No-one was, so the gesture was futile, but it did bring in Milky James to join the unflappable Holty. This pair were coming to grips with the Tommo / Lix combination when the surrounding thunder produced shower that needed the black sheet of Ebrington to be repositioned.
Twenty minutes later the sun was out and the sheet was off and the cricket was back on. The score progressed slowly, but the clouds built up quicker. A downpour forced an early tea with four overs of the innings to complete. Once again the black sheet did its job, but a wet out field became waterlogged in places. After nourishment the Yubbites had the sheet off and were ready for more action, but the Graftonian’s were understandably reluctant to risk their bodies on the slippery surface. They had seen Cross Bones aquaplane under the Ebrington bank and had to consider their older and possibly osteoporotic frames. The Yubbites, frustrated by seven abandoned games this season, were prepared to play in any circumstances and after some forking of the outfield Milky and Holty sportingly came forth from the safety of the wooden pavilion once more. The four overs gave Grafton 15 runs and a deserved extra batting point for a total of 150 and Yubby escaped with no injuries.
The opening pair of The CliMAX-Kid and Hicksy-Lix had soon donned batting equipment and stood waiting for Grafton to take the field. Unfortunately, they had spotted a raindrop, and thought it prudent to allow a little longer for tea to be digested. Umpire Bunny Baldwin seemed agitated, yet was not prepared to allow play whilst there was any moisture in the air. Twenty minutes later, this decision was proven to be spot on as the heavens opened and a deluge began. Yet again the Ebrington Arms benefited from the early arrival of 22 cricketers who had nothing better to do than drink away their frustrations. Perhaps there is economic justice in this, as the Ebrington Arms have been a fantastic sponsor of Yubby cricket in 2012, proving scrumptious teas for their home league games.
The toss was lost by Simon Kirk of Grafton and sensing more rain on the way, The Secret Skipper pounced on the opportunity to put the visitors in to bat. The CliMAX-Kid was tentative in his approach to the first delivery and overpitched and the in-form Kirk punched it through the covers for two easy runs being perhaps the only runs the tearaway fast bowler has conceded in front of square all season. At the other end, Skeletor risked using Kirk’s confidence on the front foot to Yubbys advantage and second ball floated a half volley up. Kirk’s eyes lit up as he moved into the drive, but he had not picked the slower ball and was off balance as he adjusted the shot. The deviation caught a thin edge and the off-bail was tickled from the stumps. Kirk trudged back through the marshy outfield to the pavilion, replaced by Grafton new comer Matt Harvey.
Now Matt Harvey was captaining Blossomfield when the mighty clubs (Yubby and Grafton met in a CliMATCH in 2010), but he did not let this disadvantage him. He soon was working the ball into the leg side. The Secret Skipper had to plug gaps on that side in the field and this slowed his progress down to the rate of Grafton opener Neil Powell. Unflustered the pair put on 98 and it took a full toss from Tommo after drinks to separate them. The Face (Prince Harry of Ebrington), dived like a swallow to catch Powell on 37 in the covers and was in action a while later scooping one up in front of his CliMAX Face to give Hicksy-Lix his first wicket. At this stage, The CliMAX-Kid had bowled eight overs for just seven runs and had then replaced Hicksy-Lix as wicketkeeper. After a couple of vociferous appeals for run outs had been turned down, he was not in the mood to take any chances with the umpiring skills on offer. He appeared to take a catch from the edge of Harvey’s bat and as bowler Tommo appealed, The Kid, threw down the stumps. Kirk at square leg had to concede that Harvey, who had just turned 51 was out of his ground and Grafton’s grip on the duel had slipped.
Another wicket fell on 118 as Gould was bowled by Tommo, and then on 119 Hicksy-Lix bowled Waters. Next delivery Hicksy-Lix used his massive frame to extract extra bounce from back of length and Howard Benjamin was unable to withdraw his gloves from which the ball ballooned towards the vacant first slip area. The CliMAX-Kid dived across and got the right glove on the floor before the ball could hit it. The Yubbites were jubilant in their celebration, but Benjamin took Bunny Baldwin’s uplifted finger badly. He rubbed his elbow and offered to reveal the anatomy to anyone interested. No-one was, so the gesture was futile, but it did bring in Milky James to join the unflappable Holty. This pair were coming to grips with the Tommo / Lix combination when the surrounding thunder produced shower that needed the black sheet of Ebrington to be repositioned.
Twenty minutes later the sun was out and the sheet was off and the cricket was back on. The score progressed slowly, but the clouds built up quicker. A downpour forced an early tea with four overs of the innings to complete. Once again the black sheet did its job, but a wet out field became waterlogged in places. After nourishment the Yubbites had the sheet off and were ready for more action, but the Graftonian’s were understandably reluctant to risk their bodies on the slippery surface. They had seen Cross Bones aquaplane under the Ebrington bank and had to consider their older and possibly osteoporotic frames. The Yubbites, frustrated by seven abandoned games this season, were prepared to play in any circumstances and after some forking of the outfield Milky and Holty sportingly came forth from the safety of the wooden pavilion once more. The four overs gave Grafton 15 runs and a deserved extra batting point for a total of 150 and Yubby escaped with no injuries.
The opening pair of The CliMAX-Kid and Hicksy-Lix had soon donned batting equipment and stood waiting for Grafton to take the field. Unfortunately, they had spotted a raindrop, and thought it prudent to allow a little longer for tea to be digested. Umpire Bunny Baldwin seemed agitated, yet was not prepared to allow play whilst there was any moisture in the air. Twenty minutes later, this decision was proven to be spot on as the heavens opened and a deluge began. Yet again the Ebrington Arms benefited from the early arrival of 22 cricketers who had nothing better to do than drink away their frustrations. Perhaps there is economic justice in this, as the Ebrington Arms have been a fantastic sponsor of Yubby cricket in 2012, proving scrumptious teas for their home league games.
Pee Pee all over Blockley
Yubby cricketers spent a while searching the sports field at Blockley to find an intended wicket. From a yard a two a few white lines became visible in the lush green grass and Yubb-ites, felt confident that indeed Blockley CC were prepared for the bottom versus top Cotswold Hills League Division 3 tussle. Perhaps Yubbys total of 342 in their preceding game lead Blockley to pitch preparation favouring seamers, but this would be surprising if they considered a team of 5 seamers compared to Blockley’s own two seamer attack. Perhaps it was that their groundsman had gone on holiday with the mower afterall.
Blockley captain Simon Dyer was delighted that Skeletor called heads, yet the coin nestled between the long green glades with tails on top. Yubby were inserted and poor Sippy was soon staggering out to the middle to play a short innings between heaves and multicolour yawns. The CliMAX-Kid was troubled too, not by gastroenteritis, but by unusual lateral movement extracted by Blockley opening bowlers exploiting favourable overcast overhead and soft green underfoot conditions. Eventually he snicked off for 27 caught low down by Dan Knight at first slip, but not before Sippy and Spenny had spooned up dollies. When Ever Ready played around a swinging full length delivery the score was a disastrous 43 for 4 and Yubby were staring down the Blockley barrel.
What followed was a masterclass by The Face of CliMAX, Josh Collins, whose concerted efforts to improve his ability to pull paid dividends once he had seen off the Blockley seamers with the Pee Pee Parmenter. Initially late cuts by The Face and leg side nurdles by Pee Pee saw Yubby to their first batting point and enough runs to contemplate defending. Then the shots became more expansive, such that there was friendly disagreements between umpire Bunny Baldwin and onlooking Yubb-ites regarding the value of shots – 4 or 6. Later blows needed no discussion as The Face cleared the boundary four times and Pee Pee three times. The Face went past 50 after 66 balls and Pee Pee followed shortly taking 57 balls, but that was not enough for the pair hungry to make the most of a rare opportunity to bat in a season affected by excessive rain, excessive holidays and dominance of the Yubby upper order in knocking off small totals. The century partnership came after 18 overs and the rate was accelerating to eight runs each over as the Yubb-ites held their breath in the knowledge that The Face was closing in on his own century. His score was 97 and Dan Knight served up short wide one outside off stump, feeding The Face for his favourite cut shot, but the unthinkable happened and the ball was guided straight to backward point. There was nothing for it – a wry grin broke over The Face.
