Cambourne 1st XI Back to Winning Ways

Cambourne's 1st XI won their home game convincingly against Camden CC, one of Cambridgeshire's oldest clubs, on Saturday. It was a must win game for Cambourne, after three defeats and only one victory to date. The victory was delivered by an outstanding bowling display, excellent fielding and a solid performance from the top 3 batsmen.

Paul Cooke won the toss and gave Paul Darrington and Danny White the new ball. Camden started well, but the game soon changed with Darrington forcing an edge to wicketkeeper Cooke and then White bowling the other opening batsman. Darrington and White were in the groove, and gave a platinum performance for the team. White conceded only 12 runs in his 10 overs, Darrington conceded only 24 runs, and both took 2 wickets a piece. After 20 overs Camden were 36 for 4, and to the great credit of the bowlers and wicketkeeper, Cambourne had not bowled any extras nor conceded any byes.

Cooke made the right call with his next bowlers, as Vivek Joseph and George Lewis continued the quality. Joseph was able to bowl with variety and control and took 3 wickets. Lewis bowled his best spell of the season - finding a nagging line and length and getting the ball to lift sharply. Lewis claimed one wicket, as did Toby Wilson at the death. The remaining wicket was claimed by cover fielder Ameya Poyarekar, who in one movement picked up the ball, did the splits and then threw the stumps down from 20 yards. This was a fitting reward for Poyarekar, who, like Cooke, had excelled in the field. Camden were all out for 96.

In reply Cambourne's openers, Poyarekar and Chris Cundell, batted positively against the Camden openers. Cundell hit the bad ball well and drove the ball straight for his 24. Poyarekar (26) looked a class apart, hitting a memorable back foot cover drive, which even the Camden players applauded. After the openers had departed, Ed Garratt saw the team home with an unbeaten (30), with supporting roles from Darrington, Liam Healey and Peters & Lee. The game was tense until the end, as Camden's spinners made life difficult for the batsmen, but Lee finished it in style with a four through mid on.

Ed

Duncan makes 85 and Talib takes 4 for 13 as the 3rd XI see off Cokenach

This week it was the turn of Cokenach to visit Yelling, and after a convincing away win in May, Cambourne III were set to repeat the performance. Posting a total of 213 for 8, the visitors could only watch as they were skittled for 65.

Captain Wood managed to win the toss and decided to bat first. Sam and Talib headed out to the middle and Talib got stuck in straight away, hitting 2 fours off the first over. Unfortunately his third shot was straight to the waiting hands of midwicket. Some tight bowling from the opposition saw the run rate drop significantly, with Sam bowled for 7 and captain Wood following shortly afterwards when he caught his foot in a mysterious ‘hole’ and couldn’t get his bat down in time to avoid being run out.

Duncan strode to the middle and immediately took control, scoring a rapid fire 85 from just 54 balls. He punished the Cokenach fielders for an early dropped catch, but they didn’t learn and dropped him twice more. At the other end, Jonny was getting into his stride, hitting a succession of fours and a series of singles to feed the strike to Duncan, who took full advantage. They posted a partnership of 115 before Jonny was bowled for 32.

Mike jnr stepped up and took four from his first delivery, but soon fell to a super catch from the opposition captain, running full tilt at mid on. He was replaced by his father, who partnered Duncan well, scoring consistently until a fielder eventually managed to hold on to the ball and deprive him of his ton. Dan failed to trouble the scorers with a golden duck and was shortly followed David, leaving Mike snr and Phillip to close out the innings, posting a total of 213 for 8.

After tea we set to the task of defending our total. Confidence was high as we had bowled Cokenach out for 129 at our last meeting, after posting a similar total. Captain Wood’s unorthodox bowling tactic of opening with a double-ended spin attack in the form of Sunil and Duncan paid off immediately, with Talib taking an outstanding high catch from Sunil’s opening over. An early run-out chance was foiled by an out-of-position umpire, but Sunil finally trapped the second opener lbw in the 7th over. At the other end, Duncan’s impressive spin earned respect from the batsmen, giving away just 9 runs in his six overs, with three maidens.

The first change brought on Talib, who claimed two scalps in his first over - the number four batsman raked the ball back onto his stumps and Mike snr took an easy stumping to dismiss the opposition captain on his first ball. The wickets kept coming as Talib bowled two more and Mike jnr fed two catches to the safe hands of captain Wood. Sam finished the job, with David taking a close-in catch and then dismissing the long-standing number seven (‘Hot-tub’) as the ball trickled up to the stumps from an edge, the bail tumbling after the slightest of contacts. With only six of the opposition batsmen contributing, Cokenach had been restricted to a measly 65 all out.

Phillip