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Fen Ditton Vs N.C.I. IV
Drizzle all morning, continued drizzle forecast for the rest of the day - unlikely to get a game I'd have thought. The two skippers thought otherwise and a reduced over contest would take place in varying degrees of rain and cold.
Adam reverted back to losing the toss and we were invited to bat first. Debutant Adam Brown (hereafter referred to as AB) and someone looking like Rory but hunched over in a vain attempt to keep out the cold, opened up. A fluent start ensued, aided by some wayward bowling as the ball inevitably got wet. Despite Rory (7) and H (8) not lasting long, that brought Adam to the crease early enough to play an innings full of attacking intent. AB looked set for a fifty but was bowled for 47. Tommo joined Adam and, amazingly, a total of 200 looked on the cards until Adam called for an impossible single and was run out for 89. Thommo (11 no) and Paul A (0 no) played out the last three overs quietly and we finished on 184-5.
Despite missing Jacko and Ian from our bowling attack, it would take a huge effort from N.C.I. to win. Once Rabs (7-0-15-1), Marc (4-0-27-0) and Adam (3-0-9-2) had prevented them from getting a fast start, the remainder of the innings had a 'going through the motions' feel about it. AB bowled a good spell, once the ball came out of his fingers (7-29-3) and McCan't bowled better than his 7-0-41-1 might suggest. The Cat took three good catches standing up and the ground fielding was mostly sound. N.C.I. were never in the hunt and finished with 123-7.
Unusual to win our opener, and to do it in some style. Double-header next weekend to look forward to.
Fulbourn II IV Vs Fen Ditton
After last weeks fine win, we arrived at Fulbourn with plenty of confidence. Adam even won the toss, but in his confusion at this unusual outcome, put the hosts in a very flat wicket. The theory would have been to make the new ball count.
Our reply was soon in trouble with Rory gone for four and the ball now keeping worryingly low. H hit three nice boundaries before being trapped LBW. Adam recorded a duck, as did Rabs (golden) and Pete. AB had reached 28 when he called for a single but found himself and Thommo standing in the same crease. Butler played very well towards the end to make 22, but when he too was given out LBW we had been bowled out for an embarrasing 98 to lose by 132 runs.
Let's hope it's just a blip and see what we can do in the Cup today.
We didn't take a wicket until twelve overs had passed and the openers had done their job. Rabs and adam had kept it tight but could our change bowlers perform? The answer was that AB bowled a very good spell to record figures of 10-1-37-3, but three bowlers tried at the other end and bowled miserably. The Buffet Boy was removed after just one wayward over, the same fate befell Pete and we were reduced to H bowling - a sure sign we've got big problems. The ten overs bowled by the three 'fourth' bowlers cost 92 runs as Fulbourn raced along. The fielding became ragged, catches went down and a cast iron run out messed up which would have got us another point. 230-5 is an imposing total to consider over a cup of tea and in Michael's case, a huge plate of food.
Granta V Vs Fen Ditton (Lower Junior Cup, 1st Rnd)
Hills Rd 6th Form Sports Ground is easy to see from Long Rd, we all know where it is. How do you find the entrance to it? Detailed answers, with diagrams on a postcard please. The address is Luard Rd, but you (might) find the driveway to it off Sedly Taylor Rd. If only we hadn't found it, or a wayward group of South Africans had turned up who could have been persuaded to play for us. We stopped entering the cup because of days like this. We draw a team we should, on league position beat, but because it's the seconds, thirds, fourths or now fifths of a large club, we get hammered. FDCC Vs Granta V might as well just read FDCC Vs Granta. There is no way most of those lads will play the season in the fifth team.
Adam struggled manfully to get a scratch eleven together, with many 'regulars' unavailable, including "The Revisionist". Adam reverted to type in losing the toss and Granta batted on a very good pitch. Everyone gave their all as the ball was smashed to all parts. We ended up giving seven bowlers a go and escaped from the field having conceded 279 runs.
The tea was a high point of the season, even at this early stage. Just getting off the field was good, but the food took me back to 'the good old days'. A much changed Ditton batting line up was always going to struggle but Marc (23) played well and Mark Very-Special made an entertaining 33 not out including two huge sixes. The tail was very limp and we were dismissed for just 107.
Now, how do we get home?
