3rd XI 2010 Results
Camden's 3rd XI play in the Cricket Stick Junior league, Divison 2B.
For those fans of a purer form of cricket, here are the 3rd XI write-ups.
Updated league table can be found via the league website
http://www.cambsca.co.uk
24-07-10 - HOME TO U.S.S.C
U.S.S.C 243 for 6, Camden 149 ALL OUT. RESULT - U.S.S.C WIN
17-07-10 - HOME TO BOTTISHAM-LODE
Bottisham-Lode 332 for 5, Camden 209 for 7. RESULT - BOTTISHAM-LODE WIN
I’LL BE BLODE !!!
A lost toss needn’t be a crisis. Especially when the opposition do what you were thinking of
getting them to do anyway. For about twenty minutes there, it was all going Hannibal Smith
and my plans were coming together very nicely as Warren had “the guy who scored all the runs
last time” caught and a sharp bit of work had the other opener run out. Then BottLode put
together a stand of 207, and the records, I suspect, began to tumble….. Dropped catches and
poor work in the field aside the Darlings (I don’t think I’ll go in for any comment) scored
97 and 147. Even whrn one departed Hayes indulged in a brutality that achieved 52* in short
order. The skipper tried eight bowlers, to little avail, except to do further damage to their
figures. At one stage former, former, former, former all-rounder Steve Robinson came on and
despite some fearful hitting took his customary wicket for the season (a slightly dubious LBW
decision, still by then we’d have taken anything). So the thirds went in to tea needing 333 to
win.
Despite that we were not without hope; Emmanuel was playing true and the outfield gave full
value for even the most tentative of prods, so we sent in the big guns to blast us through.
Andrew and Duncan Gibson put on 46, with Gibson being outscored comfortably for once, but
when Steve Hodsdon and his partner met at one end, the opener and Andrew Redfern “misjudged
the line”, Robinson and David Mitchell were together a little earlier than the latter had
envisaged (10th over). The score made decent progress, to 83 in the 15th, then Robinson’s
outside edge betrayed him. The decision to “go for the points” hadn’t quite been made, but
Martin Baker’s initial difficulties in scoring; his thirteenth ball was his first scoring
shot uncharacteristically, and some straight bowling by opposition bowlers tragically unnamed
and therefore un-credited in our book made the chase look too steep. Baker settled in Mitchell
plodded and between them 98 were added for the sixth, before Baker (38) was adjudged LBW.
Some heroic running from Ramesh Bulusu (8 off 5 balls) helped to ensure we passed the 200
mark. Warren, emulating Baker took eleven balls to get off the mark while the PRC tucked into
change bowling that obviously hadn’t seen this much change in the league before. Possibly
another A.S.Byatt factlet ? Most players bowling in a match as the opposition used seven ?
Mitchell (63*) and Warren (1*) finished up and at 209 for 7 Camden had passed 200 for the
third week running and, for the third week running, failed to win, clearly illustrating the
difficulties with hard flat wickets and slippery hands!
The thirds slip to the bottom of the table, although a few victories will make significant
differences, it would be nicer to have them before the last minute! To close I can turn to
Sourav for a bit of balance whose understatement after losing the World Cup to Australia
should be a lesson about taking it all too seriously. All he had to say? “Yes, it's a bit
disappointing.”
Match report - David Mitchell
10-07-10 - HOME TO LONGSTOWE
Camden 221 for 7, Longstowe 223 for 7. RESULT - LONGSTOWE WIN
03-07-10 - HOME TO CHERRY HINTON
Camden 200 for 4, Granta 203 for 5. RESULT - CHERRY HINTON WIN
REDDERS 67*, BUT 200-4 PROVES NOT ENOUGH
Camden won the toss and had first go on another shirtfront wicket at King’s & Selwyn.