Pee Pee paced his innings perfectly and arrived within a shot of 100 in the last over. The only problem was that he was not on strike. Could Blockley turn coat – Dross – turn it around? Indeed he could. A single secured, Pee Pee was unstoppable, in full flow, and a magnificent century was brought up (soon after Sippy’s breakfast) with a dab to third man. Incredibly the final score from the 45 overs was 268 for 6.
Yubby did not consider this score would be threatened, but Simon Dyer had other ideas. He produced an amazing display of straight hitting, taking an incredible liking to Pee Pee’s brief offerings – two overs for 37. The Secret Skipper Skeletor had a tactical headache. No one else from the Blockley stable seemed capable of hitting it off the square, but 20 more balls at Dyer and the game could be lost. A negative approach was called for and the field was spread for Dyer and closed in for his various partners in an attempt to keep the dangerman off strike. Skeletor came back into the attack and it took an over to realise that you have to bowl back of length outside off or short and at the head to Dyer. He asked Ever Ready to put run up problems out of his mind and have a second spell and between them the rate was checked. Eventually, and perhaps inevitably, Dyer on 93 lofted one, but not over the ropes, in fact not even over the bowler. Ever Ready was under it, and for once quiet.... maybe nervous? Yet the ball nestled into his hands and the threat was over and the banter began again only checked by a friendly warning from the umpire and father of the garrulous Blockley wicketkeeper.
Dross came back for another wicket (2 for 37) and The CliMAX-Kid (3 for 22) was asked to finish things off with Six-fer offering the first spin of the innings at the other end. The Blockley innings folded on 196 in 42 overs and gain 7 points to Yubby’s 20 for a 72 run victory.
Blockley captain Simon Dyer was delighted that Skeletor called heads, yet the coin nestled between the long green glades with tails on top. Yubby were inserted and poor Sippy was soon staggering out to the middle to play a short innings between heaves and multicolour yawns. The CliMAX-Kid was troubled too, not by gastroenteritis, but by unusual lateral movement extracted by Blockley opening bowlers exploiting favourable overcast overhead and soft green underfoot conditions. Eventually he snicked off for 27 caught low down by Dan Knight at first slip, but not before Sippy and Spenny had spooned up dollies. When Ever Ready played around a swinging full length delivery the score was a disastrous 43 for 4 and Yubby were staring down the Blockley barrel.
What followed was a masterclass by The Face of CliMAX, Josh Collins, whose concerted efforts to improve his ability to pull paid dividends once he had seen off the Blockley seamers with the Pee Pee Parmenter. Initially late cuts by The Face and leg side nurdles by Pee Pee saw Yubby to their first batting point and enough runs to contemplate defending. Then the shots became more expansive, such that there was friendly disagreements between umpire Bunny Baldwin and onlooking Yubb-ites regarding the value of shots – 4 or 6. Later blows needed no discussion as The Face cleared the boundary four times and Pee Pee three times. The Face went past 50 after 66 balls and Pee Pee followed shortly taking 57 balls, but that was not enough for the pair hungry to make the most of a rare opportunity to bat in a season affected by excessive rain, excessive holidays and dominance of the Yubby upper order in knocking off small totals. The century partnership came after 18 overs and the rate was accelerating to eight runs each over as the Yubb-ites held their breath in the knowledge that The Face was closing in on his own century. His score was 97 and Dan Knight served up short wide one outside off stump, feeding The Face for his favourite cut shot, but the unthinkable happened and the ball was guided straight to backward point. There was nothing for it – a wry grin broke over The Face.
Pee Pee paced his innings perfectly and arrived within a shot of 100 in the last over. The only problem was that he was not on strike. Could Blockley turn coat – Dross – turn it around? Indeed he could. A single secured, Pee Pee was unstoppable, in full flow, and a magnificent century was brought up (soon after Sippy’s breakfast) with a dab to third man. Incredibly the final score from the 45 overs was 268 for 6.
Yubby did not consider this score would be threatened, but Simon Dyer had other ideas. He produced an amazing display of straight hitting, taking an incredible liking to Pee Pee’s brief offerings – two overs for 37. The Secret Skipper Skeletor had a tactical headache. No one else from the Blockley stable seemed capable of hitting it off the square, but 20 more balls at Dyer and the game could be lost. A negative approach was called for and the field was spread for Dyer and closed in for his various partners in an attempt to keep the dangerman off strike. Skeletor came back into the attack and it took an over to realise that you have to bowl back of length outside off or short and at the head to Dyer. He asked Ever Ready to put run up problems out of his mind and have a second spell and between them the rate was checked. Eventually, and perhaps inevitably, Dyer on 93 lofted one, but not over the ropes, in fact not even over the bowler. Ever Ready was under it, and for once quiet.... maybe nervous? Yet the ball nestled into his hands and the threat was over and the banter began again only checked by a friendly warning from the umpire and father of the garrulous Blockley wicketkeeper.
Dross came back for another wicket (2 for 37) and The CliMAX-Kid (3 for 22) was asked to finish things off with Six-fer offering the first spin of the innings at the other end. The Blockley innings folded on 196 in 42 overs and gain 7 points to Yubby’s 20 for a 72 run victory.
Kid’s carnage along Campden Road
Pick of the bowlers - PeePee 4 for 18
Sun shone on the Manor Ground and the pitch was dry for the first time this season. It was a good toss for Skeletor to win and he opted for Yubby to bat without hesitation. This decision was further vindicated when the feared fast bowler Stretchy took up a position to umpire, not bowl due to a persistent back injury. The mood was immediately set by The CliMAX-Kid who smashed a juicy full toss for a boundary off the first ball and pulled a long hop for another following a nervy wide by Eddie Fowler. This did not help settle Reid, who had to bowl at the other end. His first over went for 11 and The Kid was flying, which gave Jon Chambers playing only his second game of the league campaign, a chance to take a careful look at the bowling. The maiden by Fowler that followed was the only one of the innings and after that Chambers looked more like the player of 2011 who score 350 runs at an average of 175. With six sweet boundaries to his name he played back to second change bowler A Johns whose appeal for LBW was upheld by Stretchy. The partnership was worth 93 in 13 overs and Chambers had contributed 30.
Hicky-Lix joined The CliMAX-Kid and sensibly was happy to rotate the stroke and keep the momentum of the innings going. Uncharacteristically the hard hitting Hicks scored only 5 boundaries in bringing up a half century but did score 25 singles. The CliMAX-Kid relished the strike, he had already scored 50 from 38 balls, and then went onto complete a remarkable hundred from 66 balls. In this mood it was only his own folly that could see him dismissed. The Kid showed his hunger for every conceivable run and he had backed up too far when Hicky-Lix sent him back after a pleasant back foot drive found its way to cover. Only a direct throw could beat the sprawling Kid and in Stretchy’s opinion it did, his finger was aloft before the appeal had subsided. The Kids contribution was 139 from 89 balls, 17 fours and 4 sixes, and the partnership with Hicksy-Lix was 134 in 18 overs.
Spenny played as though with no pressure and Hicksy-Lix began to find the boundary with regularity. He matched the Kid for his second 50 which came up in only 28 balls. In the 42nd over Spenny completed his half century from 37 balls with his 8th boundary of which two were sixes and Hicksy-Lix brought up his first Cotswold Hills League Century. Perhaps the Secret Skipper could not take any more excitement, or perhaps he was in a hurry for a sandwich prepared by the Ebrington Arms, but whichever he brought the innings to a premature close on 342 for 2, setting Stanway a 7 per over target.
