guaranteed excitement to the last ball
Sixfer's Sloggers squeeze past Squealer's Appealers
Due to the appalling weather in 2012, CliMAX seemed a distant memory when some of the heavy weights from The Class of 2011 gathered at Camden Road, Ebrington for an intriguing battle between Sixfer’s Sloggers and Squealers Appealers.
Sunshine, shadows and sledging were present in equal proportions as the colossuses of CliMAX clashed on the picturesque Manor Ground. It is always an advantage to bat last, when you know what you are chasing, so it was a mystery when Squealer gulped, shrugged and at last blurted out, “We’ll bat” on calling correctly as the Queen landed face first on the hallowed turf.
Hicksy-Lix joined his captain and set the pattern of the day. There is little point scampering singles and sprinting threes when CliMAX may be won by a sequence of precise shots lofted beyond the boundary. He walked singles when three runs were on offer and did his best to keep lesser mortals at the non-strikers end. He picked off boundaries as though ripe fruit from a tree and expertly picked his moments to cross the boundary without bouncing rewarded with the MAXimum score. He alone had scored 87 when Squealer squealed “Time Out”. However, Squealer’s own demise to the bowling of Ever Ready had caused and early set back and the arrival of left handed Duckie…….or was it Duckie at all? For this bat was right handed and still capable of hitting the ball to all parts. Perhaps it was Duckie’s twin brother Muckie Clarkson?
With Squealers Appealers on 84 after 6 of the 10 ten ball overs complete, it was Sixfer’s Sloggers to take over at the crease. This innings took a similar form, with Skipper Sixfer caught by Hicksy-Lix from the opening over bowled by Skeletor. This brought The Face of CliMAX to bat with Ever Ready who was adamant he could thread a ball through the open window of the four wheel drive on the bank. Like The Sloggers, The Appealers realised there was little point in racing in and bowling fast medium in the CliMATCH. A slow or turning bit of filth was more likely to extract an extravagant shot, a miss-hit and a wicket, as Flighty Keytey had shown them on his several CliMAX outings in 2010-11. And so The Appealers seemed to feed Fred’s frenzy and he proved Ever Ready to pounce on any opportunity to drag the ball through and preferably over the leg side. He had matched his rival Hicksy-Lix for MAXima (four) by the time the Time Out came, also at 6 overs and with a lead of 24 runs.
Resuming at 84 with four overs left, Hicksy-Lix ws caught off the bowling of Ever Ready and so threw away all the good pre-Time Out work away. This brought in Skeletor, who with Muckie had the unenviable task of quickly building a lead that could pressure The Sloggers into a batting error when they resumed. The task was no easier for having to face The Bomber, who was high from his league winning bowling performance from the day before at Kenilworth and The CliMAX-Kid whose value in CliMAX-Board exceeds all others. Muckie continued to blast the ball through the worm casts, now not just right handed, but one handed too. His easy singles came with such fluency that related fans on Hicksy Hill nearly woke up to see him hit his first boundary in 9 overs of batting from the last ball of the innings. Skeletor was full of muscle and picked out Bomber in the field for a good working over, but only crossed the boundary three times, of which only the last was a MAXimum. And so, all the effort and good intention brought The Squealer Appealers a sub-par total of 47.
A walking in the park, a block for the clock, a piece of cake, The Sixfer Sloggers were sitting pretty on 108 with four overs to see out. But Ever Ready does not see sport like that. He is one to entertain at all costs and would hate for spectators to ask for their money back after watching boring play. He continued to aim for the cars on Hicks Hill and eventually put up a chance to Skeletor at long off. Skeletor had to defy his age and get his fingers down to his toes as he ran forward to clutch this one before it stuck in the soft turf. A satisfied shriek from The Appealers and Ever Ready was on his way back to the ‘bad boy’ bench.
The Face kept smiling and dealing in singles and MAXima as first The Kid came and went (retired exhausted from previous night’s celebrations) after losing two balls as his MAXima flew over the Camden Road into an over grown field. Then The Bomber came, but his innings fizzled out when playing all round a straight one. Things were looking desperate when Skipper Sixfer strode forth for his second time. This time there was no messing. He was disgusted at his Sloggers throwing away a partnership of 233 and a lead of 186 runs and was determined to put it right. A number of boundaries and one very long hit over the bowlers head, repeated in the final over off Hicky-Lix and the game was stolen back – 54 runs clinched the CliMATCH for Sixfer’s Sloggers.
Yet again – Peak excitement for cricket lovers provide by CliMAX!
Sunshine, shadows and sledging were present in equal proportions as the colossuses of CliMAX clashed on the picturesque Manor Ground. It is always an advantage to bat last, when you know what you are chasing, so it was a mystery when Squealer gulped, shrugged and at last blurted out, “We’ll bat” on calling correctly as the Queen landed face first on the hallowed turf.
Hicksy-Lix joined his captain and set the pattern of the day. There is little point scampering singles and sprinting threes when CliMAX may be won by a sequence of precise shots lofted beyond the boundary. He walked singles when three runs were on offer and did his best to keep lesser mortals at the non-strikers end. He picked off boundaries as though ripe fruit from a tree and expertly picked his moments to cross the boundary without bouncing rewarded with the MAXimum score. He alone had scored 87 when Squealer squealed “Time Out”. However, Squealer’s own demise to the bowling of Ever Ready had caused and early set back and the arrival of left handed Duckie…….or was it Duckie at all? For this bat was right handed and still capable of hitting the ball to all parts. Perhaps it was Duckie’s twin brother Muckie Clarkson?
With Squealers Appealers on 84 after 6 of the 10 ten ball overs complete, it was Sixfer’s Sloggers to take over at the crease. This innings took a similar form, with Skipper Sixfer caught by Hicksy-Lix from the opening over bowled by Skeletor. This brought The Face of CliMAX to bat with Ever Ready who was adamant he could thread a ball through the open window of the four wheel drive on the bank. Like The Sloggers, The Appealers realised there was little point in racing in and bowling fast medium in the CliMATCH. A slow or turning bit of filth was more likely to extract an extravagant shot, a miss-hit and a wicket, as Flighty Keytey had shown them on his several CliMAX outings in 2010-11. And so The Appealers seemed to feed Fred’s frenzy and he proved Ever Ready to pounce on any opportunity to drag the ball through and preferably over the leg side. He had matched his rival Hicksy-Lix for MAXima (four) by the time the Time Out came, also at 6 overs and with a lead of 24 runs.
Resuming at 84 with four overs left, Hicksy-Lix ws caught off the bowling of Ever Ready and so threw away all the good pre-Time Out work away. This brought in Skeletor, who with Muckie had the unenviable task of quickly building a lead that could pressure The Sloggers into a batting error when they resumed. The task was no easier for having to face The Bomber, who was high from his league winning bowling performance from the day before at Kenilworth and The CliMAX-Kid whose value in CliMAX-Board exceeds all others. Muckie continued to blast the ball through the worm casts, now not just right handed, but one handed too. His easy singles came with such fluency that related fans on Hicksy Hill nearly woke up to see him hit his first boundary in 9 overs of batting from the last ball of the innings. Skeletor was full of muscle and picked out Bomber in the field for a good working over, but only crossed the boundary three times, of which only the last was a MAXimum. And so, all the effort and good intention brought The Squealer Appealers a sub-par total of 47.