Openers Duncan Gibson (37) and Ramesh Bulusu (14) amassed a second successive fifty
partnership, but at 55 in the fifteenth over the clinician lobbed the visitors’ first-change
lobber to mid-on, and the next ball the Kiwi smeared, missed and was bowled. Steve Robinson
joined David Mitchell in a perky partnership of 39 before holing out – as predicted by his
partner – at long off for 16 with the score 94 in the 24th over. Former batsman Andrew
Redfern, averaging 4 for the season, set about re-establishing himself and walloped a couple
of early sixes. The partnership blossomed as the captain weighed in – he is, after all, as
Aussie legend Jeff Thomson says, “a fair lump of bloke” – with a series of crisp boundaries,
but with five overs remaining he was lbw for 35. Jaya Savige joined the rampant Redfern, who
went to a second Thirds’ fifty (the first was on his first appearance for Camden in 2007).
While ancients John Sutton and Andrew Matthews (combined age 125) sat with pads on, the pair
added 32, the literary theorist ending 5 not out and Redfern undefeated on 67. Camden III had
never failed to defend 200, so the team went contentedly to tea.
There was an early success as Redfern made another bid for the coveted Man-of-the-Match award,
his Exocet direct hit running out opener Dix. However, Cherry Hinton began to accumulate
steadily, until Tom Elliott (1-33) bowled Swan for 21 with the score 54 in the twelfth over.
Dave Warren was rested after a steady spell, but Redfern’s four overs went for 24 and Alec
Armstrong’s first four for 26 – but the tweaker then found the edge, keeper Gibson took the
catch and opener Barber was out for a muscular 66. Cherry Hinton had done the work, and needed
only to bat sensibly to win, so it was a surprise when Camden bagged a second bowling bonus
point when Warren returned to bowl Brierly for 43. Savige did his best to delay the inevitable
from the Barton Road End, and Redfern – yes, the smoker-philosopher again – took a sharp catch
to give Warren his second wicket of the day and move him to within three of becoming the
second Thirds bowler to amass 100 victims, but the visitors won easily by five wickets with
four overs remaining.
After a game in which Redfern had excelled in two of three disciplines, his charming partner
Joanne texted to say: “I can’t tell you how glad I am not to be in Cambridge tonight.”
Man of the Match: Andrew Redfern
Match report - John Sutton
26-06-10 - HOME TO GRANTA
Camden 173 for 9, Granta 149 ALL OUT. RESULT - CAMDEN WIN
POINTS BAGGED IN BASEMENT BATTLE
Steve Robinson won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first use of a billiard-table
wicket at King’s & Selwyn in the battle of Division 2B’s bottom two. Bottom-of-the-pile Granta
opened with a fast and very inaccurate young man, and Duncan Gibson and wides took 17 from the
first over; 11 came from the next, and with more wides and Ramesh Bulusu getting in on the
act, Camden had 40 after three overs and a season’s-best opening stand of 51 in the seventh.
It was a surprise to Gibson when he was bowled for a lusty 31. No Fenland knicker-throwers or
bar-mitzvah organisers were prepared to pay Indietones to perform this week, so the popular
beat combo’s hairy vocalist Matt Fox-Teece was available to bat at No 3, and with Bulusu in
silky form, the score rose to 74. However, former Camden lobber Gerald Coteman had been
introduced at the Barton Road End, and he induced an edge to veteran keeper Ian Reid to
dispatch Bulusu for 25. Robinson began with some big drives, and with the half-way mark
approaching, Camden and Fox-Teece looked set for big scores – but the crooner charged Coteman
and was stumped for 10. The home side were handily placed at 99-3 at drinks, but his promising
position was quickly thrown away: Andrew Redfern drove a majestic straight 4, then cut limply
to point; Justin Lee hit an inadvertent six through long-on’s hands, then looped precisely
into deep mid wicket’s for 8; then the captain was bowled for 17 and Camden had collapsed to
115-6 in six overs. Martin Baker and Jaya Savige – lately returned from a James Joyce
symposium in Prague – took the score to 127, when the Joycean, at the second attempt, was
palpably lbw for 7. David Warren unveiled a meaty square cut in a season’s best 9 before being
bowled with the score 151, then Baker was bowled for a helpful 17. Paul Glasson, who had
announced himself with a fine pulled four, was joined by a determined Alec Armstrong, and
in the last two overs the pair added 16, Glasson ending 14* and Armstrong 4*, as Camden
posted 173-9 – fifty or more short of what they might have scored with more responsible
middle-order batting.
