The Cooks made the journey to Heyford hoping to avenge the defeat at fortress Compton earlier in the season. Tony Bird’s injury from the previous week was still causing him problems and that gave Tom Smyth his first spin for the seconds this term. Ryan lost the toss again and the hosts skipper chose to bowl on a greenish track.
Most good things are built with a sound foundation and this innings was no exception. Heyfords opening bowlers provided a stern test to the Cooks top order especially C.Peck who bowled right through his allotted 13 overs taking 3 wickets. Though these wickets had been lost, with this major threat being off the scene, the brothers Knight now made hay in the pleasant conditions. Ryan was taking full advantage for his early innings escapes with Liam matching his brother almost run for run. Their brutality with any loose ball ensured the Heyford fielders, were scurrying to the boundary in ever increasing frequency and even to the pavilion, with a nasty hand injury caused by a lusty blow. With the overall run rate now nearing five runs an over, Ryan reached his fifty and next ball was prompted bowled. The brothers entertaining fourth wicket stand was worth 104 and had now swung the game very much in favour of the Cooks. Soon after his brother’s departure Liam also reached his fifty and soon found a new ally in new batsman Mark Bird to continue the run fest against a now struggling Heyford attack. The fifty partnership was completed when Mark who appeared to be farming the bowling, perished for a quick fire 32. Liam, now was wilting a little and in the 43rd over this showed when clean bowled for a chanceless 81, the Cooks were now bearing in on the 250. Which was confirmed when Tom Smyth clubbed the last bowled for six to set the hosts 252 to win.
After a tasty tea, with homemade sausage rolls which were commented on, by all and sundry. The hosts went about their task with much vigour, with first ball despatched skyward for a boundary and another followed in the same over. This theme was repeated in the over’s to come, with both openers taking chances but also ensuring any loose bowling from Messrs Smyth and Mason was promptly despatched. Coupled with aggressive running between the wickets the scoring rate soon reached around 8 runs an over. With the Heyford pair nearing a fifty partnership the vital breakthrough was made by Tom, trapping Heyfords number 1, caught smartly bad & pad by the crouching Mat Irons. At the same score the jubilant Cooks removed opener number 2 this time by Sid and the whole complexion of the run chase had suddenly changed. Though the Heyford third wicket pair added 35 runs the pace of the scoring had slowed and now the Cooks were in more control. With Tom and Sid continuing their spells, the game as a contest was decided, with 6 Heyford wickets swiftly falling to the intrepid pair, who both ended their spells with four desrved wickets. Although the Heyford number 3 was intent in prolonging the agony, Cogenhoe eventually gained a deserved victory in the 35th over.
This was a significant victory for the Cooks given the nature of last weeks defeat. The first five batsmen’s thoughtful style of batting in the first 25 overs allowed the Cooks the opportunity to attack the opposition attack after the main Heyford bowling threat had been extinguished. Given the luxury of seven wickets in hand (20 overs to go) the Knight brothers and Mark Bird then attacked the bowlers at every opportunity to achieve a challenging target. The bowlers then stuck to their task well, ably backed up by tidy catching, with no howling dropped catches. This was good team performance with every team member making a meaningful contribution to the winning cause.