Wilbrahams II Vs Fen Ditton
Lots of it, for a couple of hours either side of 1:30pm. Why wasn't it called off early, before we travelled?
Fen Ditton Vs Coton
Our last league match on Ditton's green pastures for a month and a match we felt we should, and could win. Without a couple of regulars it would mean everyone stepping up and playing some solid cricket.
The Cat skippered in Adam's absence and on a gorgeous afternoon we got the benefit of batting first. It was warm, the pitch was at it's best early and the new ball came off AB's bat very nicely. We were smugly looking at the scoreboard showing 71-0 after only 10 overs when things started to wobble. Rory was bowled and AB (44) caught before H had faced a ball. Thommo was then bowled shouldering arms to one that moved about 3 feet off a crack. Butler showed signs of improved concentration but was undone by a slower ball that didn't bounce. H and Cat recognised that the pitch had got lower, Coton had a useful slow bowler on and it was time for consolidation. The scoring slowed but we kept wickets intact until H was bowled, quickly followed by Pete. Paul (30) holed out to a very good catch and it was left to Ian (12) and Dobbo (14) to get us to a position of setting 171 for Coton to win.
Paul opted for the pace of Dobbo from The Pavillion End and the guile of Ian from The Piggery End to open up. Alex was rewarded for a searching first over with a wicket from his 6th ball, plumb LBW. The scoring was kept in check by both bowlers and Alex took a second. A turning point came when Coton had two batsmen looking comfortable until a running error led to the batters deciding who should take the blame and be run out by Pete's strong throw. Ian finally got reward in his final over with an excellent stumping by Paul. He was replaced by AB as we stuck with spin and figures of 7.3-3-29-5 hardly tell the story. 21 of the 29 conceded came from AB's 2nd and third overs. He was on a hat-trick and a couple of the wickets were not exactly brilliant bowling. But they all count. Michael 'Just Bowl' McCann bowled tidily and the fielding was pretty good. A couple of periods when we went a bit flat might cost us against better sides but a win by 32 runs was thoroughly deserved.
Now we leave Ditton on our travels, starting with Romsey Town at Trinity Old Field next week, and maybe an encounter with our old mate Nick Clarke.
Romsey Town Vs Fen Ditton
First, have a look at some of today's other results. A couple of teams obviously couldn't find much commitment on the day of England's opening World Cup match. This was a hard fought match between two teams fully committed to playing cricket. I'm proud that on a one-off captaincy mission, I had ten guys who tried so hard. I wouldn't normally pick out individuals for praise, but today I will. James Farrell and Tom Thompson didn't get to bat and were then asked to field Long-On/Off at both ends for forty overs. They were worth their weight in gold.
H called correctly and, looking at a college wicket that had been covered from all the weeks rain decided to bat. Some expressed surprise, but possibly didn't know about the covers. Romsey are a limited bowling side but have the sort of bowlers that can make you complacent. We've been batting well so far this season and began solidly again. A platform was laid for the scoring rate to be increased. Thommo and H had a partnership worth 47 when Thommo played on for 20 but who could have guessed how the game would change from that moment. Very Special took little time to size up the bowling and the distance to the leg-side boundary. H was beginning to time it as well and the runs racked up. H was bowled for 74 to end a partnership of 118 and VS followed shortly after for 60. Micheal 'Bearders' McCann entertained us by asserting he was "positive" that 182 plus 5 was 188. His days on the scorebook may be numbered. A late flurry of unselfish hitting took us to the heights of 220-7 and sitting down to tea in pole position.
Drama in the first over as Alex, with his remodelled action cleaned up one of the openers, only to have been called for a no-ball. Nick Clarke, facing his old team, and Rabs first up, was dropped first ball off a long-hop. Not an easy chance but how we would have enjoyed that. The Romsey opening pair looked determined and Alex and Rabs failed to breakthrough. H went for spin at both ends and Ian bowled superbly to get us two quick wickets and finish with 10-3-20-3. Nick was bowled behind his legs and Romsey, in the space of 3 overs and 7 runs suddenly looked a beaten team. Our fielders paroled their areas as though their lives depended on it and while we could look for more of a cutting edge to bowl teams out, we sure make it difficult to score. Romsey tried hard to reach 160 for a fourth batting point but even that was denied them as they finished at 156-5.