Granta began comfortably against Warren and Glasson before a ridiculous run-out saw them 20-1.
Warren’s next over went for 13, though, and Robinson turned to Baker, whose season’s return so
far was 1-100 – but the left-arm spinner settled into a good line, bowled the other opener and
lured the dangerous Davis into a silly lofted drive which only just eluded Robinson. Redfern had
replaced Glasson, and in his third over saw Gibson dive low at point to take a fine catch which
reduced the visitors to 67-3. In the next over, Davis hoisted Baker straight to Robinson, who had
positioned himself precisely and took his 37th Thirds catch with aplomb. With their captain,
seasoned onlookers felt, went Granta’s chances, though the teams appeared evenly matched when
drinks were taken at 96-4. Baker immediately bowled Granta’s No 6. Robinson summoned the fired-up
Armstrong, who had obviously had something stimulating for breakfast (good job there are no random
drugs checks in Division 2B, opined a team-mate), and the iconic left-armer bowled No 7 with his
first ball. Baker finished with a fine 10‑2‑30‑3 and was replaced by Fox-Teece, who took wickets in
his first two overs, while Armstrong’s second lbw shout against the obdurate Reid was upheld. Five
wickets having fallen for 22, a Camden win was inevitable, it seemed, as Coteman strode to the
wicket at 119-9. However, the building-society supremo prodded effectively and St Bede’s schoolboy
Nickolds took a particular liking to Fox-Teece’s brand of slow seam, lofting it down the ground
to the delight of the bowler’s team-mates and watching Camden legend Ray Whyley. When the
partnership had reached 30, Nickolds 18 and the alarming prospect of an improbable Granta win
was forming in anxious Camden minds, Robinson had had enough. Fox-Teece was consigned to a noisy
part of the outfield and the reliable Warren recalled. His first ball was straight enough for the
plucky Nickolds. Camden had won by 24, left Granta adrift and gone up a place. The bottom half of
the table is tight. The next few weeks will be crucial.
Man of the Match: The Team!
Match report - John Sutton
19-06-10 - AWAY TO U.S.S.C
U.S.S.C 193 for 6, Camden 173 ALL OUT. RESULT - U.S.S.C WIN
ROBBO AND RAMESH RUN CLOSE
Although it was nearly midsummer, it was cold, showery and more like March at Gonville & Caius, where
Steve Robinson won the toss (the coin thrown up by former St Giles favourite Will Graham) and invited
the home side to bat. Against the naggingly accurate Dave Warren and Paul Glasson, USSC were
unadventurous, reaching only 23 after twelve overs, when Glasson was rested having conceded only 11
runs. Left-arm seamer Tom Elliot, the fifteenth debutant of a fluid season, began with a wide, then
pitched one outside leg stump and saw Graham instantly despatched lbw by an umpiring team-mate with a
murderous grudge. The other USSC opener, passive till now, announced violent intentions by driving
Warren, but Robinson stationed himself deeper at mid off and took a fine catch over his head when a
second attempt was made, to leave USSC 57-2 at the half-way stage. The next ten overs, though, saw
Camden lose control of the game as 100 runs were scored and no wickets were taken, a whack on the shin
taking Alec Armstrong out attack after only two overs and the home middle order punishing the bowling
of Andrew Redfern, Ramesh Bulusu and another debutant, Steve Midgley, father of Tom (who was also in
the team for the first Thirds father-and-son pairing for some years). However, despite the home umpires’
refusal to be moved by a succession of increasingly ludicrous appeals for catches, Camden clawed it back
in the last ten overs and there were two wickets for Redfern (2-44), two more for Elliott (3-44) and one
for the returning Warren, whose 10-2-28-1 were the best figures of an afternoon which had not gone
precisely according to plan.