Drinks and rolls did not appear to revive opener A Johns, whose time in the middle amounted to but a couple of balls from The CliMAX-Kid whose tail was up as he bowled fast and straight. This brought in danger man, Stanway wicketkeeper Mitchell. Perhaps lulled into a sense of false security having hit Skeletor to the boundary, he tried to repeat he act only managing to sky the ball to PeePee and extra cover. Though not at his best Skeletor could have had opener Pete Green caught at mid-on, but Sandhurt celebrations left mid-on the worst for wear and he failed to pick up the dipping drive.
The father and son bowling attack had to be changed for Yubby to find another wicket. Bother Ever- Ready and Will Green hit the stumps, which brought in John Lawrence and Jill Cull. Skeletor took pace off for Lawrence who loved to cut and Parmenter responded with a full straight one that landed on Lawrence’s boot and the LBW appeal brought Stretchy into the game again. Young Worcestershire Ladies cricket Jill Cull played straight and sensible was able to accumulate 22. She defied the Yubby bowlers for 14 overs largely in partnership with her father Tim. They frustrated Yubby in taking the score beyond 120, which denied the fielding team extra bonus points. When she was out in the 39th over there was virtually nothing to play for – less than 9 overs to score 218 was beyond the realms and it was just left to Yubby to take one more wicket for the final bonus point. Oh for CliMAX rules, which would have kept Stanway in with a sniff to the end! So it was to be that Yubby took their foot off the pedal and last man Eddie Fowler swung the willow far more effectively than his teammates. He scored 34 before holing out to Cullen against who he had inflicted all the damage. Stanway all out for 156 were pleased to have escaped with 4 points in a game in which Yubby had made all the running.
Yubby extend their lead at the top of the league to 12 points with Woodbourne held up by a nail-biting tie with Ashorne. Now that does sound like a game as exciting as CliMAX!
11th August 2012
Hicky-Lix joined The CliMAX-Kid and sensibly was happy to rotate the stroke and keep the momentum of the innings going. Uncharacteristically the hard hitting Hicks scored only 5 boundaries in bringing up a half century but did score 25 singles. The CliMAX-Kid relished the strike, he had already scored 50 from 38 balls, and then went onto complete a remarkable hundred from 66 balls. In this mood it was only his own folly that could see him dismissed. The Kid showed his hunger for every conceivable run and he had backed up too far when Hicky-Lix sent him back after a pleasant back foot drive found its way to cover. Only a direct throw could beat the sprawling Kid and in Stretchy’s opinion it did, his finger was aloft before the appeal had subsided. The Kids contribution was 139 from 89 balls, 17 fours and 4 sixes, and the partnership with Hicksy-Lix was 134 in 18 overs.
Spenny played as though with no pressure and Hicksy-Lix began to find the boundary with regularity. He matched the Kid for his second 50 which came up in only 28 balls. In the 42nd over Spenny completed his half century from 37 balls with his 8th boundary of which two were sixes and Hicksy-Lix brought up his first Cotswold Hills League Century. Perhaps the Secret Skipper could not take any more excitement, or perhaps he was in a hurry for a sandwich prepared by the Ebrington Arms, but whichever he brought the innings to a premature close on 342 for 2, setting Stanway a 7 per over target.
Drinks and rolls did not appear to revive opener A Johns, whose time in the middle amounted to but a couple of balls from The CliMAX-Kid whose tail was up as he bowled fast and straight. This brought in danger man, Stanway wicketkeeper Mitchell. Perhaps lulled into a sense of false security having hit Skeletor to the boundary, he tried to repeat he act only managing to sky the ball to PeePee and extra cover. Though not at his best Skeletor could have had opener Pete Green caught at mid-on, but Sandhurt celebrations left mid-on the worst for wear and he failed to pick up the dipping drive.
The father and son bowling attack had to be changed for Yubby to find another wicket. Bother Ever- Ready and Will Green hit the stumps, which brought in John Lawrence and Jill Cull. Skeletor took pace off for Lawrence who loved to cut and Parmenter responded with a full straight one that landed on Lawrence’s boot and the LBW appeal brought Stretchy into the game again. Young Worcestershire Ladies cricket Jill Cull played straight and sensible was able to accumulate 22. She defied the Yubby bowlers for 14 overs largely in partnership with her father Tim. They frustrated Yubby in taking the score beyond 120, which denied the fielding team extra bonus points. When she was out in the 39th over there was virtually nothing to play for – less than 9 overs to score 218 was beyond the realms and it was just left to Yubby to take one more wicket for the final bonus point. Oh for CliMAX rules, which would have kept Stanway in with a sniff to the end! So it was to be that Yubby took their foot off the pedal and last man Eddie Fowler swung the willow far more effectively than his teammates. He scored 34 before holing out to Cullen against who he had inflicted all the damage. Stanway all out for 156 were pleased to have escaped with 4 points in a game in which Yubby had made all the running.
Yubby extend their lead at the top of the league to 12 points with Woodbourne held up by a nail-biting tie with Ashorne. Now that does sound like a game as exciting as CliMAX!
11th August 2012
Beasley bombs out The Martins
Yubby tried a new approach to the recurrent problem of rain on Sunday 5th August. Instead of giving up and going straight to the pub, eight Martins and nine Yubby players waited and watched. Then to break the monotony they took a scrumptious tea prepared by Yubby favourite Angie Clarkson. It is no wonder that her recent venture, Cherry Trees Bed and Breakfast in Chipping Campden, is proving so popular. After that a strange thing happened – the sun came out. Determined to make the most of it, the players strode and sometimes squelched out to the middle to start a 25 over contest.
Poor Geoff Brown could not get any purchase, despite a pile of sawdust, at the bowling crease and served up a selection of tasty offerings more suited to one of Angie’s delightful spreads. Opener Hicksy –licked his lips – and smacked the ball over a restricted boundary for three MAXima and a pair of fours while Skeletor was able to smash one ball over point for six with a shot more appropriate for Golden boy Andy Murray. With the score on 44 from 21 balls, delight turned to confused despair as Skeletor presumed he had hit his next drive into the ground only to find the umpires finger aloft despite no appeal from the fielding team. Adman Webb and The Face both reached double figures, but it was left to The CliMAX-Kid and Duckie Clarkson to grind out 15 overs. Despite this pressure, there were very few defensive shots and The Kid raced past 50 for 12th time in 17 innings this season. Nevertheless he felt compelled to complete his 3rd century though only 7 balls remained when he holed out for 86 at long-on. Clarkson followed, unfortunately two short of a deserved 50.
The Yubby nine were 216 all out. This would have been quite a challenge in CliMAX rules but was totally overwhelming for a Martins eight, who had been deprived the skills of three experienced campaigners who had turned tail at 2.15pm and headed home, presuming there was no realistic chance of any cricket. What a mistake that might have been as Yubby opened the bowling with Flighty who was clearly not fit having pulled a fetlock during football in the morning. Unable to put the usual rev’s on the ball Flighty was taken to the cleaners – 2 overs for 19 – but at the other end Bomber Beasley had other ideas. Admittedly it took a couple of balls to find his rhythm, but after this the pins were pulled free and the grenades landed perfectly on the wet patch. Over after over he sent Martins batters back to the pavilion, even in the fourth when mere mortals would have been tired, the training for the TAs pain off and Bomber was able to keep charging in. In the end (4 overs 4 wickets for 22), The Face could take it no longer and he had to remove him from the attack. The Face found the Bomber’s act too hard to follow and after an over for 11 runs quietly gave himself and ill-deserved rest. Skeletor experimented with a short run up and nicked out two Martins leaving Hicksy-Lix to remove the obdurate opener Murray for 23. Martins were all out for 73 and once again the players will regret not making this CliMAX rules as the evening was bright, the pitch was continuing to dry and there were still 14 scheduled overs left to play.