A great team effort without some of our regulars and although it's still early, we can start to look at the top of the table this year.
Balsham II Vs Fen Ditton
There are three types of outcome to a cricket match for us. Easy win, heavy defeat and, occassionally a close exciting game. This fell into the easy win category, on the face of it. The truth was that up to tea we had to work very hard to set a target.
On a foul day, with dark clouds rolling over the ground carrying and delivering the threat of rain, it was not the sort of pitch to bat on first. But Adam was back so Balsham got to choose. Not only was the pitch very damp, giving little bounce, it was cold and there was always the hint of drizzle in the air. Not that I particularly noticed any of these things until I umpired (for 20 overs) having been bowled first ball by the best ball that 13 year old has delivered in his life (surely). AB had just departed to the same kid and Adam would not be your first choice to grind out an innings. "Rory is fit" declared the graffitti in the little shelter and he batted with huge concentration for 20 overs before becoming one of AB's FOUR umpiring victims. Thommo, Butler and Paul C all played well given the situation with Paul's big six from a high no-ball the highlight of the innings. Ian finished things off with a straight drive for four and we'd got 117 to defend.
The Balsham team have had to draft in several very young players since last season and we discovered that their 59 all out last week had not been a fluke but a true reflection of their batting depth. Alex bowled well but without luck and Adam was quick and accurate, returning 5-4-3-2. We quickly turned to spin, partly because AB and Ian have bowled so well recently and because you never knew when the next black cloud might come along. It was almost painful to watch as Balsham had no answer to the accuracy of our 'spin twins'. However, an important moment came with a surprise run out. Michael 'Textbook' McCann stuck out a foot Tommy Thompson style and managed to throw it to Paul fairly near the stumps. AB with 5.2-1-19-4 and Ian 7-1-13-3 finished the job and we got off without getting any wetter with Balsham dismissed for 49.
The Balsham innings had three very questionable umpiring decisions, and question them we did. We need to learn to accept the answer and not become bitter and twisted. We also need to preserve the good name of our club.
A routine win in the end and another Saturday off next week. Then we get to test ourselves properly with Waterbeach twice followed by Fulbourn again. Then we can judge where our season is going.
Read Michael's account HERE
Waterbeach Vs Fen Ditton
Whilst we found ourselves in second place in the league, we'd only played one serious contender for promotion - Fulbourn. These two matches with league leaders Waterbeach will go someway to deciding if we're Holland/Germany or Brazil/Argentina.
That Adam won the toss probably made little difference as he decided we'd bat and I think 'Beach would have inserted us if they'd had the choice. The whole Ditton team debated whether to bother looking at the wicket before play - we'd have seen a visually flat strip with a tinge of green. Reality, once we were batting on it was that the dry, hot weather had made an otherwise good wicket to have some 'hotspots'. AB began well, cracking four boundaries before getting one that popped and lobbed to Gully. A sign of things to come. Without filleting our innings completely, it's reasonable to say that most got a couple of poor balls to hit but spent the rest of the time guessing what good length balls would do. Several scores over ten but only Rabs with 23 looked as though he was 'in' until edging to slip. Just as well extras registered 50!
160 had seemed within reach, and might have been circled in the scorebook by 'Yes We McCann' (if he'd been playing) but the tail didn't wag and 143 would be very difficult to defend.
Could the Waterbeach innings have started better for us? NO. Alex ran in, first ball, to put a length ball on leg stump which the opener flicked to James at square leg. 0-1 and we were bouyed up. Not long to wait before Alex snared the other opener, clean bowled. At the other end Adam was bowling a touch short looking for the areas that had given 'H' such a working over. He never found them in two spells. AB and Ian entered the attack and a phase of pressure being applied, then released by the odd long-hop or full toss, all of which disappeared for boundaries. When Ian got the number 3 the ball after he'd reached his fifty there was a glimmer of hope. Later, when Ian scored a direct hit for a run out with 'Beach still needing 20-odd another opportunity was there, but a couple of dropped catches ended our day with defeat by 4 wickets.
Where does this leave us? We saw a greater intensity from Waterbeach than in previous matches and they should win the division. How far behind are we? Not far and with Jacko about to return, it's going to be about what teams we can field from now on and if we can lift our intensity a bit.
Fen Ditton Vs Waterbeach
Forget the heavy defeat, today something better than a cricket result happenned to our Club.