Robinson chose to begin the chase with the dashers, but Duncan Gibson (1) missed a straight
one, Redfern (2) was also bowled, and after one enormous six into the cow-corner tennis courts
Tom Midgley brought a brief father-and-son partnership to an end by skying vertiginously and
being caught and bowled for 9. As the foundation of an assault on 194, 24-3 was not an
encouraging start. However, a determined Captain Robinson joined the elder and more
circumspect Midgley in a partnership of 63, which ended when, after some stylish shots, the
clergyman top-edged a sweep and was out for a good 33. The second match of John Sutton’s
comeback was less successful than the first as he chopped his second ball on to the stumps
to leave Camden 87-5 with 22 overs left. Bulusu joined Robinson for a promising partnership,
but Robinson was run out by a direct hit for 43, and when Warren was out for 4, another 76
were needed. There was some scampering, and Glasson lumped two boundaries. Then Bulusu
wandered a long way from his crease and was run out, only for the emollient Graham to withdraw
the appeal and reinstate the left-hander. Glasson was bowled for 16 after a perky partnership
of 40. Elliot and Bulusu added a few more before the debutant was run out for 8 in farcical
circumstances, and when Bulusu was caught and bowled shortly afterwards for a brave 29,
Armstrong was left not out for the 26th time in 29 appearances at the crease and Camden were
20 short – 173 was a decent effort, but Camden remain in the relegation places
Man of the Match: Steve Robinson, possibly...but no one really; keep the Pol Roger in the ice-bucket
Match report - John Sutton
12-06-10 - AWAY TO ST GILES
Camden 148 for 8, St Giles 150 for 9. RESULT - ST GILES WIN
BAKER 53 AND NEW RECORD NOT ENOUGH
With David Mitchell on paternity leave but a possible participant later in the day, Steve
Robinson won the toss for a hastily-cobbled-together team at Solway and chose to bat. Duncan
Gibson whacked a four and a six against his former club, but after a neat pulled boundary
Ramesh Bulusu chipped to backward square leg. Gibson was then bowled for 15, and the third
wicket fell at 23 when the stand-in skipper was lbw for 2. Harrison was swinging the ball
lavishly from a great height, and he bowled Andrew Redfern for 1 and 100th Thirds debutant
Andrew Petrie for a duck to complete a 5-for in his sixth over and reduce Camden to a sickly
25-5, at which point former skipper John Sutton emerged tentatively from retirement. He and
David Warren blocked for several overs before the Cambourne ladies’ man was bowled for 2 to
give Harrison a sixth victim. Martin Baker joined the 61-year-old, and gradually the pair
began to repair the innings, much to the hosts’ irritation. Having taken 17 balls to get off
the mark, the veteran cut a couple of twos, while Baker found the boundary twice. From 46-6
at drinks, the score rose as a fifty partnership was reached in the 29th over. Sutton clipped
a full toss through mid-wicket for four and Baker was severe on anything short. Then the
veteran drove a four and hoisted the Giles leg-spinner over mid-wicket for an unexpected six,
and Baker pulled and drove heartily, three fours and a big six taking him to a well-deserved
maiden Thirds fifty, the last 26 of which had come in ten balls. Sadly, the Wildlife Supremo
was then caught and bowled to end a new record seventh-wicket partnership of 104 which
consigned Redfern and Warren to the dustbin of history. Mitchell had now arrived, but despite
his 7 and some tired chips over the infield from the exhausted Sutton, the last four overs
yielded only 16 as the former captain ended on 34* and debutant Steve Dove on 0*.
