Cirencester Cricket Club > News > July 2005 > Weekend round-up

Weekend round-up
Friday 29 July 2005

On Monday and Tuesday, the Under 11s raced through the quarter and semi finals of the Stroud League Cup. Away to Hawkesbury Upton, Cirencester were put into bat by the home team and scored 383 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. All 8 batsmen managed double digit scores with Oliver Thornley’s innings of 41 n.o. (including 2 sixes and 7 fours) being the outstanding contribution. Max Popli played a well constructed innings of 29 that included 1 six and 4 fours. The hosts replied with 232 runs, losing 8 wickets in the process with Thornley (3 wickets for 8 runs in 3 overs), Charlie Newman [ 3 for 10 in 3 overs] and Jock Black (1 for 4 in 2 overs) the wicket takers and Thornley’s fast and accurate throw effecting a run-out.

The semi-final was at the Park against Hardwicke. For the first time this season skipper Oliver Lockey, who did well in this his first opportunity to captain an 11-a-side match, won the toss and put the visitors into bat. They were limited to 92 for the loss of 8 wickets, with the bowling highlights being Thornley [3 for 13 in 4 overs], Black [2 for 5 in 3] and Charlie Newman [1 for 16 in 3]. For the second consecutive match, Black’s flight and spin proved a useful weapon in contrast to the medium pace of the others and he just missed out on a hat-trick in a disciplined performance. Cirencester’s run-chase started well and in a tense finish managed to overhaul the target for the loss of 8 wickets with 2 overs to spare. The main contributors were Thornley [19 including 2 big sixes], Newman [24] and, guiding the side home, Black [23*]. Due to a communication failure, Cirencester were not aware that this was an 11-a-side match and grateful thanks are due to Sam Taylor for answering an SOS, Jamie Black from the Under 9s who was very busy in the field and to Hardwicke for supplying a substitute fielder while stand-in keeper Liam Brown performed heroics, coped bravely with the fiery speed of the opening bowlers and effecting a good run-out towards the end of the innings.

In the final at Minchinhampton on Friday evening, Frocester won the trophy for the third successive year by 8 wickets in the 15th over. Put into bat, Cirencester scored 55 runs for the loss of 7 wickets during the allotted 20 overs. With Frocester at 26 for 2, there was a glimmer of hope but good, steady batsmanship saw the champions home with quite a bit to spare. The result was no disgrace because the Cirencester Under 11s team has come a very long way in a short time and the Club and all the players and parents are extremely grateful for the hard work of the three co-managers Mark Nicholls and the two John Jamieson-Blacks (senior and junior).

On Wednesday evening at Fairford, the Evening League team maintained their strong record. Left arm opener Iain Moore with the superb figures of 2 for 15, well backed up by 15 year old James Denyer (0 for 30) restricted the hosts to 151. Although Dan Robbins (16 from 21 balls) and James Constable (36 from 36 balls) got Cirencester off to a good start but, with 5 8-ball overs to go, Cirencester still needed over 70 runs. However Alex Harris (49 runs from 26), ably backed up by Tom Burgess (17* off 13) saw them home to a thrilling last ball victory.