A walking in the park, a block for the clock, a piece of cake, The Sixfer Sloggers were sitting pretty on 108 with four overs to see out. But Ever Ready does not see sport like that. He is one to entertain at all costs and would hate for spectators to ask for their money back after watching boring play. He continued to aim for the cars on Hicks Hill and eventually put up a chance to Skeletor at long off. Skeletor had to defy his age and get his fingers down to his toes as he ran forward to clutch this one before it stuck in the soft turf. A satisfied shriek from The Appealers and Ever Ready was on his way back to the ‘bad boy’ bench.
The Face kept smiling and dealing in singles and MAXima as first The Kid came and went (retired exhausted from previous night’s celebrations) after losing two balls as his MAXima flew over the Camden Road into an over grown field. Then The Bomber came, but his innings fizzled out when playing all round a straight one. Things were looking desperate when Skipper Sixfer strode forth for his second time. This time there was no messing. He was disgusted at his Sloggers throwing away a partnership of 233 and a lead of 186 runs and was determined to put it right. A number of boundaries and one very long hit over the bowlers head, repeated in the final over off Hicky-Lix and the game was stolen back – 54 runs clinched the CliMATCH for Sixfer’s Sloggers.
Yet again – Peak excitement for cricket lovers provide by CliMAX!
Ready Freddy on top, but Harry's a Handful
The rivalry between CliMAX-Originals Ready Freddy Rawlings and James Hicks-a-Lix took on a new dimension yesterday evening (9th August 2011) when Hicks was asked to play for Cornerstone along with The CliMAX-Kid, Hairs Tyler Snr and Sam Elson. This should have provided useful experience to a team new to CliMAX, except captain Dan Bomber Beasley who won the Grant CliMAX-Pairs trophy with Josh (then Mongoose) Collins in 2010 and Rory Coupland who had learnt some of the rules of CliMAX the hard way a fortnight prior to this match. The Cornerstone cricketers also included Dave Wood of Ashton, Mike Bocock, Tony Hanson and Jonty Makin.
Yubby were able to field a side with considerable CliMAX experience led by The Face of CliMAX Josh Mamba Collins. Only Harry Righton was new to the game, though he had heard a lot about it in the Ebrington dressing room during the last 12 months. Importantly Ready Freddy was in the Yubby line up and was ready to pit his talents against arch rival James Hicks.
The Face won the toss and put Cornerstone in on a batter friendly surface. Bocock and Hansen found the old swinger Tommo too hot to handle and were on a disappointing 5 after one over, though Duckie had inexplicably dropped a catch that he had otherwise successfully plucked from the sky at mid-on. Continuing the theme of ‘old swingers’, The Face decided to get Harry Righton’s over out of the way early, although Harry was chuffed to have his opportunity to open the bowling. The ball found its way more convincingly on to the centre of the bats as both Bocock and Hansen found the boundary. ‘Enough is enough’ thought The Face and he boldly pulled out one of his ace cards – Duckie Clarkson. More boundaries to Bocock until Hansen had one flick his posterior on the way to Ebrington’s “darling” Charlie Gregory. Charlie, keeping wicket, held onto an impressive leg side catch. For clarification, one may be caught off the body as well as the bat in CliMAX. Quirky rule, maybe, but it produces more wickets - and wickets and big hits are what we all love about cricket, eh? Bomber Beasley called for Time-Out at the end of the 3rd over when the score was only 5.
Adman (Webb) and Hairs Tyler Jnr (George) opened the batting and timed the ball beautifully from the first over bowled by Bomber who was attempting to lead from the front. After 17 from over one, they scored 27 from over two, including a MAXimum by Tyler. For Beasley, Hicks had to be the answer. ‘Hatrick Hicks’, ‘Six-for-Hicks’ were phrases to inspire the Bomber as he made his choice. However it was much more like ‘Headache Hicks’ or ‘Hapless Hicks’ with Adman finding his first MAXimum and further boundaries to the opening pair who took the score along to 81 from only 3 overs. A wry smile broke over Ready Freddy’s face.
Sam Elson was into the attack next and he produced a telling blow. Adman (35) holed out caught by Jonty who was Makin’ his CliMAX debut. This brought in the ever confident Tommo. Using his bat like an Arabic scimitar he cut and carved his way to 16 in a flash, but Hair Tyler Snr (Charlie) was having none of it. He produced some filth that tempted Tommo to provide sufficient elevation for Hicks to get his massive paws under one at wide long-on. With the usual guilty giggle that greets anything Tommo does, he was on his way.
This was followed by a moment of hush as Ready Freddie struggled to his feet and waddled out to the middle to join Hair Tyler Jnr. The large crowd at the Campden Road knew that now the battle was boiling up to something special. Hairs Snr held his nerve and finished off a fine over 1 wicket for only 10 runs and new boy Tony Hansen was even more miserly going for just 9 in his first bowl in CliMAX.
Bomber brought on Rory Coupland next and it was soon clear there was a problem. Aggravating an old shoulder problem Rory bowled an uncharacteristic number of wides interspersed with pies; an opportunity which Ready Freddy gobbled up. A MAXimum secured, Rory threw in the towel and, not one to pull out of a tight spot, Bomber brought himself up to complete the over. Ready Freddy was visibly salivating at the prospect and eased by a wide and a no-ball was able to put the next legal delivery (a free hit) way out of the park. Finally a high full toss gave Freddy what skipper Collins needed: A kiloMAX sequence. With the score 1143 after 7 overs, Yubby had to take their Time-Out.
Cornerstone resumed on five and Big Dave Wood proceeded to dispatch Collins and Webb to all parts of the ground, but not before Collins had taken advantage of the CliMAX rule that the ball in never (well hardly ever) dead, in bowling Bocock whilst he was looking somewhere else. Well, what do you expect from a slithering snake (Mamba)? Will Noble was having none of Big Dave's battering and with boundary’s drying up he tempted him out of his crease. The CliMAX-Girl Charlie gathered what Big Dave missed and had him stumped before he could say “Peak Excitement”.
The Bomber nudged, nurdled and knocked it around for eternity (well it seemed like it). The Face could not hack it anymore and so handed the ball and the responsibility to Peter L G-odd-regory. Bomber Beasley was resolute. He was not going to be tempted by Grandad’s offerings and looked like he might survive the whole over, when on the 9th delivery, everybody’s sleep was disturbed by the clatter of leather on wood; not Dave Wood, nor Bomber’s bat, but middle stump. The relief for Yubby was tangible and Gregory clearly relaxed so much he produced the full toss of his long career, which inevitably flummoxed new batter Rory Coupland who went so aerial that almost anyone could have caught it.
Jonty Makin was unaffected by all this trivia and after opening his CliMAX account with a MAXimum bashed his way to 25. So the momentum was shifting towards Cornerstone in the eight over, but then foolishly they chose Righton to bowl the 9th. (Yubby had run out of available bowlers and the prerogative falls to the batters to select bowlers to complete the innings). First Elson was caught, then Hairs Tyler Snr, both with miniscule contributions. But all was not lost. The CliMAX-Kid strode to the crease as Cornerstone’s no 10 joining Hicks for an expected run feast. Two balls later The Kid had to meander back to the Pavilion having missed a juicy half volley which sister Charlie gathered, and as Nat hit his pad in disgust, she had him stumped as he over balanced.
James Hicks showed what might have been with a MAXimum from selected bowler Tommo in the 10th, but he and Tony Hansen were able only to muster 21 from the crucial last over. Pick of the bowlers for Yubby was Harry ‘Handful’ Righton with 2 overs 3 wickets for 19.
With Yubby miles out in front (1143), Bomber Beasley asked The CliMAX-Kid to produce something fast and straight. At first Hairs Tyler Jnr looked mesmerised as balls whistled by his chest, though a bye got him off the hook. Ready Freddy had nothing to fear as he was bowled next ball – it was a free hit! With calm assurance Freddy saw off the The Kid leaving just 20 balls to survive for victory.
