7 Sep

v Stoke d'Abernon H

Won by 8 wkts

Stoke 126-6

Concorde 127-2
Dave Frampton 55*
Alex Cudworth 34*


 

 

Concorde bounce back

Following two poor batting performances against Singleton & Hambleden, we bounced back with an emphatic win on Sunday, beating Stoke D'Abernon, by 8wkts.However, our delight must be slightly tempered by the fact that Stoke D. fielded a side containing seven colts, mostly 15-17, but had one player of 11!

This was not quite what we had expected, after last year, when they scored 222-6, and we were pleased to scrape a draw. They arrived late, necessitating a 2.30 start, won the toss and elected to bat without hesitation. Their skipper, a young Indian coach, came in and promptly started cutting, driving and glancing to some effect, although the other opener was less secure and was regularly beaten by both Sean O. and Ashley W. After surviving a clear Frampton/Reeve run out, their Indian star was caught at square leg, mistiming a hook for 35.(We later discovered that was virtually his lowest score of the season, which had produced 9 centuries, 3 on Sundays).Thereafter the other opener played sheet anchor whilst their young colts struggled to score against accurate bowling. Alex C. operating as first change, along with Edgar F., strangled the scoring, before Toby C. and Matt H. kept up the pressure until tea. Stoke made 126-6 at tea, off 36 overs. Our bowling was so accurate, that I couldn't find an excuse to bowl myself, and our fielding and throwing was exceptional, with Sean, Alex, Matt, Ash, Toby and David outstanding. Bowling figures were:
Sean O. 7-1-26-1, Ashley W. 7-1-28-0, Alex C. 7-3-14-0, Edgar F. 8-2-22-2, Matt H. 4-1-22-1, and Toby C. 3-1-7-2 (including 2 in 2 for the third time this season)

After a short tea, courtesy of Gina who was making her debut in the kitchen, we opened with Dave F. and Bob Braithwaite, making only his second appearance of the season. Unfortunately Bob fell second ball for a duck, but Dave F. supported first by Ashley (22) and then by Alex C. (34 n.o.) saw us home with 55 n.o., his sixth 50 in eight innings. We won at a canter in 16.5 overs before the 20 overs had started! In hindsight we could have bowled less Alex and Edgar in the middle of their innings, to let them set a bigger target but we weren't to know that their skipper was their only attacking batsman. Perhaps he hadn't planned on getting out?