Cirencester Cricket Club > News > May 2006 > Weekend bulletin

Weekend bulletin
Monday 15 May 2006

The First XI match at Cinderford was abandoned due to heavy rain when Cirencester had reached 85 for 3 off 26 overs, with Rich Hudson 44 not out. 

The 2nd XI played Cinderford Seconds at the Park and, on winning the toss, inserted the visitors.  The Cinderford opening batsmen had perhaps the better of the opening overs but, when Paul Beard (notching 3 for 24 in his first match for Cirencester for many years) and Dominic Jeffcott (3 – 35) entered the attack, the run rate slowed and wickets started to tumble.  At the end of their 45 overs, the visitors reached 157 for 8.  When Cirencester batted, despite the damp conditions, the quality of the pitch was a tribute to the hard work of groundsman Dan Robbins.  The returning Jimmy Woodcock (63 not out) and Dan Hudson (62) took full advantage to produce an excellent second wicket partnership of over 140.  The Town reached their target with 8 wickets and 13 overs to spare.  

At home to Malmesbury 3rd XI, the Thirds fielded a number of players making their senior league cricket debut, and others at a very early stage of their careers.  An excellent all round bowling performance, led by experienced leg spinner Charlie Pilkington (3 - 10 off 7 overs), saw the visitors reeling on 56 for 6.  Malmesbury no 8 batsmen M Ward (60 not out) then produced an innings that probably changed the course of the match and took his team to 161 for 9 at the end of their 40 overs.  In reply, superb innings by 14 year old Michael Birtwistle (47) and 13 year old James Moorcroft (27) put Cirencester on track for possible victory.  Birtwistle was well supported by 13 year old Thomas Jeffcott who, in addition to playing a redoubtable innings, took two catches on his debut as wicket-keeper.  When Birtwistle was out, opening bowler Alex Vickery (15 not out) took up the challenge.  In the end the hosts fell short by just 7 runs, but this was a performance of which they could all feel proud and that augurs well for the future of Cirencester cricket.

On Sunday the Friendly XI hosted local neighbours Ampney Crucis and, in a match that provided valuable match practice for players kept in the pavilion on Saturday, they ran out winners by 61 runs with young bowlers Brian Coleman (3-8) and Rob Gardiner (4-11) doing the damage. 

Cirencester Under 15’s campaign in the Cotswold League began against Ashton Keynes. Ashton batted first and posted a challenging total of 75 for 8 wickets, David Barhan highest scoring with 15. Bowling plaudits went to debutant James Wheatley with figures of 4 for 13 off 3 overs assisted by Mark Putney, 1 for 7 off 3 and Sam Alderman 1 for 9 from 3, ably supported by fielders James Allsop, Laurie Belcher, Callum Burgess-Smith, and Will Sharp and a stumping taken sharply by wicket-keeper Fergus Reid. For Cirencester, opening batsman James Moorcroft started promisingly before falling victim to James Bewley.  As the middle order struggled for runs, Oliver Timms steadied the ship with an imperious 25, before leaving captain Billy Breen to hold the batting together.  With 3 to get off the last ball he failed to connect thus snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Cirencester finishing on 73 for 8 wickets.