Mark Bocock ran in fast too and looked willing, but nothing that Ready Freddie and a determined George Tyler couldn’t handle. This brought them to their selection for a bowler for over number 10. Without hesitation Ready Freddy pointed to Bomber who he had humiliated in the 7th over. But was this a mistake? Would this be too much temptation for Freddy? Bomber cleverly gave him one for the bank and then another. A hundred scored, surely Freddy would sense his chance to go on an score a 1000 or maybe something more – perhaps he could be the first player to reach 10 million. But no - a decent ball bowled and Freddy put his team first; he blocked it. Next a single and now it was the turn of Hair Tyler Snr. Would he see personal glory of MAXima and perhaps a first century in CliMAX or would he like Freddy put Yubby above personal gain? Appropriate cricket shots followed and the possibilities were reduced for Beasley and Cornerstone. Looking for the magic ball only produced a wide, then trying something special led to a no-ball on the last scheduled delivery. Bomber had to try again but Fred eased it through mid-wicket and took a comfortable two to secure victory for Yubby and a personal contribution of 1271 not out. George Tyler batted throughout the innings and was 46 not out of a total of 1304.
After hand-shakes and congratulations the players enjoyed a discounted pizza cooked and delivered by Weston Pizzas and Kebabs. Very much recommended (phone 01386 849220 to place and order). So begins a new trend in Apres-CliMAX.
Click here to see photographs of the epic battle between Cornerstone and Yubby.
10 August 2011
Yubby were able to field a side with considerable CliMAX experience led by The Face of CliMAX Josh Mamba Collins. Only Harry Righton was new to the game, though he had heard a lot about it in the Ebrington dressing room during the last 12 months. Importantly Ready Freddy was in the Yubby line up and was ready to pit his talents against arch rival James Hicks.
The Face won the toss and put Cornerstone in on a batter friendly surface. Bocock and Hansen found the old swinger Tommo too hot to handle and were on a disappointing 5 after one over, though Duckie had inexplicably dropped a catch that he had otherwise successfully plucked from the sky at mid-on. Continuing the theme of ‘old swingers’, The Face decided to get Harry Righton’s over out of the way early, although Harry was chuffed to have his opportunity to open the bowling. The ball found its way more convincingly on to the centre of the bats as both Bocock and Hansen found the boundary. ‘Enough is enough’ thought The Face and he boldly pulled out one of his ace cards – Duckie Clarkson. More boundaries to Bocock until Hansen had one flick his posterior on the way to Ebrington’s “darling” Charlie Gregory. Charlie, keeping wicket, held onto an impressive leg side catch. For clarification, one may be caught off the body as well as the bat in CliMAX. Quirky rule, maybe, but it produces more wickets - and wickets and big hits are what we all love about cricket, eh? Bomber Beasley called for Time-Out at the end of the 3rd over when the score was only 5.
Adman (Webb) and Hairs Tyler Jnr (George) opened the batting and timed the ball beautifully from the first over bowled by Bomber who was attempting to lead from the front. After 17 from over one, they scored 27 from over two, including a MAXimum by Tyler. For Beasley, Hicks had to be the answer. ‘Hatrick Hicks’, ‘Six-for-Hicks’ were phrases to inspire the Bomber as he made his choice. However it was much more like ‘Headache Hicks’ or ‘Hapless Hicks’ with Adman finding his first MAXimum and further boundaries to the opening pair who took the score along to 81 from only 3 overs. A wry smile broke over Ready Freddy’s face.
Sam Elson was into the attack next and he produced a telling blow. Adman (35) holed out caught by Jonty who was Makin’ his CliMAX debut. This brought in the ever confident Tommo. Using his bat like an Arabic scimitar he cut and carved his way to 16 in a flash, but Hair Tyler Snr (Charlie) was having none of it. He produced some filth that tempted Tommo to provide sufficient elevation for Hicks to get his massive paws under one at wide long-on. With the usual guilty giggle that greets anything Tommo does, he was on his way.
This was followed by a moment of hush as Ready Freddie struggled to his feet and waddled out to the middle to join Hair Tyler Jnr. The large crowd at the Campden Road knew that now the battle was boiling up to something special. Hairs Snr held his nerve and finished off a fine over 1 wicket for only 10 runs and new boy Tony Hansen was even more miserly going for just 9 in his first bowl in CliMAX.
Bomber brought on Rory Coupland next and it was soon clear there was a problem. Aggravating an old shoulder problem Rory bowled an uncharacteristic number of wides interspersed with pies; an opportunity which Ready Freddy gobbled up. A MAXimum secured, Rory threw in the towel and, not one to pull out of a tight spot, Bomber brought himself up to complete the over. Ready Freddy was visibly salivating at the prospect and eased by a wide and a no-ball was able to put the next legal delivery (a free hit) way out of the park. Finally a high full toss gave Freddy what skipper Collins needed: A kiloMAX sequence. With the score 1143 after 7 overs, Yubby had to take their Time-Out.
Cornerstone resumed on five and Big Dave Wood proceeded to dispatch Collins and Webb to all parts of the ground, but not before Collins had taken advantage of the CliMAX rule that the ball in never (well hardly ever) dead, in bowling Bocock whilst he was looking somewhere else. Well, what do you expect from a slithering snake (Mamba)? Will Noble was having none of Big Dave's battering and with boundary’s drying up he tempted him out of his crease. The CliMAX-Girl Charlie gathered what Big Dave missed and had him stumped before he could say “Peak Excitement”.
The Bomber nudged, nurdled and knocked it around for eternity (well it seemed like it). The Face could not hack it anymore and so handed the ball and the responsibility to Peter L G-odd-regory. Bomber Beasley was resolute. He was not going to be tempted by Grandad’s offerings and looked like he might survive the whole over, when on the 9th delivery, everybody’s sleep was disturbed by the clatter of leather on wood; not Dave Wood, nor Bomber’s bat, but middle stump. The relief for Yubby was tangible and Gregory clearly relaxed so much he produced the full toss of his long career, which inevitably flummoxed new batter Rory Coupland who went so aerial that almost anyone could have caught it.
Jonty Makin was unaffected by all this trivia and after opening his CliMAX account with a MAXimum bashed his way to 25. So the momentum was shifting towards Cornerstone in the eight over, but then foolishly they chose Righton to bowl the 9th. (Yubby had run out of available bowlers and the prerogative falls to the batters to select bowlers to complete the innings). First Elson was caught, then Hairs Tyler Snr, both with miniscule contributions. But all was not lost. The CliMAX-Kid strode to the crease as Cornerstone’s no 10 joining Hicks for an expected run feast. Two balls later The Kid had to meander back to the Pavilion having missed a juicy half volley which sister Charlie gathered, and as Nat hit his pad in disgust, she had him stumped as he over balanced.
James Hicks showed what might have been with a MAXimum from selected bowler Tommo in the 10th, but he and Tony Hansen were able only to muster 21 from the crucial last over. Pick of the bowlers for Yubby was Harry ‘Handful’ Righton with 2 overs 3 wickets for 19.
With Yubby miles out in front (1143), Bomber Beasley asked The CliMAX-Kid to produce something fast and straight. At first Hairs Tyler Jnr looked mesmerised as balls whistled by his chest, though a bye got him off the hook. Ready Freddy had nothing to fear as he was bowled next ball – it was a free hit! With calm assurance Freddy saw off the The Kid leaving just 20 balls to survive for victory.