Sunday 5th August 2012
Poor Geoff Brown could not get any purchase, despite a pile of sawdust, at the bowling crease and served up a selection of tasty offerings more suited to one of Angie’s delightful spreads. Opener Hicksy –licked his lips – and smacked the ball over a restricted boundary for three MAXima and a pair of fours while Skeletor was able to smash one ball over point for six with a shot more appropriate for Golden boy Andy Murray. With the score on 44 from 21 balls, delight turned to confused despair as Skeletor presumed he had hit his next drive into the ground only to find the umpires finger aloft despite no appeal from the fielding team. Adman Webb and The Face both reached double figures, but it was left to The CliMAX-Kid and Duckie Clarkson to grind out 15 overs. Despite this pressure, there were very few defensive shots and The Kid raced past 50 for 12th time in 17 innings this season. Nevertheless he felt compelled to complete his 3rd century though only 7 balls remained when he holed out for 86 at long-on. Clarkson followed, unfortunately two short of a deserved 50.
The Yubby nine were 216 all out. This would have been quite a challenge in CliMAX rules but was totally overwhelming for a Martins eight, who had been deprived the skills of three experienced campaigners who had turned tail at 2.15pm and headed home, presuming there was no realistic chance of any cricket. What a mistake that might have been as Yubby opened the bowling with Flighty who was clearly not fit having pulled a fetlock during football in the morning. Unable to put the usual rev’s on the ball Flighty was taken to the cleaners – 2 overs for 19 – but at the other end Bomber Beasley had other ideas. Admittedly it took a couple of balls to find his rhythm, but after this the pins were pulled free and the grenades landed perfectly on the wet patch. Over after over he sent Martins batters back to the pavilion, even in the fourth when mere mortals would have been tired, the training for the TAs pain off and Bomber was able to keep charging in. In the end (4 overs 4 wickets for 22), The Face could take it no longer and he had to remove him from the attack. The Face found the Bomber’s act too hard to follow and after an over for 11 runs quietly gave himself and ill-deserved rest. Skeletor experimented with a short run up and nicked out two Martins leaving Hicksy-Lix to remove the obdurate opener Murray for 23. Martins were all out for 73 and once again the players will regret not making this CliMAX rules as the evening was bright, the pitch was continuing to dry and there were still 14 scheduled overs left to play.
Sunday 5th August 2012
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
CliMAX provides more interesting statistics...
At the half way point Yubby head the Cotswold Hills League Division 3. They have played 6 and won all 6 with three games abandoned without a ball bowled. 141 points have been amassed, which is an average of 21 each time they take the field. Do 40 bowling points reflect strength in this facet of the game or simply bowling first on rain affected pitches?
Statistics seem to suggest success so far is based on a team effort: 21 players have contributed. Only Nat Gregory, Rob Sipthorp, Fred Rawlings, Peter Gregory and Liam Cullen have played in all six games. Nat Gregory has used his batting opportunity well with 359 runs in 6 innings at an average of 119.7. No other batter has scored more than 100 runs, but James Hicks average of 42.5 is commendable. Dan Cross has only been out once for his 49 runs and Fred Rawlings waits patiently for more opportunities at number 5 from where he has 58 in 2 innings.
Fred Rawlings tops the wicket takers with 11 and has shouldered the burden of most overs bowled (35). He is one of six bowlers whose economy rates are better than 3 runs per over. Nat Gregory is the most miserly at 1.5 runs per over, but Alex Thompson, Peter Gregory and Paul Parmenter have all gone for less than 2 runs per over. Peter Gregory has the best average of 6.6 runs per wicket but 6 other bowlers have taken wickets at less than 10 runs each. Jim Sipthorp, Fred Rawlings and Liam Cullen all have strike rates better than a wicket every 20 balls and yet it is James Hicks who is most effective with a wicket every 17.3 balls.
Wicketkeeper Rob Sipthorp has most dismissals with 6 catches and 2 stumpings, whilst Peter Gregory has clung onto 6 outfield catches.
On a different note – The CliMAX website had 134 hits on 30th June 2012 from 128 unique sources.
Statistics seem to suggest success so far is based on a team effort: 21 players have contributed. Only Nat Gregory, Rob Sipthorp, Fred Rawlings, Peter Gregory and Liam Cullen have played in all six games. Nat Gregory has used his batting opportunity well with 359 runs in 6 innings at an average of 119.7. No other batter has scored more than 100 runs, but James Hicks average of 42.5 is commendable. Dan Cross has only been out once for his 49 runs and Fred Rawlings waits patiently for more opportunities at number 5 from where he has 58 in 2 innings.
Fred Rawlings tops the wicket takers with 11 and has shouldered the burden of most overs bowled (35). He is one of six bowlers whose economy rates are better than 3 runs per over. Nat Gregory is the most miserly at 1.5 runs per over, but Alex Thompson, Peter Gregory and Paul Parmenter have all gone for less than 2 runs per over. Peter Gregory has the best average of 6.6 runs per wicket but 6 other bowlers have taken wickets at less than 10 runs each. Jim Sipthorp, Fred Rawlings and Liam Cullen all have strike rates better than a wicket every 20 balls and yet it is James Hicks who is most effective with a wicket every 17.3 balls.
Wicketkeeper Rob Sipthorp has most dismissals with 6 catches and 2 stumpings, whilst Peter Gregory has clung onto 6 outfield catches.
On a different note – The CliMAX website had 134 hits on 30th June 2012 from 128 unique sources.
league_statistics_to_end_of_june_2012.docx | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Victory before Tea!
Super sopper tries to go over the top - and fails
Yubby tucked into tea at Ashorne knowing the job was already done. Ebrington had raced to victory after just 13 overs of batting with Hicksy-Lix peppering the leg side boundary on four consecutive occasions to signal a win by 8 wickets. A little earlier in the day Ebrington had used eight bowlers in relatively short spells and each had obliged with a wicket. The Gregory family were miserly conceding only 5 from their eight opening overs, whist Hicksy-Lix, learning from CliMAX, cleverly bought his scalp bowling round the wicket. Ever-Ready Rawlings gave way to PeePee Parmenter after taking his wicket and Dan Cross had Lewis in front of all three for undisputable leg before. With pace off the ball Super Soppy Sippy came into his own stumping two victims to assist The Face and Squealer. Ebrington were lucky to have Aitkins run out at the non-strikers end when bowler Dan Cross deflected one on to the stumps, but Ashorne wasted an opportunity for N Mockler (21) to become top scorer when he set off for a suicidal single and was sent back by Reading too late.
Tea was deferred - after all Yubby had not bowled 30 overs and there were threatening clouds on the horizon. Super Sopper was a dasher and was on 27 in the 7th over when he skied Aitkin to mid-on and Ashorne must have thought they had a chance when Umpire Bunny Baldwin stuck a finger up to The CliMAX-Kid who was convinced that Aitkin was bowling right arm round at the time. He failed to clear his leg out of the way for the slog sweep and after a confused pause trudged off in the opposite direction. Spenny (11*) remained phlegmatic and is yet to have his wicket taken in a league season that started late due to commitments down under. Hicksy-Lix (27*) with Spenny put on a second partnership of 42 for Ebrington and made sure Ebrington did not drop any further points.
Yubby took 13 overs to chase down 84 and the whole game was over in less than 42. What a shame that three or four hours of lovely sunshine on a drying pitch were wasted by the archaic rules of cricket, when CliMAX now provides an option that would ensure excitement for cricket lovers right to the last scheduled delivery!
