Cirencester Cricket Club > News > September 2002 > Cirencester 3rd XI report

Cirencester 3rd XI report [Tuesday 3 September 2002]

If Ciren 3rd XI thought they had had a good season, in their last game of the season, it got better. On a lovely afternoon at the Park, 559 runs were scored, 5 people scored fifties, both sides managed maximum batting points and Ciren notched up the largest score by a 3rd XI for nearly 20 years as well as their 5th win of the season taking them above four other sides in the league for the first time in a long time.As the achievements have come the historians in the club have been sent scurrying through their old score books to look at the club records.

Cricklade won the toss and put Ciren into bat. Simon Rowe and in particular Chris Clogger gave Ciren a wonderful start putting on 91 for the first wicket. Clogger was out driving having made a fluent 58. When Tim Cambray joined Crowe, they put on a rapid 50 before Cambray was well caught for 25. This brought John Putney to the crease and both batsmen set about the Cricklade bowling with a vengeance. In this stand, Rowe reached his maiden 50 for the 3rds. He continued to score freely until missing a straight ball having made a wonderful 63.

Matt Carter showed how his confidence has risen with a quick fire 14 and after he departed, Tom Putney joined his father at the wicket. A sparkling stand between the two Putneys took the score beyond 200 with John Putney beginning to strike the ball with increasing accuracy. Even the departure of Tom Putney brought no respite to Cricklade as Andy Barnes got stuck in straight away and supported John Putney who was racing towards a marvellous 50.

Ciren had reached 100 after 21 overs but had reached 200 by 30 and the runs still came piling on. John Putney and Barnes took the score passed 250, during which John Putney's 50 arrived. A further spate of runs followed even when Steve Newbegin came in after John Putney departed for an excellent 67 taking Ciren to an amazing 291. A super total where 3 players had got 50's and nearly every batsman had made a contribution.

In reply, Cricklade started slowly but frustrated the Ciren bowlers after an early breakthrough. Youe was unluckily bowled and this brought Cool to the wicket. He played straight and sensibly to keep out the accurate bowling of Andy Barnes who's 10 overs only yielded Cricklade 24 runs. His swing had the batsmen playing and missing many times and he was unlucky to have only the one wicket to his name at the end of his spell.

At the other end Carl McQueen's first spell was equally tight conceding only 24 runs and getting 1 wicket. Cricklade reached 100 in 20 overs having lost only 2 wickets. The introduction of Simon Rowe changed the situation as he hung on to a very sharp caught and bowled chance from Craig. Giles and Townsend continued to move the score along against some determined bowling from Tom Putney, Simon Rowe and Rich Hudson.

Matt Carter crowned a very good debut behind the stumps with his first stumping, Giles being the victim. This brought Read into bat. He quickly demonstrated that the enormous total posted by Ciren was within their reach with some lusty hitting to all parts of the ground and with 10 overs to go, Cricklade needed 130 to win.

Rowe and McQueen bowled under a barrage of shots from Cool and Read, the latter taking particularly harsh punishment but both handled the pressure well. Rowe in particular, showed how determined he can be bowling 2 very tight overs when it was most important to. A good catch by John Putney ended Read's powerfully hit 61 and although Chris Bryant tried to force the issue, Cricklade's 'runs to get' was far too great for the balls available.

In the failing light, they fell 23 short leaving Cool on a well made 59 not out but giving Ciren their 5th win of the season, capping a tremendous effort by all the players who contributed to a wonderful win today and a lot of brilliant cricket all season.