Mark Bocock ran in fast too and looked willing, but nothing that Ready Freddie and a determined George Tyler couldn’t handle. This brought them to their selection for a bowler for over number 10. Without hesitation Ready Freddy pointed to Bomber who he had humiliated in the 7th over. But was this a mistake? Would this be too much temptation for Freddy? Bomber cleverly gave him one for the bank and then another. A hundred scored, surely Freddy would sense his chance to go on an score a 1000 or maybe something more – perhaps he could be the first player to reach 10 million. But no - a decent ball bowled and Freddy put his team first; he blocked it. Next a single and now it was the turn of Hair Tyler Snr. Would he see personal glory of MAXima and perhaps a first century in CliMAX or would he like Freddy put Yubby above personal gain? Appropriate cricket shots followed and the possibilities were reduced for Beasley and Cornerstone. Looking for the magic ball only produced a wide, then trying something special led to a no-ball on the last scheduled delivery. Bomber had to try again but Fred eased it through mid-wicket and took a comfortable two to secure victory for Yubby and a personal contribution of 1271 not out. George Tyler batted throughout the innings and was 46 not out of a total of 1304.
After hand-shakes and congratulations the players enjoyed a discounted pizza cooked and delivered by Weston Pizzas and Kebabs. Very much recommended (phone 01386 849220 to place and order). So begins a new trend in Apres-CliMAX.
Click here to see photographs of the epic battle between Cornerstone and Yubby.
10 August 2011
Have you got the balls for CliMAX?
The intraclub CliMATCH at Ebrington CC on Tuesday produced the guaranteed climactic finish, though this seemed in doubt at one stage when a warning went out that should the players lose any more balls then the game would have to be abandoned! At first this seemed like moodiness on the part of organiser Peter L Gregory, but it was soon appreciated that there was not an unlimited supply of cricket balls and that measures were necessary to find the balls disappearing into farmers’ crops or roadside hedgerows.
Though several players MAXimised (hit MAXimums) - Hairs Tyler Snr (Charlie), Fred Rawlings, Ben Pigott, James Hicks and Peter L Gregory – it was The CliMAX-Kid who did it with such regularity that a guilty conscience began to effect his tactics. As the bowler of the last over of the innings, Nat Gregory decided on bowling short and fast, thinking this was harder for the batters to hit into the more distant field square to the wicket. He was probably right, but cleverly the batters did not try. Instead they capitalised on an inexperienced wicketkeeper, who clearly could not stand up to Gregory in this mood, and attempted ‘suicidal singles’ without really trying to hit the ball. The byes successfully and consecutively completed, and assisted by an errant wide, produced a MAXtra sequence that was worth over 1000 runs. This required a lot less skill than striking the tearaway fast bowler for three consecutive MAXima, though it did require speed, courage and effort to avoid a run out.
The target of over 1000 looked unlikely to be passed as wickets fell for Nat’s team, but the wickets brought The CliMAX-Kid back to the crease. As he despatched the ball to distant parts, the only question seemed to be, “Was there enough balls for him to complete the victory?” Old balls appeared from various kit bags and with three deliveries to be bowled by The Father-of-CliMAX-(Kid), Nat's team still needed to score a 1000. The first delivery disappeared over the hedge, across the road, over another hedge and may still be rolling towards Chipping Campden! Out came the last ball the players could muster. This one cleared the rope and Hawk-Eye Hicks tracked it down. Now, one ball to go and one more MAXimum to achieve victory, so long as the batters avoided losing their wicket on the 'bonus' ball….In the gloom, The Kid momentarily lost sight of the fiddly-slower-thing produced by the aging Father and The Kid was furious to only manage to steer it to third man for a boundary four.
Once again CliMAX was the winner.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Though several players MAXimised (hit MAXimums) - Hairs Tyler Snr (Charlie), Fred Rawlings, Ben Pigott, James Hicks and Peter L Gregory – it was The CliMAX-Kid who did it with such regularity that a guilty conscience began to effect his tactics. As the bowler of the last over of the innings, Nat Gregory decided on bowling short and fast, thinking this was harder for the batters to hit into the more distant field square to the wicket. He was probably right, but cleverly the batters did not try. Instead they capitalised on an inexperienced wicketkeeper, who clearly could not stand up to Gregory in this mood, and attempted ‘suicidal singles’ without really trying to hit the ball. The byes successfully and consecutively completed, and assisted by an errant wide, produced a MAXtra sequence that was worth over 1000 runs. This required a lot less skill than striking the tearaway fast bowler for three consecutive MAXima, though it did require speed, courage and effort to avoid a run out.
The target of over 1000 looked unlikely to be passed as wickets fell for Nat’s team, but the wickets brought The CliMAX-Kid back to the crease. As he despatched the ball to distant parts, the only question seemed to be, “Was there enough balls for him to complete the victory?” Old balls appeared from various kit bags and with three deliveries to be bowled by The Father-of-CliMAX-(Kid), Nat's team still needed to score a 1000. The first delivery disappeared over the hedge, across the road, over another hedge and may still be rolling towards Chipping Campden! Out came the last ball the players could muster. This one cleared the rope and Hawk-Eye Hicks tracked it down. Now, one ball to go and one more MAXimum to achieve victory, so long as the batters avoided losing their wicket on the 'bonus' ball….In the gloom, The Kid momentarily lost sight of the fiddly-slower-thing produced by the aging Father and The Kid was furious to only manage to steer it to third man for a boundary four.
Once again CliMAX was the winner.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Balanced reports of CliMAX from the Temple Grafton CC website
TempleGrafton hastened over to Ebrington’s splendid ground on Sunday afternoon to make their bow in a new format of cricket - CliMAX Cricket. What followed was an experience that completely divided opinion in the Grafton ranks. Ian Young’s review of proceedings suggests he’ll be sticking to the traditional format yet Tommy Benjamin wants to play again. And again. Read on to find out more.
Ian Young wrote:
At 20 minutes to the (scheduled) start and TG have eleven players. The opposition don’t. But more disturbing were the suspicious painted boxes around the bowlers run ups and the chairs in the pavilion laid out classroom fashion. If only we knew what was to unfold we could have run away. Enter into the classroom the inventor of CliMAX Cricket Peter Gregory. CliMAX is a new form of cricket which ensures the game goes down to the last ball. To contrive this kind of finish the rules have been not so much tweaked as raped. Essentially, the match consists of an innings of 10 10 ball overs each, with the harsh novelty of a wicket falling automatically reducing the batting side’s score to zero. Every time. Added to this is a cumulative scoring system based on the geometric progression of your first six (a maximum) equaling 10, the next (if consecutive) equaling 100, then 1,000 and so on. This was to ensure that James Wall was to end his one over spell with what must be a once-in-a-lifetime 0 for 111,119. Oh and another rule is that you have to call Time Out once as a batting side and put the opposition in until they call Time Out. This transatlantic custom simply added to Powell’s woes. And I forgot….the ball is always live – i.e. bowl when you like. By this time Powell would have agreed that captains have to be called Susan, batting must be undertaken only with a spoon, foliage must be worn by all players behind the stumps and square leg gets tickled on the fall of each wicket.