30th June 2012
Tea was deferred - after all Yubby had not bowled 30 overs and there were threatening clouds on the horizon. Super Sopper was a dasher and was on 27 in the 7th over when he skied Aitkin to mid-on and Ashorne must have thought they had a chance when Umpire Bunny Baldwin stuck a finger up to The CliMAX-Kid who was convinced that Aitkin was bowling right arm round at the time. He failed to clear his leg out of the way for the slog sweep and after a confused pause trudged off in the opposite direction. Spenny (11*) remained phlegmatic and is yet to have his wicket taken in a league season that started late due to commitments down under. Hicksy-Lix (27*) with Spenny put on a second partnership of 42 for Ebrington and made sure Ebrington did not drop any further points.
Yubby took 13 overs to chase down 84 and the whole game was over in less than 42. What a shame that three or four hours of lovely sunshine on a drying pitch were wasted by the archaic rules of cricket, when CliMAX now provides an option that would ensure excitement for cricket lovers right to the last scheduled delivery!
30th June 2012
The CliMAX-Kid becomes a Man-of-Match
The Kid becomes The Man
Once again, Ebrington enjoy winning but realise that it is difficult to improve their cricket sitting in the Ebrington Arms drinking ale. Their game with Blockley was won with almost 40 overs still to complete and after a week of dreadful weather the teams walked off in warm sunshine. The pitch was drying and there was a chance for others to bat and bowl, but the rules of cricket are such that you have to do anything but! The solution is provided by CliMAX in which the teams continue playing until the schedule end and even as that last ball is bowled either team have a chance of winning. That’s what provides ‘peak excitement for cricket lovers’.
But it was continual rain for a week that made play at the Campden Road Ground, Ebrington unlikely, until a drying wind and work party led by groundsman Ken Smith got going on Saturday morning. The seemingly impossible was made possible, though umpires Geoff Calcott and John Baldwin made a careful inspection of every blade of grass and decreed a start was possible on time, so long as the damp patch beneath the pavilion was roped off. The boundary was now CliMAX style and it was not just The CliMAX-Kid that eyed it up eagerly. Nevertheless, he had to wait before attacking it with the bat, as secret skipper Skeletor won the toss and inserted an apprehensive Blockley team on a sticky dog.
Skeletor struck first in his opening over with Big Willy Green, returning after a fractured spine, taking an easy catch. The Kid tried a bouncer that ballooned harmlessly over Watson’s head, who smiled and shrugged before being sent on his way by a fast straight yorker. Tommo induced a moment of folly from the dogged J Vick and he top edged a glance which stayed in the air long enough for Alex Green to run from behind the stumps to backward of square leg for a diving catch. Young Dan Moore was joined by the Blockley’s own CliMAX-Origianal Dan-gerous Knight. With the score growing to 55, Ebrington pulled out their ace card. Sippy, their usual wicketkeeper, was brought on to bowl against old teammate Dan-gerous. The chance to inflict some humiliation was not to be passed up by Dan-gerous, who dragged one to many across the line only to find The CliMAX-Kid was stationed in the deep for just such a miss-hit. It could only be The Kid who would petulantly boot the ball away in protest at some of the previous fielding that has seen Yubby drop catches, particularly one of The Kid’s own bowling.
Dan Moore (35) remained composed as Squealer paired up with the returning and angry CliMAX-Kid to pick up two wickets each. Some more sloppy fielding and unnecessary full bungers allowed Blockley to threaten 120. Skipper Skeletor lost patience and turned to the Ever Ready Fred Rawlings, who took the last two wickets without conceding a run. Blockley had folded before the urn had boiled the water for just 113 in 34.2 overs. Over tea, Yubby reflected on good and bad, but replacement wicketkeeper Alex Green could be pleased with 3 catches and Big brother Willy two in the outfield.
Opening up for Yubby, Sippy stroked the ball effortlessly and raced to 16 in Ebrington’s opening stand of 25, but then was unfortunate to be bowled off his legs attempting another MAXimum over midwicket. Spenny continued with The Kid as they had left off at Stretch-way and Spenny this time found the boundary three times including a big straight six which Claw was delighted to find in the across the road. The partnership was 91 and Spenny was 26 not out when Gregory hit the third ball of the 17th over for the four. This took Yubby to a 9 wicket victory. The CliMAX-Kid, hit 6 fours and inevitably three MAXima on this postage stamp sized playing surface. His total of 64 not out brings him to 350 runs in 5 league innings. With 3 for 22 from 9 overs The CliMAX-Kid can claim the Man-of-the-Match award.
But it was continual rain for a week that made play at the Campden Road Ground, Ebrington unlikely, until a drying wind and work party led by groundsman Ken Smith got going on Saturday morning. The seemingly impossible was made possible, though umpires Geoff Calcott and John Baldwin made a careful inspection of every blade of grass and decreed a start was possible on time, so long as the damp patch beneath the pavilion was roped off. The boundary was now CliMAX style and it was not just The CliMAX-Kid that eyed it up eagerly. Nevertheless, he had to wait before attacking it with the bat, as secret skipper Skeletor won the toss and inserted an apprehensive Blockley team on a sticky dog.
Skeletor struck first in his opening over with Big Willy Green, returning after a fractured spine, taking an easy catch. The Kid tried a bouncer that ballooned harmlessly over Watson’s head, who smiled and shrugged before being sent on his way by a fast straight yorker. Tommo induced a moment of folly from the dogged J Vick and he top edged a glance which stayed in the air long enough for Alex Green to run from behind the stumps to backward of square leg for a diving catch. Young Dan Moore was joined by the Blockley’s own CliMAX-Origianal Dan-gerous Knight. With the score growing to 55, Ebrington pulled out their ace card. Sippy, their usual wicketkeeper, was brought on to bowl against old teammate Dan-gerous. The chance to inflict some humiliation was not to be passed up by Dan-gerous, who dragged one to many across the line only to find The CliMAX-Kid was stationed in the deep for just such a miss-hit. It could only be The Kid who would petulantly boot the ball away in protest at some of the previous fielding that has seen Yubby drop catches, particularly one of The Kid’s own bowling.
Dan Moore (35) remained composed as Squealer paired up with the returning and angry CliMAX-Kid to pick up two wickets each. Some more sloppy fielding and unnecessary full bungers allowed Blockley to threaten 120. Skipper Skeletor lost patience and turned to the Ever Ready Fred Rawlings, who took the last two wickets without conceding a run. Blockley had folded before the urn had boiled the water for just 113 in 34.2 overs. Over tea, Yubby reflected on good and bad, but replacement wicketkeeper Alex Green could be pleased with 3 catches and Big brother Willy two in the outfield.
Opening up for Yubby, Sippy stroked the ball effortlessly and raced to 16 in Ebrington’s opening stand of 25, but then was unfortunate to be bowled off his legs attempting another MAXimum over midwicket. Spenny continued with The Kid as they had left off at Stretch-way and Spenny this time found the boundary three times including a big straight six which Claw was delighted to find in the across the road. The partnership was 91 and Spenny was 26 not out when Gregory hit the third ball of the 17th over for the four. This took Yubby to a 9 wicket victory. The CliMAX-Kid, hit 6 fours and inevitably three MAXima on this postage stamp sized playing surface. His total of 64 not out brings him to 350 runs in 5 league innings. With 3 for 22 from 9 overs The CliMAX-Kid can claim the Man-of-the-Match award.
Yubby not stretched by Stanway
Outrageous Skeletor
The mist came down on Stanway Cricket Club on Saturday morning and had not cleared when Yubby cricketers arrived hung over from Dover’s Games. Even skipper Skeletor didn’t have a clear head in calling ‘heads’ as the coin showed ‘tails’. Stanway had no hesitation in asking this ramshackle bunch from Ebrington to rush about in the rolling field.
Despite a boat party till the early hours The CliMAX-Kid was immediately into the channel and veteran John Lawrence was wafting away purposefully, whilst the only thing in danger was keeper Sippy’s gloves. Skeletor found his frame too much resistance running into a southerly breeze and drifted occasionally down leg, causing umpire Bunny Baldwin to stretch out his arms.