Warren and Redfern opened the bowling on a ground newly-equipped with random gates and
encircled with chicken wire. In his second over Redfern found the edge and keeper Gibson
pouched the catch. Then, in his fourth over, Warren had popular ex-NCI skipper Platten lbw
and was awarded another lbw, half way down the pitch, three balls later to make it 23-3.
After a glorious cover drive, the dangerous-looking Sudarshan hoicked a Redfern full toss and
was splendidly caught by self-confessed footballer Dove, running back at mid on. Baker
replaced the Syndicate man and found the edge to give Gibson a second victim, then Alec
Armstrong, who had replaced Warren at the Pavilion End and settled into a good rhythm, bowled
Badger comprehensively. With St Giles 60-odd for 6 (scrawled on by unlettered folk, the
scorebook is imprecise) Camden felt they could win, However, the spinners could not make the
breakthrough. Robinson turned to Gibson, Mitchell taking over behind the stumps, but the
Dunedin man’s two overs were expensive and the fielding frayed. Warren returned to bring a
measure of control. Gibson effected a run-out for the seventh wicket, then Bulusu was
summoned, and his extravagant flight and spin accounted for opener Binfield for a hearty 66 –
but not many runs were required (the scorebook is less than imprecise at this point and the
handwriting has declined to cave-painter levels). Redfern (3-33) provoked a catch for the
skipper, but as veteran No 11 Norman Salmon looked on, No 10 Harrison whacked a Warren full
toss over mid wicket to end a good game with an over to spare. Camden could have won, but
didn’t; equally the visitors could have lost and been back home by four o’clock – but thanks
to Baker and Sutton, they weren’t.
A Mrs Sutton of Cambridge said: “He’s not the messiah. He’s a very silly old man.”
Man of the Match: Martin Baker
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - John Sutton
05-06-10 - AWAY TO MILTON
Camden 195 for 6, Milton 122 ALL OUT. RESULT - CAMDEN WIN
HODDERS 62 SETS UP MILTON MAULING
Bargains for Armstrong at the Tesco End
David Mitchell won the toss at muggy Milton and chose to bat. With not even the remotest fenland venue offering a gig, popular
vocalist Matt Fox-Teece was available to open the batting with Duncan Gibson. After a couple of good shots, however, the hirsute
heart-throb was bowled for 12, but the man from Dunedin continued his golden run of form before being caught for 37 with the score
75 in the fifteenth over. The newly-married Stephen Hodsdon was joined by the captain (soon to become a father of two) and it was
not long before the burly Marlburians began to set about the home attack – to the tune of a partnership of 82, which ended when
Mitchell was caught for a sturdy 36. With six overs left, quick runs were required, and after a couple more meaty pulls and drives
Hodsdon departed for 62, his fifth Thirds fifty. Shortly afterwards ex-former-ex-all-rounder Steve Robinson was more lbw than it is
possible to be without being John Sutton, for 9, and young Chris Tapping almost immediately bowled for a duck. Andrews Matthews
(10*) and Redfern (9*) then batted without alarms to set a combative 196 to win.
The smoker-philosopher was back immediately after tea to open the bowling, with Paul Glasson. The home side advanced confidently,
punishing the occasional bad ball, but in the twelfth over the bearded Yellowbelly (1-23) made the breakthrough, bowling Bone
comprehensively, only to be ripped off immediately by a Captain with a Master Plan. Gibson was summoned to accompany Redfern, and
was immediately rewarded with the wickets of the dangerous Nayar (Glasson pouching the catch) and the other opener, his spell
giving him 2-22. Redfern ended unluckily wicketless after a good ten-over stint. A drinks-interval total of 90-3 soon became 94-4,
then 109-6 as the Master Plan took hold, with wickets for Fox-Teece – thanks to a fine catch by the veteran Matthews – and the
athletic Tapping, who turned and threw down the wicket for a splendid run-out. After hanging around at the Tesco End for
late-evening bargains, Alec Armstrong, bowling far better than was actually necessary, snapped up three quick wickets, two lbw,
the other to a safe Mitchell catch, to end with 3-6. Fox-Teece’s exotic hairstyle had put off two further batsmen – but not
Matthews, who held another catch insouciantly – and he claimed 3-14 as Camden romped home by 73 runs, also beat the evening
thunderstorms, and zoomed off the bottom of the table.
