Morning showers had passed through Compton Park to leave warm breezy, cloudy conditions for the return fixture with Old Wellingburians second string. Two changes from the previous week with familiar faces returning to the fold Smokey (not on the water) and Ashley Davis. The visitors who won the toss after deliberations, chose to bowl on a typical Compton track. The Cooks facing an experienced attack did well to navigate their innings to 73-2 at the drinks break. Sensible batting from opener Longley joined by Quennell ensured a sound platform had been built despite Jack clearly being troubled by a wrist injury. Jack’s dismissal brought Ashley to the crease who took time to take a look at the bowling.
The second act of the Cooks innings proved a little disappointing. The sages in the pavillon were predicting a challenging target but the OW’s bowlers showing accuracy and guile had other ideas. A middle order collapse of 4 wickets for just 11 runs reduced the high hopes to tatters and despite a defiant cameo innings from Smokey the Cooks were falling short. The innings that promised so much had been strangled by fine bowling from the opposition bowlers, in the second half of the Cooks innings, leaving them 144 to chase.
From the commencement of the OW’s innings it was clear that the batsmen were going to play their shots. Fledgling opening bowler Will Tipler and skipper Mark were providing the batsmen with a stern test, with Will claiming his first senior wicket and then another to leave the score at 28-2, things were getting interesting. Unfortunately Desai who had taken 4 wickets in the first innings of this game had other ideas and wrested control of the game away from the hosts. Though Ashley and Phil conspired to break the third wicket partnership, Desai soon wrapped up the game for the OW’s in whirlwind fashion.
After just over half the season completed it is apparent from the league table that although all the teams in Division 10 are well capable of beating each other, victories are only earned by playing to a certain level. On this occasion the opposition set a standard of bowling and batting that the Cooks were not able to match. The team spirit and commitment in the field remains good and the individual contribution of the young players in the team should not be under estimated.