By the fourteenth over on 20 runs had been scored and Ever Ready benefited from the pressure, with Skeletor taking a low catch at short extra cover. First change bowler Naughts (D Cross) waited till his second spell for a breakthrough when he bowled the patient J Lawrence who had made 10 by the 23rd over. Drinks did a little to invigorate the Stanway batters with Ashley Mitchell and P Green beginning to threaten until Skeletor, now with the benefit of the southerly, bowled an outrageous slower ball, which Green scooped high to Naughts who swallowed it.
Skipper Skeletor then seemed content to keep Ashley Mitchell away from the strike and the frustration built up for the Stanway keeper, who drove hard and flat but straight to Six-fer Sexton at long off from the bowling of fellow offie S-Cullen Cross Bones in the 40th over.
Without Mitchell the Stanway tail capitulated – 4 runs were added and 4 wickets were taken. Skeletor took 4 for 18 and Six-fer caught three in the outfield, whilst Sippy rounded off a superb afternoon of keeping with a diving one handed catch from an inside edge of C Piff, Stanway’s last man. Piff stood his ground, but Stanway umpire gave him out, which was perhaps what such an acrobatic bit of fielding deserved.
Sippy continued his form after tea with a quick fire 31 from 30 balls before getting a leading edge to J Colwell who ran to midwicket to take the catch for himself. Spenny, in next, has just returned from Australia and used the opportunity for time in the middle, whilst The CliMAX-Kid helped himself to 65 runs with 7 fours. With the Yubby one behind and in the 21st over The Kid showed his impatience and sent one over wide-long on into the sheep.
Yubby secured a win by 9 wickets and this gives them 22 points. Skipper Skeletor was delighted with the way the bowlers performed as unit, giving virtually nothing away all afternoon. The fielding was lively where necessary, with good catching and ground fielding and improved backing up. “Bring on Blockley for the derby next week!”
Saturday 2 June 2012
Despite a boat party till the early hours The CliMAX-Kid was immediately into the channel and veteran John Lawrence was wafting away purposefully, whilst the only thing in danger was keeper Sippy’s gloves. Skeletor found his frame too much resistance running into a southerly breeze and drifted occasionally down leg, causing umpire Bunny Baldwin to stretch out his arms.
By the fourteenth over on 20 runs had been scored and Ever Ready benefited from the pressure, with Skeletor taking a low catch at short extra cover. First change bowler Naughts (D Cross) waited till his second spell for a breakthrough when he bowled the patient J Lawrence who had made 10 by the 23rd over. Drinks did a little to invigorate the Stanway batters with Ashley Mitchell and P Green beginning to threaten until Skeletor, now with the benefit of the southerly, bowled an outrageous slower ball, which Green scooped high to Naughts who swallowed it.
Skipper Skeletor then seemed content to keep Ashley Mitchell away from the strike and the frustration built up for the Stanway keeper, who drove hard and flat but straight to Six-fer Sexton at long off from the bowling of fellow offie S-Cullen Cross Bones in the 40th over.
Without Mitchell the Stanway tail capitulated – 4 runs were added and 4 wickets were taken. Skeletor took 4 for 18 and Six-fer caught three in the outfield, whilst Sippy rounded off a superb afternoon of keeping with a diving one handed catch from an inside edge of C Piff, Stanway’s last man. Piff stood his ground, but Stanway umpire gave him out, which was perhaps what such an acrobatic bit of fielding deserved.
Sippy continued his form after tea with a quick fire 31 from 30 balls before getting a leading edge to J Colwell who ran to midwicket to take the catch for himself. Spenny, in next, has just returned from Australia and used the opportunity for time in the middle, whilst The CliMAX-Kid helped himself to 65 runs with 7 fours. With the Yubby one behind and in the 21st over The Kid showed his impatience and sent one over wide-long on into the sheep.
Yubby secured a win by 9 wickets and this gives them 22 points. Skipper Skeletor was delighted with the way the bowlers performed as unit, giving virtually nothing away all afternoon. The fielding was lively where necessary, with good catching and ground fielding and improved backing up. “Bring on Blockley for the derby next week!”
Saturday 2 June 2012
Martins' mesmerized by The Come-Back Kids
Warm applause for Frosty
Yubby were dead and buried having been set a below par 206 in 40 overs by nomadic cricketers Martins last Sunday. They were 126 for 9 and Martins were celebrating when Duckie Clarkson came to the wicket. Yubby have learnt to keep some of the best to last from CliMAX where it’s how you are doing at the end of the game that counts and in his current form Duckie is the certainly the best. He opened the season with a magnificent ton at Bredon and followed it with a half century against a quality attack at Dumbleton. The half century against Martins’ bowlers who were wilting in the heat was therefore not altogether a surprise, but the admirable support from S-Cullen Cross Bones, who has fewer chances to show his batting skills, was. With 28 from Squealer Cullen the pair scored 81 and Yubby had won with 4 overs to spare.
Earlier Rashid Mohammad had scored his customary runs in the middle order for Martins and found support from Dennis Hussey (36) in a partnership of 106 as The Face Josh Collins turned to spin for 33 overs. Duckie’s leg spin was the most effective with 2 for 14 from his 8 overs, but it was the variations of Flighty Keytey that brought a ‘rash’ shot from Mohammad who was bowled for 50.
After a welcome tea prepared by the lovely Ange, Yubby wickets fell like the crumbs from their sandwiches. It was 10 for 3 before Frost-dog and G-odd put 44. Frost-dog acknowledged the applause as he overtook his previous best with a lovely whip off his toes to the square leg boundary and after G-odd pulled his way to double figures he adopted a nurdling tip and run style, which saw him into the 40s. He was somewhat distracted to lose his own CliMAX-Kid, whose cameo of 20 might attract a new nickname (The Cameo-Kid). The Kid usually guides The Father through tense moments in the middle, but his time galloped towards him at the non-strikers end and forgot to hit the ball. The inevitable stumping brought a rush of blood by G-odd who went for lofted cover drive and was easily taken at point. The score was then 101 for 8 and worse was to follow when Beefy Groves missed a straight one……..but all was not lost for Yubby as you already know.
Sunday 27 May 2012
Earlier Rashid Mohammad had scored his customary runs in the middle order for Martins and found support from Dennis Hussey (36) in a partnership of 106 as The Face Josh Collins turned to spin for 33 overs. Duckie’s leg spin was the most effective with 2 for 14 from his 8 overs, but it was the variations of Flighty Keytey that brought a ‘rash’ shot from Mohammad who was bowled for 50.
After a welcome tea prepared by the lovely Ange, Yubby wickets fell like the crumbs from their sandwiches. It was 10 for 3 before Frost-dog and G-odd put 44. Frost-dog acknowledged the applause as he overtook his previous best with a lovely whip off his toes to the square leg boundary and after G-odd pulled his way to double figures he adopted a nurdling tip and run style, which saw him into the 40s. He was somewhat distracted to lose his own CliMAX-Kid, whose cameo of 20 might attract a new nickname (The Cameo-Kid). The Kid usually guides The Father through tense moments in the middle, but his time galloped towards him at the non-strikers end and forgot to hit the ball. The inevitable stumping brought a rush of blood by G-odd who went for lofted cover drive and was easily taken at point. The score was then 101 for 8 and worse was to follow when Beefy Groves missed a straight one……..but all was not lost for Yubby as you already know.
Sunday 27 May 2012
Ever-Ready puts the boot in
Ever-Ready prepares boot for masterstroke
Wickets tend to be even more important in CliMAX, but without doubt Freddie Ever-Ready Rawlings’ glance onto the stumps whilst bowling at opener Steve Edghill, turned the game in Yubby’s favour at Bretforton on Saturday 26 May 2012. The feared big hitter Paul Jones was stranded 2 paces out of his ground at the non-striker’s end and so was out for 1.