In The Red Bull afterwards, Fox-Teece regaled team-mates with lurid tales of Fen groupies.
Man of the Match: Stephen Hodsdon
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - John Sutton
29-05-10 - HOME TO CAMBRIDGE N.C.I
RESULT - MATCH ABANDONED
22-05-10 - AWAY TO LITTLE SHELFORD
Little Shelford 233 for 6, Camden 215 for 4. RESULT - LITTLE SHELFORD WIN
The sun shone at The Wale, David Mitchell lost the toss and table-topping Shelford, thanks to
opener Smith’s 119, the curate’s 50 and a superb batting wicket, posted a daunting 233-6.
Things had begun well for the visitors at the picturesque ground, Dave Warren inducing a snick
for gleeful keeper Duncan Gibson, whose 44th (yes, really – only 44) birthday it was, and
Richard Hadley snaffling two quick wickets, the second thanks to an agile very low slip catch
by the captain, but in punishing heat, a long partnership unfolded, which change bowlers
Martin Baker, Impington VC student Josh Taylor (on a promising debut) and Jaiaya Savige could
not break. Paul Glasson turned an ankle in the field, so his nagging medium pace was not
called on. Eventually Hadley (3-36) returned to bowl the curate, then Alec Armstrong bowled
his impetuous replacement for a duck. Hitting out in the last few overs, Smith was bowled by
Warren (2-38) before the innings concluded and the two teams retired to the shade and the
comforts of cake.
Camden’s reply began with some birthday bludgeoning from the moustachioed Gibson, who started
with three meaty fours. At 46, however, Ramesh Bulusu was run out for 6, to bring Hadley to
the wicket. Gibson hit some more boundaries, survived a confident appeal for a catch at the
wicket and lumped a six into the corner of the ground to record his first Thirds fifty, but
was bowled shortly afterwards, with the score at a handy 75 in the sixteenth over. Josh Taylor
joined the Kiwi all-rounder and it was soon apparent that it would be no easier for the hosts
to take wickets than it had been for Camden. The score rose at a good rate, Hadley reaching
yet another 50. Chasing down a big total was a realistic aim, but at 156 in the 32nd over,
Hadley was bowled by a returning paceman for a good 66. Mitchell and Taylor kept things going,
but the captain skied to the backward-square-leg boundary for 11. Despite Taylor’s elegant 48
not out and a perky 6 not out from former-ex-all-rounder Steve Robinson, Camden fell 18 short
at the end of a pleasing game. Eight points was a good return from a lost game, but the Thirds
sank to the bottom of the embryonic Division 2B table (in which 0.75pt covers the bottom five).
Asked for his comments, former Premier Gordon Brown said, “I share your pain. But well batted, Dunc.”
Man of the Match: Duncan Gibson
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - N/A
15-05-10 - AWAY TO BOTTISHAM-LODE
Camden 140 ALL OUT, Bottisham-Lode 142 for 2. RESULT - BOTTISHAM-LODE WIN
The match against Bottisham at Lode against a side referred to as “Bottlode” by their skipper
throughout began in high spirits; the former Globe opening partnership of Gibson and Bulusu
seemed jaunty, the weather looked as if it would hold off, the skip had got a side together
again, despite some difficulties and was basking comfortably in the sun, like some walrus
replete with oysters. And then……
Optimistic running by Gibson ended his foray, while Redfern continued his unfortunate run of
form with the bat. Mitchell and Bulusu steadied things with a curious stand of 104 that went
from being 29-2 in over 12 to 80-2 by 20. Thereafter Fletcher, bowling SLA for the opposition
pinned things back, then bowled Mitchell (62) aiming hopefully for the churchyard and things
began to deteriorate. Of the last six batsmen Baker scored runs, the remainder troubled the
scorer immensely (as it was by now the skipper again), but not in any constructive way. Bulusu
fell for a determined 32 and Robinson ran out of partners (although he did execute the last
one himself) on 17, extras made 21 (almost man of the match material) and a tasteful veil will
be drawn over the total of 140 all out.