So, Powell lost the toss and was put in. The batting order was random. Third ball of the innings, not having got used to the ‘live ball’ rule, Robin Morris wandered off and didn’t even see the delivery that missed his off stump and was returned to the bowler as if nothing had happened. And, basically, it was business as usual. Burgoine, not a fan of the new format, went first ball, Slatter mowed 15 odd and Powell deployed his late cut. On 41 Powell and Hopkins took Time Out. Ebrington hit 36 off two overs before putting a non-plussed TG back in again. Keeping up? Progressing well to 89 off eight overs, Hopkins injudiciously holed out to long off, thus rendering everything up to that point pointless. Zero. Gibbons hit consecutive sixes and TG finished on 135. Don’t ask how. What followed was a quite ridiculous passage of play. Ebrington plundered the runs and, at their zenith, took Wall for six figures. We now had the absurdity of the ‘free hit’. With a lead of 111,038, runs became irrelevant and, given that a wicket cannot fall off a free hit, a fielder was posted in the car park simply to return the ball quickly. What followed were seven dot balls from Morris as Ebrington attempted to preserve their crucial wicket and on 111,212 Young trapped the batsman lbw – arguably the most valuable wicket of all time. Back to zero. Ebrington now needed consecutive sixes, but a flurry of runs and wickets brought it down to the last three balls to overhaul 135. Gibbons wheeled in and, through no fault of his own, went 6 (10), 6 (110), 6 (1,110). Game over. Yes, it ensured a last ball finish, but out of 200 deliveries only seven (Gibbons’ brief knock plus his last three deliveries) actually mattered. Opinion is divided. Burgoine positively loathes Marmite, others view it more favorably.
Tom Benjamin wrote:
Being from the country Grafton’s line up consists of a number of players that don’t like change. For example, Steve Burgoine still uses old £5 notes. So to turn up for a game of different cricket was a difficult concept to accept for a plethora of Grafton players. However, this is what it was to be and upon losing the toss Grafton were soon batting in CliMAX cricket. And for me, a thought provoking and exciting concept it was. As the team score is zeroed upon wickets being taken the emphasis is on taking wickets and bowling well. Should you not then the rewards for the batting side are enhanced. This essentially means the severity of each ball and each incident is intensified.
Trying to remember all the laws that we’d been taught in our pre match seminar was the first hurdle for the majority of players but as soon as the game began the Grafton ranks soon began talking ideas and tactics fervently for the duration of proceedings. This followed a flurry of wickets and it wasn’t until Winna joined Powelly at the crease that the players happened upon the idea of just batting, playing proper cricket shots and waiting for the bad ball. This worked but as Winna cut loose hoping for the much feted maximum in the latter stages, he was out and Grafton were back to zero. Enter Gibbo who then scored a century. In two balls. Grafton were up and over 100 and had a total to defend so long as they didn’t lose another wicket. And they didn’t as some late innings scurrying allowed Grafton to get to 135.
In the reply things were going well for Grafton as no maximums were hit and the Shireites took a wicket in the early exchanges of Ebrington’s second phase. This was until I went for 42 in one over. However, having thought this was bad, James Wall then stepped up and will forever remain the answer to the future trivia question “Which Grafton bowler went for 111,119 in one over?” - Nat Gregory tucking into 5 full tosses on the trot from the youngster and in doing so earning Ebrington 100,000 runs. A wicket or bust then for Grafton. Ebrington only needed to block out for the remaining two overs but to their credit continued to play shots giving Grafton a sniff. When Gibbons put down a catch in the deep Grafton thought their chance had departed. But no, Ian Young picked up a wicket a few balls later and Ebrington were back to zero and the impetus was back on them to hit at least 2 consecutive maximums. No maximums followed and it came down to the simple conundrum of Ebrington requiring 3 maximums off the final 3 balls. And remarkably they did it. A victory off the final ball of the game.
It’s a fascinating concept and one that left me wanting to play again. Pressure of being underneath a catch or batting - and losing your wicket - when your team has accumulated some runs (experienced by Winna and Gibbo respectively in this encounter) is intensified and is what makes the game. Each individual’s performance at all times has a greater effect on your teams performance as a whole. Looking at the game retrospectively you can identify areas of the match that turned out to be irrelevant. But that’s not what the game is about. It’s a about playing ‘in the moment’, taking opportunities when they’re presented and trying to take wickets at all costs. I like it.
Ian Young wrote:
At 20 minutes to the (scheduled) start and TG have eleven players. The opposition don’t. But more disturbing were the suspicious painted boxes around the bowlers run ups and the chairs in the pavilion laid out classroom fashion. If only we knew what was to unfold we could have run away. Enter into the classroom the inventor of CliMAX Cricket Peter Gregory. CliMAX is a new form of cricket which ensures the game goes down to the last ball. To contrive this kind of finish the rules have been not so much tweaked as raped. Essentially, the match consists of an innings of 10 10 ball overs each, with the harsh novelty of a wicket falling automatically reducing the batting side’s score to zero. Every time. Added to this is a cumulative scoring system based on the geometric progression of your first six (a maximum) equaling 10, the next (if consecutive) equaling 100, then 1,000 and so on. This was to ensure that James Wall was to end his one over spell with what must be a once-in-a-lifetime 0 for 111,119. Oh and another rule is that you have to call Time Out once as a batting side and put the opposition in until they call Time Out. This transatlantic custom simply added to Powell’s woes. And I forgot….the ball is always live – i.e. bowl when you like. By this time Powell would have agreed that captains have to be called Susan, batting must be undertaken only with a spoon, foliage must be worn by all players behind the stumps and square leg gets tickled on the fall of each wicket.
So, Powell lost the toss and was put in. The batting order was random. Third ball of the innings, not having got used to the ‘live ball’ rule, Robin Morris wandered off and didn’t even see the delivery that missed his off stump and was returned to the bowler as if nothing had happened. And, basically, it was business as usual. Burgoine, not a fan of the new format, went first ball, Slatter mowed 15 odd and Powell deployed his late cut. On 41 Powell and Hopkins took Time Out. Ebrington hit 36 off two overs before putting a non-plussed TG back in again. Keeping up? Progressing well to 89 off eight overs, Hopkins injudiciously holed out to long off, thus rendering everything up to that point pointless. Zero. Gibbons hit consecutive sixes and TG finished on 135. Don’t ask how. What followed was a quite ridiculous passage of play. Ebrington plundered the runs and, at their zenith, took Wall for six figures. We now had the absurdity of the ‘free hit’. With a lead of 111,038, runs became irrelevant and, given that a wicket cannot fall off a free hit, a fielder was posted in the car park simply to return the ball quickly. What followed were seven dot balls from Morris as Ebrington attempted to preserve their crucial wicket and on 111,212 Young trapped the batsman lbw – arguably the most valuable wicket of all time. Back to zero. Ebrington now needed consecutive sixes, but a flurry of runs and wickets brought it down to the last three balls to overhaul 135. Gibbons wheeled in and, through no fault of his own, went 6 (10), 6 (110), 6 (1,110). Game over. Yes, it ensured a last ball finish, but out of 200 deliveries only seven (Gibbons’ brief knock plus his last three deliveries) actually mattered. Opinion is divided. Burgoine positively loathes Marmite, others view it more favorably.
Tom Benjamin wrote:
Being from the country Grafton’s line up consists of a number of players that don’t like change. For example, Steve Burgoine still uses old £5 notes. So to turn up for a game of different cricket was a difficult concept to accept for a plethora of Grafton players. However, this is what it was to be and upon losing the toss Grafton were soon batting in CliMAX cricket. And for me, a thought provoking and exciting concept it was. As the team score is zeroed upon wickets being taken the emphasis is on taking wickets and bowling well. Should you not then the rewards for the batting side are enhanced. This essentially means the severity of each ball and each incident is intensified.
