Cirencester Cricket Club > News > June 2003 > Rodrigoes provides catalyst for Colts comeback

Rodrigoes provides catalyst for Colts comeback [Thursday 19 June 2003]

Cotswold District Cricket Association Evening League
Cirencester Colts - 97/8
Poulton - 90/7
Cirencester Colts won by 7 runs

Cirencester Colts picked up their second Evening League victory in a week, under new captain Nick Solway. Overseas player, Donny Rodrigoes, inspired Cirencester to victory with a scintillating spell with the ball, including a triple wicket maiden, against last season's Evening League champions, Poulton.

The game started poorly for Cirencester, as they slumped to 24/5 and it was not until Ollie Whitaker came to the crease that the home side's innings gained some impetus. Whitaker hit twenty runs off one Matt Coleman over whilst Nick Solway anchored the innings finishing with 22*. At the half way point, a total of 97 to defend off 15 eight ball overs looked daunting for Cirencester, particularly so because Poulton included former Cirencester batsman Mark Higginson in their line-up.

A dream start for Poulton saw them strolling towards victory, with the score on 60 for no wicket. Trevor Hillier then made the breakthrough, removing Vinnicombe, via a catch from Dan Hudson at point. Then, in Donwil Rodrigoes' third over, he removed three Poulton batsman, beating them for pace and bowling them each time, whilst not conceding a run during the over.

Cirencester kept things tight, leaving Poulton requiring 16 runs off the last over. However, any hopes of a Poulton victory were dashed when Hillier bowled Higginson as he looked to hit the ball for six, with all Cirencester fielders on the boundary. Andrew Lobo ran out another Poulton batsman off the last ball of the game, as Cirencester earned an unlikely victory.