Cirencester Cricket Club > News > July 2002 > Cirencester 3rd XI pull off improbable victory

Cirencester 3rd XI pull off improbable victory [Monday 8 July 2002]

Arriving at Cricklade without 6 regulars, and a team made up of 8 players aged 15 or under Cirencester captain Woodcock felt that he was about to chase a lot of leather for the afternoon. However after an inspirational team talk prior to the game, the Cirencester boys became men and played if their lives depended on it. Setting up the most improbable of victories in spectacular fashion.

Batting first Cricklade were soon in to the runs, but losing wickets steadily, after 10 overs they had 52-3 and looked well set to expand, Tom Putney changed all that in 2 balls - the first getting the dangerous Fullalove caught in the deep by Carter, with an outstanding effort that almost carried him over the boundary, but he clung on to it. The next ball saw Wiseman bowled 52-5. The next 5 overs saw 36 runs and 5 wickets fall, including a direct hit run out from Rich Hudson, T Coward being the last man out to an excellent catch by Alex Harris behind the stumps. Craig Hitchens finished with a magnificent 6-40.

This game was by no means over as the batting line-up was made up of largely untried players, but Cirencester's reply started slowly with accurate bowling from Reed keeping the score down, after 20 overs tea was taken and ciren were 46-3, Woodcock was trapped lbw after tea, leaving the fate of the game in the hand's of the young players, Rich Hudson guided the team to victory with an unbeaten 30, an innings of great maturity far beyond his tender years. Support came from a T Putney cameo and the dogged defence of 13 year old Ed Alderman.

The match was won in the 31st over with 5 wickets to spare. The future of local cricket is still strong when you can blood young players to see them grow in just one game makes the playing and captaining of this team such a privilege. Cricket is a wonderful and sometimes frustrating game, but matches like this live long in the memory.

Brian Woodcock (3rd XI captain)