Trying to remember all the laws that we’d been taught in our pre match seminar was the first hurdle for the majority of players but as soon as the game began the Grafton ranks soon began talking ideas and tactics fervently for the duration of proceedings. This followed a flurry of wickets and it wasn’t until Winna joined Powelly at the crease that the players happened upon the idea of just batting, playing proper cricket shots and waiting for the bad ball. This worked but as Winna cut loose hoping for the much feted maximum in the latter stages, he was out and Grafton were back to zero. Enter Gibbo who then scored a century. In two balls. Grafton were up and over 100 and had a total to defend so long as they didn’t lose another wicket. And they didn’t as some late innings scurrying allowed Grafton to get to 135.
In the reply things were going well for Grafton as no maximums were hit and the Shireites took a wicket in the early exchanges of Ebrington’s second phase. This was until I went for 42 in one over. However, having thought this was bad, James Wall then stepped up and will forever remain the answer to the future trivia question “Which Grafton bowler went for 111,119 in one over?” - Nat Gregory tucking into 5 full tosses on the trot from the youngster and in doing so earning Ebrington 100,000 runs. A wicket or bust then for Grafton. Ebrington only needed to block out for the remaining two overs but to their credit continued to play shots giving Grafton a sniff. When Gibbons put down a catch in the deep Grafton thought their chance had departed. But no, Ian Young picked up a wicket a few balls later and Ebrington were back to zero and the impetus was back on them to hit at least 2 consecutive maximums. No maximums followed and it came down to the simple conundrum of Ebrington requiring 3 maximums off the final 3 balls. And remarkably they did it. A victory off the final ball of the game.
It’s a fascinating concept and one that left me wanting to play again. Pressure of being underneath a catch or batting - and losing your wicket - when your team has accumulated some runs (experienced by Winna and Gibbo respectively in this encounter) is intensified and is what makes the game. Each individual’s performance at all times has a greater effect on your teams performance as a whole. Looking at the game retrospectively you can identify areas of the match that turned out to be irrelevant. But that’s not what the game is about. It’s a about playing ‘in the moment’, taking opportunities when they’re presented and trying to take wickets at all costs. I like it.
Grant Trophy for Collins and Beasley
With Brad Wrench and Tom Frost indisposed on 1st August, the competition for the Grant Trophy CliMAX-Pairs on 1st August 2010 was thrown wide open. Mongoose Collins partnered new boy Dan Beasley and made a solid start with 92 from 4 overs without loosing a wicket. The Mongoose did most of the hitting and cleared the ropes twice on the way to 82. Next best were Clarkson and Sexton who had scorched to 270 when the Mongoose showed that CliMAX is as much about taking wicket as hitting big shots, had Sexton nicking off. Clarkson's many MAXima just did not come in the right sequence to overtake pace setters Collins and Beasley.
Finally Tommo had put his pairing with Peter Gregory in a strong position with 11 balls to go and 30 needed, but inexplicably made room and was bowled by the Mongoose with a 'golden arm'. Despite Gregory hitting his first ever MAXimum, he never looked capable of stringing enough big hits together to challenge the total set earlier in the day and had to settle for 3rd in this strong field.
Mongoose was delighted to collect the trophy from Mrs Grant, even if Dan Beasley was still a little shell shocked.
The players were grateful to the Grant family for providing delicious teas and to Ken Smith and the back-room staff for provision of top quality facilities for this special day. Ken and Bunny Baldwin were also brave enough to score and umpire and did a great job. Cheers guys!
Finally Tommo had put his pairing with Peter Gregory in a strong position with 11 balls to go and 30 needed, but inexplicably made room and was bowled by the Mongoose with a 'golden arm'. Despite Gregory hitting his first ever MAXimum, he never looked capable of stringing enough big hits together to challenge the total set earlier in the day and had to settle for 3rd in this strong field.
Mongoose was delighted to collect the trophy from Mrs Grant, even if Dan Beasley was still a little shell shocked.
The players were grateful to the Grant family for providing delicious teas and to Ken Smith and the back-room staff for provision of top quality facilities for this special day. Ken and Bunny Baldwin were also brave enough to score and umpire and did a great job. Cheers guys!
Frosty - Pairs Victor
Bowler Tom Frost showed the Originals that not only is he an effective bowler, but an effective batter too. He made a telling contribution to a winning partnership in the CliMAX pairs competition on Sunday 18th September at Ebrington.
CliMAX in Pairs
Bradders - proves unstoppable with Frosty
Disappointed that Hatherley could not muster any players up to the CliMAX challenge, the Originals had to improvise on Sunday afternoon. CliMAX provided a great success yet again, this time for pairs cricket. Left handers Duckie and Monty Rawlings batted first and found the boundary regularly. Mongoose and Bradders both put the brakes on their progress with wickets, but crucially a disputed stumping occurred as Monty charged the last loopy off break from Keyty. This left the pair to accumulate 23 from the final over from Doc.
Next was Nat with partner Ad-man. With thousands of CliMAX runs to his name already, Nat thought it best to shield Ad-man from the hostile fast bowlers, Frosty and Bradders. His tactics seemed doomed as both opening bowlers claimed wickets; Frosty’s being particularly valuable saving the 1,112 he had conceded in the first 4 deliveries of the innings. The little fella became an instant big hero with other Originals. But it was to take more than one big hero to stop this pair for whom Nat thumped a total of 10 MAXimums. Doc provided a mid innings scare with a devious slow long hop, which was caught and bowled, Keyty did something equally unmemorable, yet effective and finally Duckie slapped things down to size with a final over wicket.
After this came the heavyweight pairing of Sam with Mongoose. Keyty kept on with the loopy stuff and enticed an early error, but Sam was soon in fine form dishing out some horrible medicine to Doc whose balls all finished on the bank, except one that hung temptingly between Nat and Keyte on the legside boundary. Both sprinted towards the projected landing place, Nat hesitated, seemed to giggle and muttered “yours Keyty” before lovingly baling him out with a slide and a dive and fortunately came up clutching the ball, still giggling. Plenty more MAXimums followed but so did the wickets and the final total of 17 probably was a fair reflection of the preceding chaos.
No money would have been placed on the next pair of Frosty and Bradders – both described by somebody as specialist bowlers. Monty was first up to take advantage and took 3 wickets in his over. Ad-man and Nat joined in the fun, but then steady progess was made though a little rain fell no further wickets did and this enabled 50 runs to be accumulated. Nobody could quite believe the unlikely duo had taken the lead.
Now only Keyty and Doc could overhaul Frosty and Bradders. A solid start was made with 30 runs on the board before Doc contrived to sky a half hearted poke to a leg side delivery from Ad-man and get caught by keeper – Monty. Keyty seemed unsettled and followed suit giving Ad-man a second wicket. From then on wickets followed with incredible frequency, Keyty and Doc appearing to compete for the one to be out most often. Keyty won this battle leaving the last ball – a straight one.
Bradders and Frosty were crowned unofficial pairs champions, but will they be allowed to battle it out together for the official title on 1st August at Ebrington.
Next was Nat with partner Ad-man. With thousands of CliMAX runs to his name already, Nat thought it best to shield Ad-man from the hostile fast bowlers, Frosty and Bradders. His tactics seemed doomed as both opening bowlers claimed wickets; Frosty’s being particularly valuable saving the 1,112 he had conceded in the first 4 deliveries of the innings. The little fella became an instant big hero with other Originals. But it was to take more than one big hero to stop this pair for whom Nat thumped a total of 10 MAXimums. Doc provided a mid innings scare with a devious slow long hop, which was caught and bowled, Keyty did something equally unmemorable, yet effective and finally Duckie slapped things down to size with a final over wicket.