Our innings was all about Adam. Having lost James and 'H' for ducks, Adam played a very attacking innings of 65. He received support from V-S and Rabs but it was never going to be enough to mount a challenge. The innings became a chase to get the batting point at 120. Step forward "D5CS" and Dobbo as last pair to get us up to 127. I'm sure Michael (Ditton's 5th Choice Seamer) is reliving his 7 not out to anyone who will listen. He deserves to, as every point counts. He may now have moved up to D3CS as well.
An excellent turnout at the pub, including Butler, who had already shown a growing commitment to Ditton by sub fielding and umpiring. Good have a chat about The Trip To London and to see Dobbo firmly back on the Diet Coke. The 'lads' are making an impact and although this might not be our season, who knows about next year. In the meantime, let's put some more wins on the board and finish strongly.
On the hottest Saturday of the season, we had the pleasure of fielding first against the team who will probably win the division. Adam would have juggled the bowlers around due to the heat even if some of the bowling was a bit ragged. A solid 'Beach lineup piled on 202 but a closer inspection of our bowling figures shows that the younger generation can hold their heads up. Dobbo is really growing into the role of penetrating opening bowler. His effort yesterday - 9-3-26-2 was exceptional. Adam bowled as we know he can and 9-3-34-1 is pretty good in the context of the final total. "D5CS" had his best spell for us with 6-1-24-3. It's a shame that included crippling Paul C with an errant leg-side ball. So on a tough afternoon, our youngsters showed they're up to the task.
Fen Ditton Vs Fulbourn II
First, it should be mentioned how impressed everyone was with the new pink/blue Middlesex cap sported by 'H'
AB got off to a flying start, as always, but James run of poor luck continued. 'H' joined AB and Ditton were up with the required run rate. Then controversy. AB spooned a high full toss to the fielder at mid-on and Fulbourn celebrated, not realising at first that Dobbo at square-leg had signalled no-ball. The ensuing 'debate' should make some Fulbourn players ashamed that they can't accept an umpires decision, made in good faith. The moaning continued until AB had departed as Fulbourn fielders displayed an ability to behave like school kids who hadn't got their own way. Once things settled down they found that 'H' and Rabs were threatening to make 175 very gettable. 'H' played a hard hitting innings until caught on the boundary in front of the pavillion for 45. Had he gone on, we may have won. Thommo, with a runner, played an excellent innings which also looked like bringing us 20 points, but ran out of partners.
A thirty minute delay to the start due to a sharp shower seemed to take the edge off early Ditton efforts in the field as we began quietly, allowing Fulbourn's openers to settle in. It grew into one of those days when bowlers sent down too many full tosses, a couple of errors on the boundary led to unearned runs and three catches went down. Alex held on to three catches and Rabs bowled very well for his 6-0-22-2. Fulbourn would have been looking at posting 200+ but were pegged back to 174. That was still 30 more than they'd have got when we're on our game.
We required 30 runs from 6 overs with 4 wickets in hand. Should have won but finished 13 short, with overs in hand. Rabs was bowled, Paul C and Jacko fell LBW and Ian was bowled. We need to be a bit more ruthless, both fielding and batting to win these close games.
"What of Yehudi McCann?" I hear you asking. Away at some school concert/music thing fiddling with a young lady from Peterborough - sources close to the club report. After scoring with older women at Romsey and Balsham in recent weeks he's now 'alledgedly' scored with someone his own age. We'll welcome him back for a full explanation next week.
Coton Vs Fen Ditton
Coton has often been an eventful ground for Ditton. Some memorable moments, enhanced by the type of competition that comes from a healthy respect of your opponent. Those of us old enough might remember John Goodman hitting a six straight down the ground and over the roof of the cottage. Jacko has also hit a big straight six into the same cottage. We've won a match when needing about 90 from the last ten overs. We've also been on the receiving end of big innings from Ross Chandler and Chris Cooke. We were once dismissed for around 50 on a brute of a pitch and 'H' once left the gound covered in blood from a head wound en route for Addenbrookes A&E. What would this year's renewal throw up?
