Cirencester Cricket Club > News > January 2004 > Dominant performance gets Cirencester back on track

Dominant performance gets Cirencester back on track
Monday 12 January 2004

Cirencester (69/0) beat Woodlands (68 all out) by 6 wickets
[Scorecard]

After the disappointment of suffering their first defeat in the SICA last week, Cirencester bounced back in style with a comprehensive defeat of Woodlands. For the third league match running Cirencester captain Andy Cooper won the toss and chose to field first.

The crucial early breakthrough arrived as early as the fourth ball of the match as Rich Hudson took advantage of a mix-up between Farrell and Ferriday to swiftly return the ball to the non-striker's end where Ferriday was run out without scoring.

Dan Hudson's first over produced the second wicket of the contest as Matt Carter took advantage of Dowdell leaving his crease to complete an impressive stumping. Two more quiet overs from Cooper and opening bowler Tom Burgess, in the midst of a very economical spell, meant that Woodlands found runs hard to come by and it was no surprise when they capitulated to 38/5.

Firstly captain Farrell was deceived by Cooper and lost his middle stump for a dogged 20. Next over Hawkins was out hit roof, trying to smash a full toss, before Dan Hudson collected his second wicket by bowling Cook.

29 runs were added from the next three overs as Hill employed some unorthodox strokes to good use before attempting one big hit too many and only succeeding in striking the ball on to the roof.

In reply, Cirencester's opening batsmen Rich Hudson and Dan Hudson were typically free-scoring and the runs flowed. Although neither were at their best, they both retired at 25, before Cooper and Dan Robbins came in to score the winning runs.

This was a much improved bowling and fielding display from Cirencester and sets them up nicely for an important game against promotion rivals Nationwide next Sunday.