Still, we’d defended less last season on Trinity Hall, so cheerful tea and the story of the
time Burwell were all out for nought. Their opener, and skipper was apparently late for some
other appointment and despite two difficult chances going down had every right to the 81 not
out he claimed. Supported by numbers 2,3 and 4 they made the runs for 2 down, both of which
fell to Warren, whose spell of 6-3-11-2 was the bowling highlight. They took just over 30
overs getting them, with good spells of tight bowling from debutant Pollard (actually R.
Pollard, but recorded as K in the book) and Glason, but Camden lacked the whiles or the
penetration to really trouble a man with his eye in. Much searching of souls and of the
undergrowth resulted, Bulusu probably had the right idea, by contriving to be locked in the
changing room by Robinson at drinks. Ultimately a distant second, if not third, place, and a
spot second from bottom in the table were our reward. Next week Little Shelford, second from
top await, so surely a chance for glory and annoying other sides, which seems to be our place
in this league (and could they do without us ?).
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - David Mitchell
08-05-10 - AWAY TO LONGSTOWE
Camden 191 FOR 8, Longstowe 92 ALL OUT. RESULT - CAMDEN WIN
On a cold, wet, Saturday afternoon, more suited to winter sports, Camden plunged into the
wild depths of Longstowe with several new players and a quartet of Kiwis. Camden was lead by
the wildlife supremo, Martin Baker, who was looking for ducks out on the wicket. Surprisingly
the Longstowe skipper was keen to play in spite of the incessant drizzle and having discussed
whether to reduce the overs, the captains agreed to stick to 40 overs each as the game was
unlikely to be completed. The Camden skipper lost the toss, but fearing the worst was
pleasantly surprised by the inexplicable decision of the Longstowe skipper to field in this
new sport of aqua-cricket.
Dave Warren missed out on the chance to open the batting having turned up late assuming that
no cricket would be taking place. The captain therefore sent out our new Kiwi opener,
Andy Haines to open the batting with Ramesh Bulusu. Ramesh was out early leg before and the
veteran Andy Matthews joined his namesake. Andy Haines promptly set about dispatching the bar
of soap that passed for a cricket ball to all corners of the ground in a controlled display of
attacking opening batting. The atmosphere amongst the Longstowe fielders was visibly
darkening with the clouds as the rain and cold wind continued. Andy Haines reached his 50
before 20 overs and Camden had scored nearly 90 runs in the first 20 overs for only the loss
of two wickets. After the drinks beak, wickets started to fall more regularly, though Andy
Haines continued to score, giving only a single chance on his way to a debut century.
The Kiwi opener was eventually out for 119, one short of Richard Hadley’s performance on the
same ground in 2009 and Longstowe were despairing at Camden’s sting of Kiwi openers, though
little did they know that there was more Kiwi magic to follow. Camden had scored a very
respectable 191 for 8 wickets.
After tea, the weather brightened up slightly and the sun almost made an appearance. The two
Daves (Coutts & Warren) opened the bowling. The tall Kiwi took at early wicket with Richard
Pollard taking a low catch at point. Dave Warren bowled tightly and the Longstowe batsmen
comfortably took the score along to 23. Then Dave Coutts unleashed the most devastating spell
of bowling in Camden 3rd XI history taking 5 wickets for no runs in 11 balls, four of the
wickets clean bowled. The Longstowe skipper entered the fray and their number 8 lashed out.
