THORESBY COLLIERY (5) 226
for 7
And just like that our hopes disappeared. In the blink of an eye our lead evaporated and we had lost…..
Monday’s match was a spectacle to behold. Thoresby looked certain of victory. With ten overs to go MHM needed more than ten runs an over. In the 42nd over there was an explosion. The ball was hit to all parts of the ground. The shackles were freed. Thoresby’s soul was left to wither in the shadow of a crisp spring breeze.
After winning the toss Thoresby decided to bat. Once again it was the right choice. Martin Cheshire led the way with a brilliant 93. He occupied the crease for 160 minutes and faced 154 balls. His batting reminds me of Tendulkar. When Chesh is on the go, he makes batting look so simple. If the ball is there to hit – he hits it; if the ball is there to defend – then he defends. He is one of those rare cricketers whom you can look at and you just know that he has played and truly knows about the game. His experience is revealed in how he chooses to score his runs. He is quite content to block out a few good overs but then you know that something is coming. Suddenly an outburst of runs – six, four, two, four. As the bowler becomes distressed and strives for an extra yard of pace he loses he length. Chesh punishes such inexperience by absolutely belting the loose ball, always into the gap. This was the story of his innings. He batted with wisdom, determination and grace.
Nigel Birkett contributed 23 and Paul Hughes 41. Birkett has proved to be a resilient opener. He has done all that is asked of him. Unfortunately his wicket fell just as he was finding some rhythm. Hughes continues to impress. He plays shots to all parts of the ground. He looks especially good flicking a good length ball off his pads; almost with a hint of contempt but not quite. The tail wagged and 226 was a reasonable total.
In reply MHM started slowly. Hill and Patel held a good line. Hill in particular had the pleasure of running up a steep incline. This however did not alter his rhythm of putting it on a good length. The intensity in the field was good. Players were encouraging each other, which is always good, but more importantly the players were switched on, which is even better. Benny Marson saved a certain four early on, as he dived full stretch to his right. This enthusiasm set the platform for an outstanding performance in the field, which unfortunately tapered off late in the day.
Pete Scott bowled well. As a result of some early pressure the batsmen realised that they had to get a move on. With his superb control of flight he once again fooled the batsmen into mistiming the ball whilst hitting into the air. Birkett and Evans did well to hold onto the catches. Scott’s arm ball claimed his third victim. He finished with figures of 3/78 off 18.
Scott and Dave Evans bowled well together. They both tied the batsmen down. Evans was unlucky not to have a wicket. Unfortunately a catch was dropped. And the game was to change.
The MHM batsmen must have been absorbing the conditions. With each dot ball they must have been processing the pitch, the spin, the drift, the gaps. They must have decided that the safest place to hit the ball was out of the ground. This is exactly what they did. In the 42nd over 13 runs were scored. In the 45th over 16 runs were scored. In the 46th over 26 runs were scored. In the 48th over 17 runs were scored. This is where the match was lost. It is extremely hard to conquer a batsman who has confidence, determination and a perfect swing. The ball cleared the ground on several occasions. It reached a point where the fielders did not need to move because all they could do was watch the ball sail high and far.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing however I choose not to dwell on the past. MHM admitted that for most of the match Thoresby was the better team. It was just those final overs where it all fell apart. Hopefully Thoresby can learn from this unexpected defeat, and play with a little extra hunger in these following matches.
j.c.hill
|
HOSIERY MILLS |
V |
THORESBY COLLIERY |
MON |
|
3rd MAY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THORESBY COLLIERY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BATSMAN |
|
HOW OUT |
SCORE |
|
BOWLING |
O |
M |
R |
W |
|
M |
|
B GORMAN |
93 |
|
GORMAN |
15 |
2 |
41 |
2 |
|
|
|
B CURTIS |
23 |
|
JAYASINGHE |
15 |
3 |
57 |
1 |
|
P HUGHES |
|
C |
42 |
|
MILNS |
3 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
|
P SCOTT |
|
LBW B LOVERIDGE |
1 |
|
LOVERIDGE |
10 |
1 |
32 |
3 |
|
J HILL |
|
C LANGFORD B LOVERIDGE |
9 |
|
CURTIS |
3 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
|
|
|
NOT OUT |
13 |
|
|
4 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
|
S WILLIS |
|
C GRAHAM B GORMAN |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B MARSON |
|
B JAYASINGHA |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I SMALLWOOD |
|
NOT OUT |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S DICKENS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D EVANS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXTRAS |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
226 |
7 |
WKTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOSIERY MILLS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BATSMAN |
|
HOW OUT |
SCORE |
|
BOWLING |
O |
M |
R |
W |
|
NEW |
|
C EVANS B SCOTT |
57 |
|
|
6 |
0 |
29 |
0 |
|
LOVERIDGE |
|
C BIRKETT B SCOTT |
17 |
|
J HILL |
10 |
3 |
22 |
0 |
|
JAYASINGHE |
|
LBW B SCOTT |
21 |
|
P SCOTT |
18 |
2 |
78 |
3 |
|
LANGFORD |
|
NOT OUT |
68 |
|
D EVANS |
14 |
1 |
82 |
0 |
|
GORMAN |
|
NOT OUT |
43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURTIS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MILNS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BACON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GRAHAM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXTRAS |
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
230 |
3 |
WKTS |
|
|
|
|
Division 1
At Burmah Road BOLSOVER (1) 108 all out (Chris Cowley 30, Arron Pairama 3 for 28, Peter Wood 3 for 19, Ritchie Gibbons 3 for 20) lost to BLIDWORTH (20) 109 for 4 (Arron Pairama 41) by six wickets
At Langwith Road FARNSFIELD (2) 139 for 7 (Paul Franks 56, James Bennett 34, Simon Shipp 5 for 20) lost to CUCKNEY (16) 140 for 5 (David Newman 38, Gareth Price 63 n.o., Mark Silcock 4 for 36) by five wickets
At Forest Corner EDWINSTOWE (2) 80 all out (Colin Hurst 3 for 23) lost to BRIDON (20) 81 for 6 (Rob McLeod 37 n.o., Sean Bullin 4 for 12)
At Goosedale Lane GLAPWELL (0) 91 all out (Andy Smith 48, Andrew Rann 4 for 13) lost to NOTTS. & ARNOLD AMATEUR (20) 93 for 2 (Martin Mitchell 33 n.o.) by eight wickets
At Central Avenue WORKSOP (3) 146 for 8 (Jamil Hassan 48, Asadullah Butt 3 for 29, John McCollum 3 for 39) lost to CUTTHORPE (16) 150 for 6 (Karl Fields 74 n.o.) by four wickets