The seconds first home game of the season brought newly promoted Hardingstone to Compton Park. On a chilly but bright day the opposition won the toss and chose to bowl. With the Cooks forced to make changes due to unavailability, Ryan Knight was drafted back into the seconds as the first team were without a game. Things soon turned sour as the visitors soon showed the ability that ensured they were unbeaten in all Saturday league games last season. Cogenhoe were reduced to 29 for 5, with the Hardingstone bowlers making good use of the conditions, with the stumps were particularly taking a battering as all the batsmen being clean bowled. When skipper Mark joined the defiant Ryan any chance of a decent target depended on the pair, though both batsmen appeared to look reasonably comfortable, the early shoots of recovery were soon destroyed when Mark was the fifth victim of Rowe. With Ryan being caught for 28 after surviving a couple of dropped chances, the scoreboard told its only sorry tale, 65 for 9, all this being before the drinks interval had been taken. In this adversity a quirky record was being made, enter Syd at number 11. Syd has a cricketing career with Cogenhoe spanning some 38 years and this innings being the first time that the wily tail ender has commenced an innings before drinks had been taken. I will leave this fact open for interpretation but with innings in such a state this spurred Syd on to form a valuable 18 run partnership with another veteran Phil Whiteman that equated to the second highest of the innings. When Syd departed clean bowled, 8 batsmen in all (bowled – but not all clean bowled Mr Chairman) had been dismissed in this manner. Leaving Hardingstone to chase a modest 84 run target.
A strong performance in the field was required by the Cooks to avenge the earlier calamitous batting display. Although it might appear that with an opening partnership of 61 the Cooks were struggling in the field, this does not really paint the true picture. The opening bowlers and first change Ryan did not have much luck as the edge of the bat was regularly beaten and catches dropped. A strong throw from Adam Longley in the deep caused a deserved run out with the Hardingstone openers trying to pinch a second run. With only 23 runs required the Cooks persevered and a further three wickets were claimed, but with so few runs too chase, the target was always achievable.
Overall this performance can be dissected into two diverse parts. The batting which needs to markedly improve over the coming weeks and the performance in the field which was in contrast most encouraging (apart from the dropped catches) as the team as a whole showed a strong character and togetherness after the earlier events at the crease.