The Cooks crossed the border into Buckinghamshire to play Wollaston’s third string at Emberton C.C. The skipper won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling first on what appeared to be a flat but dampish track. As in common with last week’s bowling performance the opening pair this time Buster and Tony Bird soon asserted themselves on the Wollaston early order with Tony gaining two early victims. Wollaston’s number four came to the wicket intent on attack and this lead to the wily Tony setting a trap sending Liam Knight out to deep cow corner. With the trap laid it did not take long before the bait was accepted and Liam gratefully took the catch. Further wickets fell a regular intervals with Buster gaining three wickets. When Tony (five wickets) and Buster both reached their maximum number of overs the scoreboard painted a familiar picture with the score at 49-8. Only the Wollaston skipper had stayed at the crease for any duration, grinding out (with a little luck) a score into the twenties. His patience and luck was finally exhausted when he skied the ball toward the boundary, Liam took the swirling catch with much aplomb to ensure that the Cooks were required, not for the first time to chase a small target.
After an early tea that contained homemade chocolate brownies that caused much comment from the players, the Cooks made an tentative reply, losing a couple of early wickets. When Liam joined Jack both batsman seemed intent on wrapping the game up early and gaining full batting bonus points. With only fifteen runs needed Jack was bowled, by an excellent delivery that nipped back through the ‘gate’. This brought a familiar face to the wicket, Ashley Davis, making his first appearance of the season on a brief visit back to the homestead, after his first year at university Ashley’s watchful defence was broken when he was completely deceived by the spinner and almost appeared to walk as he was trapped in front of the stumps. This game was soon put to bed when Liam finished proceedings off with a towering six to give the Cooks victory and vitally the whole thirty points.
This Cooks side proved far too strong for a Wollaston side who are languishing in the bottom three of Divison 10, whereas the Cooks now may have promotion on the agenda, although given that any team in this division on the day are no push overs on , more challenges await, if promotion is to be achieved in 2015.