The next telling blow was from CliMAX-Original Jack Six-fer Sexton. Six-fer gained his Cli-Name in the same fixture last year when he demolished the Bretforton batting and so it was no surprise when he picked up two in his first over this year. The only surprise was that it took Skipper Skeletor until the 26th over to give him a twirl. Six-fer added another in the first over of his second spell and finished with “three-fer” 31. Hicksy-Lix from The Class of 2011 blew away the tail and gained the best of the bowling figures with 3 for 23 from 6 overs.
The scene was set earlier on a hot afternoon, when The CliMAX-Kid showed he is The Class of 2011 scoring a scintillating century of 76 balls. His first meaningful support came from Ever-Ready (28) in a partnership of 47, yet the Yubby were tottering at 102 for 5 after 19 overs. Even when The Kid departed in the 30th over, Yubby on 167 for 7 could not be confident of their final score, but CliMAX-Original Crossy had other ideas. He mixed stout defence with aggression and claimed 45 not out with important support from Cross-Bones and a 50 runs partnership with Six-fer (18) batting at number 11. Importantly Yubby were not bowled out and so did not give up overs to Bret.
Yubby’s team effort earns them 20 points and puts them in the mood to take on Stretch-way* next Saturday.
26 May 2012
*Stanway
The next telling blow was from CliMAX-Original Jack Six-fer Sexton. Six-fer gained his Cli-Name in the same fixture last year when he demolished the Bretforton batting and so it was no surprise when he picked up two in his first over this year. The only surprise was that it took Skipper Skeletor until the 26th over to give him a twirl. Six-fer added another in the first over of his second spell and finished with “three-fer” 31. Hicksy-Lix from The Class of 2011 blew away the tail and gained the best of the bowling figures with 3 for 23 from 6 overs.
The scene was set earlier on a hot afternoon, when The CliMAX-Kid showed he is The Class of 2011 scoring a scintillating century of 76 balls. His first meaningful support came from Ever-Ready (28) in a partnership of 47, yet the Yubby were tottering at 102 for 5 after 19 overs. Even when The Kid departed in the 30th over, Yubby on 167 for 7 could not be confident of their final score, but CliMAX-Original Crossy had other ideas. He mixed stout defence with aggression and claimed 45 not out with important support from Cross-Bones and a 50 runs partnership with Six-fer (18) batting at number 11. Importantly Yubby were not bowled out and so did not give up overs to Bret.
Yubby’s team effort earns them 20 points and puts them in the mood to take on Stretch-way* next Saturday.
26 May 2012
*Stanway
Corse still on course, but no CliMAX for Yubby
Jack 'Botham' Groves can quite pull it off for Yubby
Ebrington came up against strong opposition when visiting the superb facilities of Corse and Staunton on Sunday. Turner chanced his arm from the first ball and his aggressive approach paid off. Chances flew hard at Yubby fielders and they were unable to take them. Soon the aerial route bypassed the fielders and landed safely in carpark and adjacent road. Turner had a magnificent 73 by the time Dan Cross induced an error that was taken caught by The Face of CliMAX Josh Collins in the 27th over with the score on 142. Opening partner Tyrer was more circumspect batting through 38 overs for 88. Morton had 25 when The Face leapt from the covers and was horizontal when he caught him spectacularly. A whirlwind 34 from Bates took the score to 247 and only Cross’s figures were worth mention with 4 for 47 from 7 overs.
After tea, Wyatt immediately had Jon Chambers playing down the wrong line and the run machine of 2011 was back in the pavilion. Sipthorp (36) and Hicks (34) reconstructed a base for the Ebrington run chase and youngster Jack Groves drove like the mighty Ian Botham. He hit an astonishing 5 sixes and 5 fours in a total of 71 in 15 scintillating overs of batting. Ever Ready Rawlings (20) and The Face (22) kept runs ticking along and Ebrington never found themselves behind the required rate. However Morton of Corse and Staunton had other ideas. He already had taken three Ebrington wickets in his first spell and then came back for 3 more. In a day where batters seemed to dominate his 6 for 39 from 7 overs might be considered to have won the match. Corse and Staunton progress to the next round of the Yorkshire Tea Village Cricket Cup.
20 May 2012
After tea, Wyatt immediately had Jon Chambers playing down the wrong line and the run machine of 2011 was back in the pavilion. Sipthorp (36) and Hicks (34) reconstructed a base for the Ebrington run chase and youngster Jack Groves drove like the mighty Ian Botham. He hit an astonishing 5 sixes and 5 fours in a total of 71 in 15 scintillating overs of batting. Ever Ready Rawlings (20) and The Face (22) kept runs ticking along and Ebrington never found themselves behind the required rate. However Morton of Corse and Staunton had other ideas. He already had taken three Ebrington wickets in his first spell and then came back for 3 more. In a day where batters seemed to dominate his 6 for 39 from 7 overs might be considered to have won the match. Corse and Staunton progress to the next round of the Yorkshire Tea Village Cricket Cup.
20 May 2012
CliMAX offers better use of time
Things went well from the off for Ebrington with Skeletor winning the toss and inserting a nervous Tamworth team on a soft pitch with a lush wet outfield. It was only due to the hard work of groundsman Ken Smith and a team of helpers that this game could be started at all with more rain falling on the soaked surrounds of the Manor Field Pitch overnight.
Despite coming off the back of beating Bretforton, Tamworth could only score one run from the bat in 6 overs of opening bowling from G-odd and The CliMAX-Kid. Gregory senior snaffled Wright who snicked off to Sippy behind the wicket second ball and Greogry Junior grabbed Gill also for a duck.
Even Ebrington's policy of rotating bowlers did not let Tamworth off the hook as Ever-Ready Rawlings, struck first over with The Face risking his looks whilst diving in from extra cover for the catch. Whilst Pee-Pee was miserly conceding only 4 in 4 overs, Tommo utilised the seventh ball of his first over well having Captain Braithwaite caught behind. Braithwaite stood his ground believing the ball to have pitched after striking his bat, but Tamworth umpire had none of it and sent him on his way. It was 28 for 4 from 17 overs at this point and it was barely better at drinks taken at 23 overs with only 35 on the board.
Orange squash invigorated Turnbull and stoic opener Dave Pearce who put on a decent 46 with Turnbull beginning to threaten when Hicksy-Lix was brought back into the attack. Pearce (20) tried a rare attacking shot, but only skied it to extra where G-odd ran round to take a catch that came out of the heavens. Next over Turnbull attempted his 4th boundary past the bowler and met the same fate as Pearce, caught by G-odd at mid-off. With 6 wickets down for 75, Tamworth's tail barely wagged. E-Ready and H Lix motored through them with assistance of secure catching. Ever-Ready enjoyed figures of 4 for 14 from 8 overs and Hicksy-Lix 3 for 16 from 7. Both official captain, keeper Rob Sipthorp and captain-on-the-pitch Peter Skeletor Gregory took three catches and Tamworth were all out for 87 in 38 overs as recorded by Flighty Keytey.
After a pleasant tea provided by the Ebrington Arms, The CliMAX-Kid and Jon Chambers showed everyone how to bat on this sticky dog. Picking length well they moved back and forward appropriately and were able to punish the occasional short ball. The Kid was able to get the ball through the long wet grass on 6 occasions for 4s and twice cleared the ropes for MAXima. When Chambers fell with the score on 57 in the 15th over the job was nearly done. The CliMAX-Kid Nat Gregory with 58 not out saw Ebrington home with Hicksy-Lix with nearly 34 overs spare. …… What a waste! In CliMAX, we would have played to the scheduled last ball and even then either team could have won. Still Yubby were pleased to take 21 points and Tamworth left with just one.
