The first team visited Harlestone knowing that a win would guarantee them promotion to division six in 2012. With Dan delayed in traffic stand in skipper Gareth Goddard called heads and decided to have a bowl, it really is that simple Dan.
Opening the attack AlexHarvey-Jones and Jason Kruger both made early break throughs clean bowling the openers. When Alex then accounted for the Harlestone dangerman Raval with a caught and bowled the Cooks were in the driving seat. But a decent partnership between Pooley 45 and the hard hitting Marshall 71 aided by some sloopy Cogenhoe fielding saw the hosts back in the game. The small boundaries and some aggressive hitting saw Harlestone edge closer to the 200 mark but at the same time wickets began to tumble as the Cooks finally started to hold some catches. In the final over Jason clean bowled the hosts number 10 and Harlestone were finally dismissed for 218.
Jason finished with match figures of 12.2-5-34-4 and he was well supported by Alex4-66 and James 2-40.
The Cooks reply got off to a decent start with Gareth and Dan putting on 40 in 10 overs before Dan gave a sharp return chance to Shetty when on 17. A yes no call accounted for Liam Knight when he slipped trying to make his ground and suddenly Cogenhoe were 42-2. Gareth Tompkins signalled his intent with his 25 runs coming from just 7 balls and he was also peppered by 3 head high beamer which saw Shetty removed from the attack although in the bowlers favour there was no malice intended. Gareth then edged the replacement bowler to the keeper to leave the game nicely poised with Cogenhoe 75-3 in the 14 th over. Henry Swallow came to the crease and began his innings with 4 fours as he and Gareth Goddard built a superb match winning partnership that took the Cooks from 75-3 to the brink of victory, putting on 133 in 24 overs with Gareth eventually out for 62 which included 12 fours followed closely by Henry whose 87 included 16 fours and a six. It was a joy to watch these two build a proper partnership constantly encouraging each other and not trying to hit the cover off every ball. In the end James had the honour of hitting the winning boundary for a win that guaranteed Cogenhoe the runners up spot in the division and promotion to division 6.
Congratulations to everyone concerned with the club on another promotion which has been achieved by a real team effort. Dan led from the front with his batting but there have been some excellent contributions throughout the side during the season and a more in depth review will appear here over the next few weeks.
Congratulations to Oundle II’s on once again being crowned league champions and to Yelvertoft who will also join us in division 6 next season.
As for the seconds well a report will appear here soon but as a taster we will be reporting on a quite sensational 8 wicket haul for one of our bowlers in another superb double winning weekend for our club. !