U11s v Grange Park Sunday 14th June 2015
After last week’s comprehensive first win of the season, the Junior Cooks travelled to Grange Park to play a new team in the Northants League. Three changes were enforced due to absence, so Anya Neal [on debut] Hrishi Dave and Oliver Woolley were drafted in for Alex, Spencer and Liam.
‘Tails never fails’ turned up trumps for Jake again and Grange Park were invited to bat on the very bouncy artificial wicket. Opening bowler Keelan repeated his trick of taking a wicket in his first over, this time having his man caught at Square Leg by Jake, from a thunderbolt that we heard hit his chest from the boundary…ouch.
This set the tone for the innings as Grange Park struggled to score runs, with four of their batsman recording negative scores and only their last batsman getting into double figures. Grange Park totalled 56 for 5 in their 16 overs, a net score of 31. Cogenhoe’s performance in the field was much improved on last week, with the backing up practice from Friday night being carried over into the game. Unfortunately, having bowled 13 wides, a no ball and conceding 2 byes, we gave away 30 in extras, which in effect was the Grange Park score. The wickets were shared one each by Keelan, Sam, Jake, Ollie and Anya.
At the break, the team was confident of winning, but there was still work to be done. How true that was to become!
Sam and Jake opened the innings and put on 14 for 1, a net score of 9 with three pairs to come. We sensed this might be closer than we hoped. George and Ollie were next in and batted sensibly to mean at the halfway point, the Cooks were 26 for 1, net 21. 11 runs needed for victory, but any wickets could now prove costly.
Aidan and Hrishi went in next and although scored no runs off the bat, the score crept up to 43 for 1 due to the number of extras given away by Grange Park. This mean that we had the luxury of knowing we could afford to lose two wickets and still win.
The Cogenhoe travelling supporters were now biting their nails, especially when Keelan was caught behind with 11 balls still to come. Disaster followed when Anya was bowled with the first ball of the last over – the scores were tied. Keelan nicked a single leaving Anya on strike with four balls left. With the penultimate delivery, she hit a lovely cut shot and Keelan stormed down the wicket to get on strike for the last ball, which he duly blocked for the victory. PHEW!!!
A little controversy when Grange Park’s coach/umpire/scorer believed they had won, but with a quick tally up Sid found the missing four byes he hadn’t scored and the victory was confirmed. Well done everybody, practice hard this week ready for the local derby at Horton next Sunday!
Once again, thanks to Sid for scoring and Allan for umpiring.
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