After this came the heavyweight pairing of Sam with Mongoose. Keyty kept on with the loopy stuff and enticed an early error, but Sam was soon in fine form dishing out some horrible medicine to Doc whose balls all finished on the bank, except one that hung temptingly between Nat and Keyte on the legside boundary. Both sprinted towards the projected landing place, Nat hesitated, seemed to giggle and muttered “yours Keyty” before lovingly baling him out with a slide and a dive and fortunately came up clutching the ball, still giggling. Plenty more MAXimums followed but so did the wickets and the final total of 17 probably was a fair reflection of the preceding chaos.
No money would have been placed on the next pair of Frosty and Bradders – both described by somebody as specialist bowlers. Monty was first up to take advantage and took 3 wickets in his over. Ad-man and Nat joined in the fun, but then steady progess was made though a little rain fell no further wickets did and this enabled 50 runs to be accumulated. Nobody could quite believe the unlikely duo had taken the lead.
Now only Keyty and Doc could overhaul Frosty and Bradders. A solid start was made with 30 runs on the board before Doc contrived to sky a half hearted poke to a leg side delivery from Ad-man and get caught by keeper – Monty. Keyty seemed unsettled and followed suit giving Ad-man a second wicket. From then on wickets followed with incredible frequency, Keyty and Doc appearing to compete for the one to be out most often. Keyty won this battle leaving the last ball – a straight one.
Bradders and Frosty were crowned unofficial pairs champions, but will they be allowed to battle it out together for the official title on 1st August at Ebrington.
Clarkson CliMAXes to great effect
A spirited eleven cricketers from Long Compton agreed to try out CliMAX cricket on Sunday 20th June 2010 after enjoying an excellent tea prepared by Brad Wrench, Ebrington's own celebrity chef and all-rounder. To enable them to get used to the rules the players were divided amongst Ebrington players lead by Josh Mongoose Collins and Nait Gregory.
Collins team batted first and got off to a flying start. Mongoose himself showing the way partnered by Surman of Long Compton. They had 80 from the first 3 overs, when Pitcher (LC) came into the attack. The Mongoose unleashed a vicious attack becoming another in the growing list of kiloMAX cricketers. With his personal score on 1166 and after smashing 6 MAXimums he managed to hole out caught by Tommo Thompson off Pitcher's bowling. This was probably Pitcher's most valuable wicket ever!
This brought 11 year young Dale Boswell to the crease. Despite being the youngest ever to CliMAX, he should great maturity and provided great support to fellow Comptonian Surman. This enable skipper Collins to take a time-out after 6 overs with the score on 12.
Nait Gregory smashed to first ball to square leg where he was skilfully caught, but the wicket was denied by a late call of no-ball for a ball near shoulder height. After an easy boundary, Gregory junior hit one down Gregory senior's throat at long off. James Hicks found a better support from Yates (LC) and was in particularly aggressive mood taking two MAXimums from the first over and a kiloMAX sequence from the second. With the score on 1254 after 3 overs, captain N Gregory called for time-out and Hicksy retired with his score on 1229.
Back came Collins team and Dale Boswell and his senior partner Surman ground out a further 11 runs before Nait Gregory resorted to himself to bowl the last over. Bowling some cheek spinners he bamboozled the young prodigy Boswell to bring Tom 'Duckie 'Clarkson to the crease. Gambling on Duckie making an error he continued the spin theme. The row of cars on the leg side bank had to reverse back for fear of losing a windscreen as Clarkson in particularly beligernt mood started striking. A kiloMAX sequence brought his team in the vacinity of Gregory's team total, but still behing when Nait started the last delivery. Even two consecutive MAXimums could not reach that total, but when a third sailed even further Collins team total hand raced to 2221, which is still on the scoreboard when the post game photo was taken. Duckie could be well satisfied with his contribution of 2220 from 8 deliveries.
Nait's team were now under pressure as they resumed on 1254. Long Compton captain Leigh Boswell was brought on to bowl and was an immediate CliMAX star. He had Yates bowled for 12 and Merrick for an inauspicious duck. Somehow Hazelton managed to get run out in the same over. The Mongoose took a wicket himself, but Craig Lynes and Tommo Thomspons steadied the ship and took the score onto 61, before Peter Gregory was handed the ball. Lynes missed a straight one and Frost did the same a few balls later, which brought back Nait Gregory to try again. Now, warmed up and off his long run up, Gregory senior seemed to bowl even slower yet Thompson and Gregory junior were unprepared to take any further risks. However they targeted Surman in the next over, who though he went for 48, picked up the vital wicket of Alex Thompson for 57 (4 MAXimums). Hicksy was back in and yet to be out in CliMAX cricket lost the strike after scoring 11 off two balls. Nait Gregory then set about destroying star bowler Leigh Boswell who was brought back for the last over of the match. Gregory hit 5 MAXimums from this over taking his tally to 8 for the innings, but this was not enough to overcome Collins team total, falling a mere 1961 behind. Gregory finished not out 277 and Hicks 1225 also not out.
Join the Ebrington CliMAXers for another training game on Tuesday 22nd and a competitive game on Tuesday 29th against Will Noble's Stratfordians. Don't miss them!
Collins team batted first and got off to a flying start. Mongoose himself showing the way partnered by Surman of Long Compton. They had 80 from the first 3 overs, when Pitcher (LC) came into the attack. The Mongoose unleashed a vicious attack becoming another in the growing list of kiloMAX cricketers. With his personal score on 1166 and after smashing 6 MAXimums he managed to hole out caught by Tommo Thompson off Pitcher's bowling. This was probably Pitcher's most valuable wicket ever!
This brought 11 year young Dale Boswell to the crease. Despite being the youngest ever to CliMAX, he should great maturity and provided great support to fellow Comptonian Surman. This enable skipper Collins to take a time-out after 6 overs with the score on 12.
Nait Gregory smashed to first ball to square leg where he was skilfully caught, but the wicket was denied by a late call of no-ball for a ball near shoulder height. After an easy boundary, Gregory junior hit one down Gregory senior's throat at long off. James Hicks found a better support from Yates (LC) and was in particularly aggressive mood taking two MAXimums from the first over and a kiloMAX sequence from the second. With the score on 1254 after 3 overs, captain N Gregory called for time-out and Hicksy retired with his score on 1229.
Back came Collins team and Dale Boswell and his senior partner Surman ground out a further 11 runs before Nait Gregory resorted to himself to bowl the last over. Bowling some cheek spinners he bamboozled the young prodigy Boswell to bring Tom 'Duckie 'Clarkson to the crease. Gambling on Duckie making an error he continued the spin theme. The row of cars on the leg side bank had to reverse back for fear of losing a windscreen as Clarkson in particularly beligernt mood started striking. A kiloMAX sequence brought his team in the vacinity of Gregory's team total, but still behing when Nait started the last delivery. Even two consecutive MAXimums could not reach that total, but when a third sailed even further Collins team total hand raced to 2221, which is still on the scoreboard when the post game photo was taken. Duckie could be well satisfied with his contribution of 2220 from 8 deliveries.
Nait's team were now under pressure as they resumed on 1254. Long Compton captain Leigh Boswell was brought on to bowl and was an immediate CliMAX star. He had Yates bowled for 12 and Merrick for an inauspicious duck. Somehow Hazelton managed to get run out in the same over. The Mongoose took a wicket himself, but Craig Lynes and Tommo Thomspons steadied the ship and took the score onto 61, before Peter Gregory was handed the ball. Lynes missed a straight one and Frost did the same a few balls later, which brought back Nait Gregory to try again. Now, warmed up and off his long run up, Gregory senior seemed to bowl even slower yet Thompson and Gregory junior were unprepared to take any further risks. However they targeted Surman in the next over, who though he went for 48, picked up the vital wicket of Alex Thompson for 57 (4 MAXimums). Hicksy was back in and yet to be out in CliMAX cricket lost the strike after scoring 11 off two balls. Nait Gregory then set about destroying star bowler Leigh Boswell who was brought back for the last over of the match. Gregory hit 5 MAXimums from this over taking his tally to 8 for the innings, but this was not enough to overcome Collins team total, falling a mere 1961 behind. Gregory finished not out 277 and Hicks 1225 also not out.
