Cirencester Cricket Club > News > July 2006 > Weekend bulletin

Weekend bulletin
Tuesday 18 July 2006

At the Park a very youthful First XI, with seven players 23 and under (and including 4 teenagers), faced Cinderford St Johns whose individual talents belied their lowly league position. Cirencester all-rounder James Constable produced an inspired performance to get his side back to winning ways in a hard fought match.  

On a low and slow wicket, scoring was not easy and Cirencester struggled against the visitors’ accurate seam attack. The middle order failed to make any significant contributions and Cirencester were grateful to opener Rich Hudson’s patient 70, his highest score for the Firsts, which held the innings together.  

The arrival of Constable at the crease at the fall of the fifth wicket was the catalyst for an increase in the scoring rate and he quickly took advantage of being dropped first ball by the wicketkeeper. The highlights were straight sixes over long-off and long-on as 71 runs came from the last 10 overs, aided by shrewd placement and excellent running between the wickets from Nick Calvert. 

Cinderford openers Nigel Cartwright and Matt Whitney started ominously before Tom Putney swung one back through the gate to clean bowl Whitney. From this point on, Cirencester tightened up their lines and lengths and began to apply pressure. However, Cartwright continued to play several powerful drives through the covers and was looking in command. Cirencester were therefore thankful when he was adjudged lbw to Dominic Jeffcott having hit 53. 

With Jeffcott and Constable bowling well in tandem, there was no let-up for the middle order and wickets began to fall steadily. However, this brought Cinderford captain Simon Gwynne to the crease who signalled his intentions by driving Jeffcott straight over the sight screen for six. 

The game remained in the balance as Gwynne began to find the boundaries and Steve Say supported him well with positive running between the wickets. With proceedings swinging Cinderford’s way, Gwynne attempted to hit captain Andy Reynolds over long-on only for Dan Hudson to take a magnificent diving catch on the boundary. 

This breakthrough put all the pressure back on to Cinderford’s lower order. Constable returned to put the finishing touches on an excellent day for him personally as he mopped up the tail to record both his maiden 1st XI fifty and best bowling figures of 4/19 on the same afternoon. 

In the return fixture, the 2nd XI batted first and posted an imposing 293 for 8 wickets in their 45 overs. The major contribution was 115 from Simon Rowe, a maiden century that included 15 fours and 3 sixes.  Rowe was well supported by David Shackleton (28) with whom he put on 80 for the third wicket and ‘keeper Tom Burgess (44) who shared a fourth wicket stand of 86. The huge total was ensured by useful contributions throughout the order. In reply, Cirencester opened with seamer Carl McQueen and 14 year old off spinner Hugo Price. Once again, this unorthodox ploy was very successful with Price’s return of 5 for 42 from 12 overs setting up a victory by 188 runs. 

Earlier in the week, the Evening XI suffered a setback at Malmesbury where Dan Robbins’ 50 was insufficient to overcome the big total set in the main by the hosts’ overseas player. On Thursday the Friendly XI played host to Dorridge, a touring team from the West Midlands who play several layers higher up the pyramid and included several first teamers. Cirencester put up a very creditable performance to go down by just 21 runs, with the highlights Tom Putney’s opening spell (7-2-22-3) and Dan Robbins’ run of good form contributing 88. On Sunday the Friendly XI travelled to Kingsholm where a much changed and inexperienced side competed very well against a club from a higher league. The match against some quality players provided the platform for Clive Brown to reach the milestone of 100 not out for the first time.