The pitch, we later found out at The Plough, has had much work carried out on it and whilst it's not the prettiest to look at it played much better than any Coton wicket I've experienced. On that basis, and maybe because it was quite hot, Coton batted after winning the toss. A mix up between the Coton openers led to our first wicket - a run out with both batsmen at the same end. Our fielder did well to stay calm and throw to Jacko who had all day to take the bails off. This served to bring Ross to the crease but our old nemesis was very well caught by James at point and Jacko had his first wicket of the season. The innings then developed into a pattern of Ditton taking regular wickets but suffering from some big hitting from George, the Coton skipper. Ian took 3-49 and James 2-17 but our best bowling came from Alex 9-1-21-0, which included 8 extras. Jacko was also back in the groove with 10-1-24-1. Butler had his regular 'oops' moment on the boundary but other than one dropped catch, our fielding couldn't really be faulted. We possibly thought the Coton total of 177-8 was a few more than it should have been, but we always think that. At Tea, I will admit, that with our decimated batting lineup I feared a heavy defeat.
Skipper whenever we play Coton, Paul (2 wins from 2) decided he would open, possibly before he seized up after 'keeping along with James, still looking for his first double-figure score for Ditton. A decent start ensued until Paul was adjudged LBW with the score 41-1. 'H' joined James and 140 runs later the pair walked off having secured a nine wicket win. James' 68* was near faultless and we saw what he can do once 'in'. 'H' played a supporting role but hit two boundaries to finish things off and take him to 62*. It was a fine example, following the disappointment of failing to chase down Fulbourn last week, of batters getting in and taking responsibility for completing the job.
Your reporter is now away for two weeks, so no updates, but I expect to return unsure of my place in the team after two more wins against Romsey and Weston Colville.
If you want to see the scorecard for this match, Coton use the ECB facilities and it can be found HERE.
Fen Ditton Vs Romsey Town
Adam's report of this match is HERE
Fen Ditton Vs Weston Colville II
Adam's report of this match is HERE
Weston Colville II Vs Fen Ditton
An early decision made on Friday evening, although there has been lots of heavy showers with more forecast. With other games likely to be off as well, this may end any speculation regarding promotion this season.
N.C.I. IV Vs Fen Ditton
There is a definate pattern to our encounters with N.C.I. The early season game is often a comfortable win for us with N.C.I. looking a bit of a weak team. By the time of the return fixture, as with the final match of last season, the gap has narrowed and an exciting, close, hard-fought game ensues.
Whilst 228 is a lot to get batting second, N.C.I. gave it a really good go. Adam was a bit hamstrung in only having four bowlers - not even a half decent part-timer to call on. One of the N.C.I. openers made a very good fifty but ultimately couldn't go on, misjudging a Jacko slower ball. All the N.C.I. batters came in and hit out, with plenty of success. Our bowlers gave it their all and might have been slightly better backed up by the field. No rank mistakes but not the intensity we've seen from the teams above us in the league. Jacko managed a five for and Paul kept superbly with a catch and a stumping. As with last season Adam bowled the final over with all results still possible. It was a good over leadind to a win by 16 runs as N.C.I. closed on 211-8.
Playing on Parkers Piece is always an experience and every time he passes it from now on, James can say "I made a century on there" just like Jack Hobbs. A text from Adam this morning suggest we cannot gain promotion. Mathmatically we can, but should we finish 3rd or 4th (we can't finish any lower now) it will have been a good season as the club builds in strength. Let's just try to play well in our last two matches and see what happens.
Fen Ditton Vs Balsham II
This match coincided with the fourth Test Match between England and Pakistan at Lord's. The England players may have been feeling a bit the way I did after play had finished. You look forward to the match, sych yourself up to perform well, expect a tough confrontation that will stretch you, and then this happens. At close of play at Lord's, Pakistan had been dismissed for 74 in their first innings and were 41-4 in their second. At the time of writing this England have bowled Pakistan out for an improved 147 to win by an innings and 225 runs. England might feel they haven't been properly tested but I guess the bowlers in particurlar will gratefully accept the wickets they've taken. I hope our bowlers are grateful to Balsham, who didn't test us either. I'm tempted to say that even I would have got a wicket yesterday. Finishing a match, including a tea break, at 4:15 is far from satisfactory. Dissappointingly, the young Balsham lads didn't seem any better than when we played them earlier in the season.
