Cuckney v Thoresby Colliery

Bassetlaw Division 1 23rd June 2007

Cuckney (20) 131-10 (Richard Stroh 41, Steve Bentley 34) beat Thoresby Colliery (4) 63-10 (Richard Stroh 5 for 34) by 68 runs

Selection Changes , I Carrington in for T.Ullyott

On a day were only two games were played due to bad weather all week skipper Will Butler again lost the toss ! No surprise when Cuckney were inserted on a wet wicket. We got off to a slow start and with the score moving on to 28 when Jogia got caught behind for 16 , Brown soon followed him for 8 and this dismissal was the first sign of the pitch playing games. Butler soon followed when he got one that practically rolled and was bowled for 5 . This left Cuckney in deep trouble at 34 for 3. Bentley and Stroh batted well on a very bowler friendly pitch and managed a slow but telling 66 run partnership before Stroh trying to force the pace got caught at midwicket for 41. At this time the spinners were bowling very tight and on this pitch it was hard to score against the slow bowlers. Bentley soon followed Stroh as he was controversially given out caught behind for 34. At 116 for 5 Cuckney were in deep trouble as the wickets fell at regular intervals, Hind was Bowled for 1 and Randall soon after was adjudged LBW for 10. By this time Cuckney were in deeper trouble and were soon bowled out for 131 after some pretty ordinary cricket from the Cuckney tail in tough conditions it has to be said again.

This score had everyone in shock as this was the lowest score by the team all season by a long way! After the break and some inspiring comments from the Cuckney seniors the boys took the field with a special buzz about them.

Stroh struck in his first over sending the key man Cheshire back for 4 , and Cuckney were on top from that moment on. With the ball moving about , the Skipper took the second over himself , and the decision worked straight away as he bowled Spring for 5 . Wickets then fell consistently and Thoresby were 17 for 6 when the rain came down! After having about 40 minutes off the pitch the game was now a time game and after some good work for Dave Betts the Grounds men and the lads we were soon back on the park searching for the last 4 wickets , in what was a short burst before the rain came again Stroh got an important wicket again Aziz had to go after a Jaffer from the Cuckney pace man that uprooted his off peg.

After another 25 minute break Butler rang the changes and varied the pace well as Adwick and Randall each got a wicket a piece for their troubles and bowled well in the wet conditions. As it was getting very dark we had to bring on spin from both ends. Brown then wrapped it up with a smart bit of cricket to get rid of Willis who with 22 was dismissed with a great catch off his own bowling! Thoresby were all out for 63. Stroh finishing with 5 for 34 and Butler 2 for 12 , Randall 1 for , Adwick 1 for 2 , Brown ,1 for 6 were the pick of the bowlers but everybody performed in the field and with the ball on what was a great day for the side.

A special mention must go to Dave Betts for preparing the ground on a day that only 6 games were played in the Bassetlaw , he has proven he is one of the best and committed grounds men around!

WB

Steve Randall writes Re: Dave Betts

I have to back the skippers words up about our superstar of a groundsman Dave Bettys Betts!
Great effort on Saturday Dave, you are a true Legend!

If you would like to add a comment on this game, on this page, fill in the comment form