The skipper therefore decided to change the bowling, saving a couple of overs of Dave Coutts.
Our new Aussie, Jiaya Savige took over from Dave Coutts and the captain replaced Dave Warren.
Savige promptly took 2 quick wickets and any remaining hopes that Longstowe may have had of
victory had been squashed. The only thing that could now prevent a Camden victory was the
weather, yet looming beyond Longstowe Hall and the Hodsdon wedding were some very dark clouds.
Baker and Savige were rattling through the overs, but could Camden bowl 14 overs before the rain
thwarted them? Dave Warren suggested that Dave Coutts be brought back and the skipper made the change
immediately. It worked: in his final over, the Kiwi took his 7th wicket to finish with 7 for 28, a
Thirds record, consigning Alec Armstrong’s epic 6-5 to the dustbin of history. It was still a race
against time as the black clouds came ever closer, so the skipper turned to the batting hero Andy
Haines who finished
off the innings with his 4th ball. As the Camden team entered the changing rooms, the
heaviest rain of the day began to fall.
Men of the Match: - Andy Haines & Dave Coutts
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - Martin Baker
01-05-10 - AWAY TO CHERRY HINTON
Camden 173 FOR 3, Cherry Hinton 174 for 6. RESULT - CHERRY HINTON WIN
MAYDAY! MAYDAY!
With only three Seconds players available, most Third XI stalwarts found themselves facing Dixon-enhanced Histon at Bridge Road in
Senior 1, while after a frantic Friday evening registering players, Camden chiefs sent David Mitchell, Andrew Matthews, Duncan
Gibson, Pembroke College groundsman Trevor Munns (complete with Jamie Oliver haircut) and seven debutants to Quy for the Division
2 clash with Cherry Hinton.
Stylish Pembroke undergraduate Andrew Bell and the wristy Ramesh Bulusu opened for Camden, Bell driving the first ball of the
match straight for four. The pair had added a comfortable 47, thanks to more Bell boundaries and some elegant cuts from his
partner, when Bulusu called an ill-advised single and Bell was run out for a promising 23. Munns began confidently, but at 57,
in the sixteenth over, Bulusu was stumped for a well-made 20 and the Camden skipper joined the TV chef lookalike. The partnership
prospered, circumspectly at first. Then, uncharacteristically, Mitchell launched a booming drive down the ground for six and Munns
eased a couple to the boundary. With six overs remaining Munns looked sure to reach fifty, so it came as a surprise when he
shuffled across his stumps and – to the consternation of Camden’s umpire, who raised the finger to bag an unexpected early-season
victim – was lbw for a very handy 48. Aided by Andy Matthews (8*), Mitchell reached an undefeated 53 (his sixteenth for the Thirds)
as Camden closed on 173-3, leaving a patient Kevin Diver to change from batting to keeping pads during the interval.
Matt Leggett (1-41) and Duncan Gibson opened the bowling, but the hosts sped to 44 in eight overs. League Secretary Martyn
Livermore then drove Leggett again and saw the bowler’s Pembroke College team-mate Olly Budd dive to his right at mid off and
confidently pouch the catch. A good partnership then unfolded, but was broken by another Camden-Pembroke debutant, Ali McWilliams,
who bowled Dix for 43. Budd was proving expensive, but the leg-spinner induced two catches – one splendid, low and one-handed –
at point for Paul Glasson, who then produced a tidy slow-medium spell and took 1-9. But despite McWilliams’ 2-27 and Budd’s 2-58,
Cherry Hinton eased home with overs to spare.
With several Thirds regulars attending next week’s glittering Hodsdon wedding, it may well be that another unfamiliar eleven
will take the field at Longstowe for the second game of the season.
Man of the Match: The Portly Run-Machine
Find the match score card
here.
Match report - John Sutton
Find last years reviews here 2009
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