On a very damp pitch it was no surprise to find ourselves fielding after Adam had won the toss. Alex, no balls apart, was accurate and bowled 7 overs for just 9 runs. He was probably too accurate to take a wicket as the only bowler the Balsham players didn't attempt to slog. At the other end, Jacko did tempt the batters to hit but every time they tried to, it just resulted in an easy catch. Jacko won't have taken 4-15 quite so easily on many occasions. Fielding wise, we had an OK day. Two catches each for Mark V-S, Adam and Butler. Whisper it, but one of Butler's was pretty good. He also dropped one though. Adam took a decent catch running back but later sent in a poor throw when something within six feet of the stumps would have resulted in a run out. Adam then did what all good skippers do, bringing himself on to bowl at the Balsham tail and taking 5-1 in 3.3 overs. Nothing like improving your average.
James and Butler were plotting a ten wicket win but Butler was well caught for 7. James crashed the ball around, another two sixes after his flurry last week as we sought to get the game finished before any rain. James was superbly caught at slip for 24 and Rabs came out. Somehow, Rabs managed to flick an innocuous delivery up onto the bridge of his nose leading to a bit of blood and a retired hurt. McCann strode confidently to the crease and Alex announced "Right arm over, four balls to come". The next delivery was left alone in textbook style and then Michael asked how many balls to come. The reply from Alex, a slight terse "Three". Next ball, again left alone outside off stump. Bowler to Alex "How many balls left?". An even more terse "TWO". Michael then played a pleasant drive through extra cover for two. 'H', at the non-strikers end thought it would be humourous to ask Alex how many balls left. It wasn't. Next over 'H' hit the winning runs to finish 15 not out and bring a crushingly one-sided game to an end.
The up-side to this was spending almost four hours in The King's Head, where next Saturday Derek will very kindly be offering a Thai curry. We'll settle all outstanding Jugs still owed for the season and hopefully have a good time. We now know that Fulbourn beating Wilbrahams means next week's match is just to decide who finishes third and fourth, which we'd have settled for before the season started I guess.
Fen Ditton Vs Wilbrahams II
Last league match of the season. It comes round so quickly. In contrast to last year, when we needed a win to avert relegation, this game was just about finishing 3rd or 4th following a very much better season.
AB and James opened in positive fashion but then wickets began to tumble. 'H' sealed the Duck Trophy with another Golden and in a turgid display, not aided by Wilbrahams slightly aggressive demeanour, only AB (16), James (14 and Adam (17) made double figures. The highlight of our innings was the last wicket partnership between Farrell and Jacko. James made a solid 9 not out with a handsomely struck four (off the outside edge). 101 all out was our worst batting performance of the season, as though our minds were already on getting to The King's Head for beer and Thai curry.
Yesterday was a harder fight than we would have liked. Batting first, we got off to a slow but solid start with Butler opening and playing second fiddle to James. The pair batted through to drinks by which time the scoring rate was picking up. James was looking very good again, hitting crisply for some big sixes as well as fours. Tom was predictably undone as soon as a spinner appeared, bowled behind his legs. 'H' joined James who by now had reached a very well played fifty. It was time for the middle order to hit top gear without messing about whilst making sure James got plenty of the strike. 'H' was caught on the square-leg boundary having not had the strength to hit over the fielder, Adam hit a couple of boundaries before he was bowled and Julian joined James with the message that he was in the nineties. James reaction to this news was to smash a six and a four to become the 8th player in Ditton history to make a century. He then targeted the record of 138 but lack of strike in the final over saw him finish 137 not out. He'd hit 13 fours and 5 sixes in an innings that led us to an imposing 227-5.
Wilbrahams lost the toss and batted on a greenish but flat wicket but with a very lush outfield to contend with. Adam and Jacko opened and it was Adam who struck first, enducing a miss-timed pull which 'H' misjudged but caught diving forward. The scoring was slow but we needed some wickets. The double change to the spin of AB and James worked a treat as AB trapped his man LBW first ball, not playing a shot. Another nine tight overs followed until taking a second wicket with his final ball. James bowled a great spell of 10-0-39-5, aided by good catching by 'H' and Adam in the outfield, and Jacko taking a stunner at slip. Rabs entered the attack and mopped up the tail with 2-6, also helped by a stunning catch by Very Special. Wilbrahams dismissed for 140 which we felt we would get.
We shouldn't be too critical and can look forward to next season with high expectations.