19th May 2012
Despite coming off the back of beating Bretforton, Tamworth could only score one run from the bat in 6 overs of opening bowling from G-odd and The CliMAX-Kid. Gregory senior snaffled Wright who snicked off to Sippy behind the wicket second ball and Greogry Junior grabbed Gill also for a duck.
Even Ebrington's policy of rotating bowlers did not let Tamworth off the hook as Ever-Ready Rawlings, struck first over with The Face risking his looks whilst diving in from extra cover for the catch. Whilst Pee-Pee was miserly conceding only 4 in 4 overs, Tommo utilised the seventh ball of his first over well having Captain Braithwaite caught behind. Braithwaite stood his ground believing the ball to have pitched after striking his bat, but Tamworth umpire had none of it and sent him on his way. It was 28 for 4 from 17 overs at this point and it was barely better at drinks taken at 23 overs with only 35 on the board.
Orange squash invigorated Turnbull and stoic opener Dave Pearce who put on a decent 46 with Turnbull beginning to threaten when Hicksy-Lix was brought back into the attack. Pearce (20) tried a rare attacking shot, but only skied it to extra where G-odd ran round to take a catch that came out of the heavens. Next over Turnbull attempted his 4th boundary past the bowler and met the same fate as Pearce, caught by G-odd at mid-off. With 6 wickets down for 75, Tamworth's tail barely wagged. E-Ready and H Lix motored through them with assistance of secure catching. Ever-Ready enjoyed figures of 4 for 14 from 8 overs and Hicksy-Lix 3 for 16 from 7. Both official captain, keeper Rob Sipthorp and captain-on-the-pitch Peter Skeletor Gregory took three catches and Tamworth were all out for 87 in 38 overs as recorded by Flighty Keytey.
After a pleasant tea provided by the Ebrington Arms, The CliMAX-Kid and Jon Chambers showed everyone how to bat on this sticky dog. Picking length well they moved back and forward appropriately and were able to punish the occasional short ball. The Kid was able to get the ball through the long wet grass on 6 occasions for 4s and twice cleared the ropes for MAXima. When Chambers fell with the score on 57 in the 15th over the job was nearly done. The CliMAX-Kid Nat Gregory with 58 not out saw Ebrington home with Hicksy-Lix with nearly 34 overs spare. …… What a waste! In CliMAX, we would have played to the scheduled last ball and even then either team could have won. Still Yubby were pleased to take 21 points and Tamworth left with just one.
19th May 2012
“The Class of 2011” dominate 2012 proceedings
Pee-Pee: Bargain for only £50,000
Ebrington CC came back from the disappointment of an abandoned game last week with a resounding win over 2011 league winners Wellesbourne at Loxley Close on 5th May. It was the “Class of 2011” that dominated proceedings, reinforcing the quality available on the player business cards of the new edition of CliMAX-Board. The CliMAX-Kid, Nat Gregory had seemingly got used to the variable bounce of Wellesbourne’s early season wicket, when off spinner Dufen bowled one that never left the deck after pitching. The Kid stabbed down at it frantically, only to hear his inside edge deflect it on to leg stump. Nevertheless 56 runs from The Kid had given Ebrington a great start, which another Class player took over: James Hicks. Hicks-y-Lix moved swiftly on to his own half century and saw the Ebrington score to a commanding 118 for 2 after 20 overs, but then was involved in two catastrophic run-outs – firstly Rory Coupland went to a smart bit of fielding a square leg and some indecisive running, then Hicks-y-Lix found his own legs wanting when Paul Parmenter wanted to take a single.
The disappointment of these errors of judgement was too much for the Ebrington middle order and they folded like a pack of (player business) cards. When Peter G-odd Gregory joined Ever Ready Freddie Rawlings the score was 134 for 7, but with 18 overs left in the innings the talk was about survival. But the talk did not prevent some outrageously expansive shots that you would probably expect from CliMAX cricketers. This combination of defence and attack mixed with good fortune produced a vital 39 runs and when G-odd went to a smart catch behind by Matt Woods the Ebrington tail added no more runs. An early tea was taken with Ebrington setting Wellesbourne 174 to win in 53 overs.
The CliMAX-Kid and Hicks-y-Lix had proved their worth with the bat. They are both valued at £300,000 in the new CliMAX-Board, but Paul Pee-Pee Parmenter must be considered the bargain of all time at £50,000. His CliMAX statistics defy his ability and worth to Ebrington’s Cotswold Hills League, topping the 2011 statistics for wickets and economy rate. In 2012, things are looking the same with Pee-Pee returning figure of 10 overs, 6 maidens, 4 wickets for 9 runs. However none of the 8 bowlers used by Ebrington were expensive . Ever Ready Freddie took the first wicket with a superb running catch by Jack Six-fer Sexton from a skied drive by Spence and then returned to remove turgid opener Wilson and the dangerous stroke maker Matt Woods. Rawling handy figures of 3 for 16 from 7 overs are added to his 30 runs to give him this other £300,000 CliMAX original the ‘all-rounder’ award in Ebrington’s opening salvo of 2012.
Now CliMAX guarantees excitement to the last scheduled delivery but this traditional cricket game between Wellesbourne and Ebrington finished 10 overs before it was due. The excitement was contrived for Yubby in the field by targeting 2 bonus points for bowling the opposition out under 120. Several bowling changes and some crafty field placement achieved that goal by the margin of one run. Wellesbourne skipper David Jarrett was stranded on 32 not out whilst the last 3 batters contributed just one run.
If you want to arrange a game that provides for the possibility of either team winning until the last scheduled delivery and hence maintains interest and possible involvement of all players throughout the whole match, consider CliMAX. Contact us and we will try to help set you up.
12th May 2012
The disappointment of these errors of judgement was too much for the Ebrington middle order and they folded like a pack of (player business) cards. When Peter G-odd Gregory joined Ever Ready Freddie Rawlings the score was 134 for 7, but with 18 overs left in the innings the talk was about survival. But the talk did not prevent some outrageously expansive shots that you would probably expect from CliMAX cricketers. This combination of defence and attack mixed with good fortune produced a vital 39 runs and when G-odd went to a smart catch behind by Matt Woods the Ebrington tail added no more runs. An early tea was taken with Ebrington setting Wellesbourne 174 to win in 53 overs.
The CliMAX-Kid and Hicks-y-Lix had proved their worth with the bat. They are both valued at £300,000 in the new CliMAX-Board, but Paul Pee-Pee Parmenter must be considered the bargain of all time at £50,000. His CliMAX statistics defy his ability and worth to Ebrington’s Cotswold Hills League, topping the 2011 statistics for wickets and economy rate. In 2012, things are looking the same with Pee-Pee returning figure of 10 overs, 6 maidens, 4 wickets for 9 runs. However none of the 8 bowlers used by Ebrington were expensive . Ever Ready Freddie took the first wicket with a superb running catch by Jack Six-fer Sexton from a skied drive by Spence and then returned to remove turgid opener Wilson and the dangerous stroke maker Matt Woods. Rawling handy figures of 3 for 16 from 7 overs are added to his 30 runs to give him this other £300,000 CliMAX original the ‘all-rounder’ award in Ebrington’s opening salvo of 2012.
Now CliMAX guarantees excitement to the last scheduled delivery but this traditional cricket game between Wellesbourne and Ebrington finished 10 overs before it was due. The excitement was contrived for Yubby in the field by targeting 2 bonus points for bowling the opposition out under 120. Several bowling changes and some crafty field placement achieved that goal by the margin of one run. Wellesbourne skipper David Jarrett was stranded on 32 not out whilst the last 3 batters contributed just one run.
If you want to arrange a game that provides for the possibility of either team winning until the last scheduled delivery and hence maintains interest and possible involvement of all players throughout the whole match, consider CliMAX. Contact us and we will try to help set you up.
12th May 2012