First XI vs. Great Oakley (23rd July)
Cogenhoe CC 1st XI eventually travelled to Great Oakley, via Overstone……. Twice! As the “Team Bus” (Gareth’s Scenic) had to return to Cogenhoe when umpire Malc rang, reminding the skipper he’d forgotten our much adored, long suffering umpire. In the absence of Captain/Memory Man/Coach Driver Gareth, Vice Captain Dan made sure we’d be batting first (I’m not sure who won the toss but we wanted to bat first, and Dan text through the news that we were!).
A quick exit and change from the team bus and GG was in the middle with Dan who perished in the first over, Matt Mo came and went for a shot a ball 12, Henry also came and went for 9, leaving the 3 down early doors. After scoring big last week the cooks batting line up was wobbling again, however Jack joined Gareth and knuckled down to occupy some time at the crease and put on a steadying partnership until the spin of G Goodchild did for our own GG for a good captains innings (35) and for Jack (18), Ryan’s awful run of luck then continued (0) and Phil came and went for one of the most entertaining Ducks anyone is ever likely to see, it had break dancing and dives that Tom Daily would have been proud of! Still despite the “entertainment” the cooks were back on the ropes, needing the tail to wag. Calling them the tail is a bit harsh on Alex, Teffers and Buster all have first team 50’s to their name, but what was needed was runs, and to occupy as many of the remaining 15+ overs as possible, first Alex and Teffers put on a lengthy partnership eating up the overs and procuring every run they could, Teffers eventually went for 9 although in reality his innings was much more valuable than this. Buster then managed to restrain himself long enough to eke out 7 and allow Hyphen who was now showing off his full range of shots into the 40’s. With a 50 just one shot away, Nick at number 11 played all round a straight one, leaving Alex stranded on 44* and the cooks all out for 158.
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With some kind of defendable score on the board Cooks knew if they bowled well against a side who have been strugglin
g the game could still be there for the taking. This seemed to be the case when Alex’s great performance continued snaring an Oakley opener who edged behind to Teffers for 0. Buster took another early wicket from the other end and Cooks were soon on top. However a game which had already had several momentum swings in swung again when Oakley then raced to 50ish for 2 with ease and two very strong batsman at the crease. With the game drifting away from Cogenhoe the ball was thrown to “Golden Arm” Dan who then flipped the game on its head, first getting rid of the dangerous Evans, with the assistance of a great one handed catch from the glove of Teffers, following this up with rattling the stumps of the new batsman and taking a double wicket maiden. Cooks knew they’d have to make this double breakthrough count and that’s exactly what they did when in the very next over Nick mirrored Dan with a double wicket maiden of his own. Cooks now firmly on top just needed to pick up the final four wickets before Oakley could score the 100 or so runs they’d need for victory. Aaron Bell who continued a great day for number 8’s with the bat was soon launching Lester in to cow field over mid-on, New Balls please! Bringing Alex back into the attack, who’s three wickets in the next few overs took Cogenhoe to the brink of victory. Dan again found himself spilling the ball and blood at first slip re-opening his webbing and for the second time this season having to leave the field to get stitches. If Cooks were going to win they’d have to do it with 10!
Lester came back to replace Alex and Aaron Bell immediately picked up where he left off, dispatching to the long on boundary with some savage blows. After a very expensive 5 balls, Bell found himself on 46, Oakley within 50 of a win, and four Cogenhoe fielders found themselves like a slips cordon, only on the long on boundary. Lester floated up what was surely his final delivery on to the middle of Bells bat, it left the bat like missile at head height , with its sights locked on to Phil Whiteman, as time slowed down there were plenty of times for thoughts including, that his 50, he’s picked the right fielder there, even if Phil does get a hand to it, the power might take Phil and the ball into the next field. Phil however was having none of it at 2nd Long on Slip, he took a screamer of a catch to bring home the win and 30 points for the Cooks.
With some great moments from players throughout, there was only ever one man of the match (Sorry Phil not you) with a Nelson of sorts 44 4 (44 runs 4 wickets) it’s a wonder one of his many names isn’t Nelson! Well done Alex James Neville Harvey-Jones!