Join the Ebrington CliMAXers for another training game on Tuesday 22nd and a competitive game on Tuesday 29th against Will Noble's Stratfordians. Don't miss them!
CliMAX brilliance!
Not only the brilliance of the assembled CliMAX cricketers batting skilled shone out on the sultry evening of Tuesday 15th June at Ebrington Cricket Club, but the brilliance of CliMAX was clearly evident. The Ebrington VI took on a Campden School VI in what was intended only as a training game, but the outcome was a highly competitive and thrilling encounter.
The Ebrington team were inserted and went about their business in aggressive style with Alex “Tommo” Thomson and Josh “Mongoose” Collins racing to 36 before the opening bowlers had finished. Tommo’s disappointment not to cash in on the ball following his MAXimum might have played on his mind as he scooped one up to bowler Josh Keyte in an apparent lapse of concentration. Partner Collins followed next over, run out, leaving Jack Sexton to provide some stability with an excellent 38. Yet this is little benefit in CliMAX, if you cannot sustain a partnership. Olly “Scrappy” Hassell, Matt Spencer and Tom Clarkson all came and went without telling contributions and with the score on only 10 Josh Collins took his team for a time-out.
Nait Gregory and James Hicks opened for Campden School VI and played as though they were under no pressure; not surprisingly. The took 17 from the first over and 36 from the next including a MAXimum from Gregory. The maintain this rate until new boy Scrappy came on to bowl. Gregory found Scrappy to his liking and plundered 3 more MAXimums and the score raced onto 246. Gregory, comfortable with his team’s position, asked for their time-out, bringing Collins and Sexton back to the crease for Ebrington’s resumption.
Now Gregory faced a quick change. In his bowling boots things looked a little less comfortable. He tried right arm, then left arm and then right arm again and in the process gave away 100 in MAX-tras. The Mongoose was then unleashed on Keyte and Ebrington were ahead by a whisker. The next ball found the boundary and Collins seemed destined to post a total to challenge the schoolboys, when rush of blood and he was stranded down the track with ball passing the flailing Mongoose and the bails off effecting an uncontroversial stumping.
Sexton hit his third MAXimum of the night from James Hicks next delivery and then departed LBW as he made a futile kick at a ball destined to roll onto his stumps. This brought Spencer back to the crease with only 8 deliveries with which to work. As Hicks ran into bowl the last scheduled ball the score was just 7……but in CliMAX you are never out of it until the last ball is bowled. Spence crashed a might CliMAX across the Campden Road and earnt another chance. After he had done it again the pressure was shifting onto the fielding team and Hicks served up another opportunity, which Spence seized greedily becoming the second kiloMAX cricketer in history. Understandably, Hick lost his nerve under this onslaught and sent down a wide next, but a single on the last ball completed the Ebrington innings on a score of 1120. Matt Spencers own contribution was 1118 and the most telling CliMAX innings to date.
Gregory and Hicks returned with pads and bats wondering just how to go about scoring 874 from 5 overs. Tommo’s over going for 31 seemed like a maiden in this context and Clarkson must have fancied the chances of a wicket with the pressure on the batters probably leading to a rash stroke. Gregory had other ideas and by the end of the over had scored his 10th MAXimum of the evening and become the 3rd kiloMAX cricketer. Incredibly, the schoolboys were now ahead with 1420. Gregory, flushed with success retired and brought in Frost. Calamity ensued with Sexton pinching his wicket caught and bowled first ball. Hicks also took the opportunity to retire on 76 and Fred Rawlings was left to try and pull off another amazing feat in the dying light, but could not despite hitting 5 boundaries and two MAXimums, one of which was crucially on the last scheduled delivery of this match. Despite earning two extra opportunities, Fred and Rich Bryan could only take the CampdenSchool innings total to 58. It appears that Gregory’s own retirement on 1334 cost his team dearly. Good job, it was only a training game!
Click here for more photos by Charlotte Gregory
The Ebrington team were inserted and went about their business in aggressive style with Alex “Tommo” Thomson and Josh “Mongoose” Collins racing to 36 before the opening bowlers had finished. Tommo’s disappointment not to cash in on the ball following his MAXimum might have played on his mind as he scooped one up to bowler Josh Keyte in an apparent lapse of concentration. Partner Collins followed next over, run out, leaving Jack Sexton to provide some stability with an excellent 38. Yet this is little benefit in CliMAX, if you cannot sustain a partnership. Olly “Scrappy” Hassell, Matt Spencer and Tom Clarkson all came and went without telling contributions and with the score on only 10 Josh Collins took his team for a time-out.
Nait Gregory and James Hicks opened for Campden School VI and played as though they were under no pressure; not surprisingly. The took 17 from the first over and 36 from the next including a MAXimum from Gregory. The maintain this rate until new boy Scrappy came on to bowl. Gregory found Scrappy to his liking and plundered 3 more MAXimums and the score raced onto 246. Gregory, comfortable with his team’s position, asked for their time-out, bringing Collins and Sexton back to the crease for Ebrington’s resumption.
Now Gregory faced a quick change. In his bowling boots things looked a little less comfortable. He tried right arm, then left arm and then right arm again and in the process gave away 100 in MAX-tras. The Mongoose was then unleashed on Keyte and Ebrington were ahead by a whisker. The next ball found the boundary and Collins seemed destined to post a total to challenge the schoolboys, when rush of blood and he was stranded down the track with ball passing the flailing Mongoose and the bails off effecting an uncontroversial stumping.
Sexton hit his third MAXimum of the night from James Hicks next delivery and then departed LBW as he made a futile kick at a ball destined to roll onto his stumps. This brought Spencer back to the crease with only 8 deliveries with which to work. As Hicks ran into bowl the last scheduled ball the score was just 7……but in CliMAX you are never out of it until the last ball is bowled. Spence crashed a might CliMAX across the Campden Road and earnt another chance. After he had done it again the pressure was shifting onto the fielding team and Hicks served up another opportunity, which Spence seized greedily becoming the second kiloMAX cricketer in history. Understandably, Hick lost his nerve under this onslaught and sent down a wide next, but a single on the last ball completed the Ebrington innings on a score of 1120. Matt Spencers own contribution was 1118 and the most telling CliMAX innings to date.
Gregory and Hicks returned with pads and bats wondering just how to go about scoring 874 from 5 overs. Tommo’s over going for 31 seemed like a maiden in this context and Clarkson must have fancied the chances of a wicket with the pressure on the batters probably leading to a rash stroke. Gregory had other ideas and by the end of the over had scored his 10th MAXimum of the evening and become the 3rd kiloMAX cricketer. Incredibly, the schoolboys were now ahead with 1420. Gregory, flushed with success retired and brought in Frost. Calamity ensued with Sexton pinching his wicket caught and bowled first ball. Hicks also took the opportunity to retire on 76 and Fred Rawlings was left to try and pull off another amazing feat in the dying light, but could not despite hitting 5 boundaries and two MAXimums, one of which was crucially on the last scheduled delivery of this match. Despite earning two extra opportunities, Fred and Rich Bryan could only take the CampdenSchool innings total to 58. It appears that Gregory’s own retirement on 1334 cost his team dearly. Good job, it was only a training game!
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