Currently lying in second place of NCL Division 6 Cogenhoe CC 1st XI travelled to Obelisk on a hot streak of 3 wins from 3, looking to make it 4 in a row to keep the pressure on current leaders Carrib United.
The day started with Matthew Morrissey pushing everyone out the way to claim “his spot” in the changing room, declaring “I’ve got changed here twice, and scored 2 fifties, I’m getting changed here!”. However after the Cooks lost the toss, and were asked to field putting his superstition to the test would have to wait.
The Cooks knew from previous encounters with Obelisk they like to hit hard from ball one, so some cunning field settings from Gareth Goddard and some tight new ball bowling from Alex Harvey-Jones (Harvey to his friends!) and Paul “Harambe” Smith kept the Obelisk openers quiet. Harambe was soon amongst the wickets bowling Alex O’Grady with a “Flippin Beauty”, bringing the danger man Michael Charnley (who scored 125 the last time these sides met), to the crease. He was soon sent back to the pavilion though thanks to a vital catch from the best square leg in the league (Henry Swallow) and when Fletch Callaghan snaffled a catch at point to give Harambe his 3rd, Obelisk were wobbling at 28-3.
Obelisk were far from down and out though as partnerships from a middle order who took a liking to the loopers from Nick Lester saw them race to 126-5 as spectators on the leg side boundary looked for cover as boundaries rained in their direction. Captain Goddard kept faith with Lester though despite Obelisks free scoring, this faith was rewarded when Lester eventually got the upper hand over the middle order reducing Obelisk to 147-7. Dan McLaughlin then produced two beautiful deliveries James A (Ashby or Anderson) would have been proud of to take two wickets in 2 balls. One cleaned bowled, the other a fine edge through to the gloves Paul Browning, with the hat trick ball whistling passed the edge of the number 11 batsman Dan could not have been closer to taking the hat trick. Lester then managed to wrap the Obelisk Innings with the wicket of top scoring Paul Wright for 46 completing his 5fer (9.2-1-60-5), and leaving Obelisk all out for 155.
The cooks reply got off to solid yet bizarre start, solid due to opening partnership of 34, bizarre because the usually sedate Goddard had scored 20 something of these when Dan holed out for 6. The Cooks looked to be cruising to their fourth straight victory with Henry and Gareth scoring when opportunities allowed however Obelisk weren’t done yet. As they tried to create some nerves in the Cogenhoe camp with 2 quick wickets that took the cooks from 67-1 to 71-3, Goddard 37, Swallow 16 the men to perish. This meant two new batsman at the crease for Cogenhoe, Matt Mo the Superstitious and Ashley Davis.
I think it’s fair to say anyone who has ever played cricket has played in a game where a couple of quick wickets have changed a game and a batting team has collapsed like an over paid footballer in the penalty box. However what followed was nothing of the sort Ashley was watchful and played a very measured innings only cutting footloose towards the end where his dancing feet pirouetted beautifully to lace consecutive 4’s through the leg side. As for Matt Mo the Superstitious? well it’s fair to say he will definitely always have HIS spot in the Obelisk Away changing room as he stylishly awaited anything remotely resembling a bad ball and dispatched it to all corners of the ground (well all corners of the leg side!! Sorry Matt couldn’t resist) in what was in all seriousness a beautiful knock that left him on 57 not out and notched up the Cooks 4th win, keeping them 38points behind Carrib United who have played a game more, and so it seems at least for Matt and the Cooks that unlike Stevie Wonder Superstition really is the way!