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Saturday
24th June 2006
Mottram
289 For 6 Buxworth 285 For 6
NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY
ITS....... BOUNDARY?
He strode purposefully onto the ground.
He had heard many things about it but seeing was truly to be believing.
He saw the short straight boundaries and the lightning outfield.
Daniel Kendrick was about to turn around
and head for the hills. Lucky for him (and us) he didn't
then............
It all started so well for Mottram. As
usual we were sent out into the field after losing the toss. This time
it was the fault of our very own 'Don Johnson' Rick Windsor (Do you get
it? Because Don is a character in Miami Vice and Windsor is vice
captain? Too obscure? Duly noted.)
Despite Windsor's inability to call
right Mottram set off like a train with Sid picking up two early wickets
despite struggling with the slope at one end. Buxworth know their own
ground however and proceeded to up the ante with some hard hitting and
some slightly fortuitous shot making. C.Smith with 85 would be trapped
LBW by Kendrick eventually but not before he had left the bowler
exasperated by a leading edge back over the bowlers head for 6. It just
wasn't going to be Mottrams Waltzing Matilda's day was it?
The real mainstay would prove to be
Sanders who cruised to 114* at the end of the innings to provide Mottram
with the stiff sounding target of 286. However on a ground this size the
target always seemed achievable.
On the bowling side there isn't a lot I
would like to say. There were two centurions in 'Buggys' innings and one
of them didn't have a bat in their hand. They shall remain nameless.
SID POTTAGE was unfortunate not to have
more than his two wickets after more boundary buffoonery (x 2) by yours
truly. I also managed to spill one off Kendo who finished with just the
one pole. I have stopped counting how many catches I have put down this
season as I can't count past the amount of fingers and toes I have. Rick
Windsor finished off with 3 wickets and looked to be coming into a nice
bit of form with the ball.
So after tea and with Mottram needing a
mainstay for their innings the stage was set for Quinny to play a New
Mills-esque innings to maintain the 100% start. Then he was out and the
alarm bells began to ring. When Andy Metcalfe followed we were two down
for not a lot and hope wasn't springing eternally. Enter Windsor and his
caveman club. I mean bat.
I think they may have invented the word
belligerent to describe Windsors batting. It must be like bowling to a
force 10 gale when he's going as no matter what the length is he turns
it into a DBT ball (Don't Bowl There). After looking like himself and
Kendrick would knock off the runs in half the overs Windsor heaved one
too many times and was caught. Inevitably the run rate would fall but
the 64 these two put on helped everyone coming in afterwards to take
their time a bit more.
Kendrick was serenely cruising along and
beginning to believe (Damn Aussies and their mental toughness) but was
running out of partners. Or so Mottram would have them believe. By
cleverly leaving their best batters to the end. I would like to focus in
particular at the man scheduled to come in at 11. What a player.
Handsome too.
When Faz joined Kendo things really
started cooking. A typical Fazackerley innings ended on 39 but then Liam
Wright joined in with a few boundaries before he too departed on 33.
Kendrick was still going and was about to hit the 90's when he hit one
straight to a fielder at long off. I don't think there was any doubt
about the catch being taken but when the entire Mottram team leapt up to
shout at the fielder that his foot was on the line leading to 6 more
runs Buggy sensed the game was up.
The run rate was still high however when
fellow match reporter and 'man-child' Stefan Fielding strode to the
crease. Belying tender years he struck 6,4,6 in a single over to swing
the pendulum Mottrams way. With Kendrick completing a debut ton and
celebrating by playing an INXS tune on an imaginary didgeridoo whilst
doing the dance to the Locomotion on the wicket (Caution: May not
actually have happened) Mottram seemed sure to win now. Then Stef was
out and things looked a little less promising.
With two needed in the last over number
10 (or should that be 100? :-p) Sid Pottage found himself facing. With
an unbelievable amount of technique Sid worked the ball into the gap on
the leg side for a heroic one leaving Kendrick to wrap it up fittingly
with a 4 to send Mottram into raptures and leave Buxworth wondering
where it all went wrong.
Kendrick finished with 111* (Average
man!) and 3 sixes. Not bad for a bowler. It just goes to show you
shouldn't judge an Aussie by his......... description!
THE KENDO SONG To the tune of one-nil to
the en-ger-land as sung by R. Windsor and D.Bennett upon completion of
aforementioned ton by D.Kendrick 26/6/06
KENDO FROM AUSTRALIA
KENDO FROM AUSTRALIA
KENDO FROM AUSTRALIA
KENDO FROM AUSTRALIA
Repeat Ad Nauseum or 'till informed to
shut up.
Duncan Bennett
Saturday 17th June
2006
Mottram 215 For 8 Broadbottom 205
For 9
Close but
no Cigar for Broady
The local derby between the two sides usually brings us good games and
Saturday was no exception. After coming so close to victory in the last
encounter between the two sides Broadbottom would have been hopeful of
causing an upset at high-flying Mottram. Mottram were confident of
victory before the game, coming off the back of two great wins at New
Mills last weekend and when stand in skipper Richard Windsor won the
toss and elected to bat Mottram were confident of success.
Adam Quinn and Andrew Metcalfe went about their business in fine style
playing some exquisite shots racing Mottram to 41-0 in 9 overs. The
opening pair reached 54 before Andrew Metcalfe fell L.B.W but Mottram
were still in a commanding position. However things looked a little
worse once Adam Quinn was caught at backward square leg and Mottram were
58-2. Adam was fortunate enough to be dropped after 3 balls playing the
same shot, however credit to Adam as he made Broadbottom pay adding 37
runs before his final departure.
Danny Kendrick was too pleased at his dismissal playing a half shot and
getting caught on the leg side for 7 and at 76-3 Broadbottom were
starting to look in control. Richard Windsor is a fine cricketer though,
and holds the ability to change a game in his sides favour and fast.
Richard raced to 55 with some fine hitting and powerful strokes. He was
aided by the
Caribbean
class of Gordon Chinn. Chinny made 42 with an elegant display of cover
drives and well worked shots around the ground. Once Windsor and Chinn
had been removed Mottram were looking a little prettier on 169-5 with 7
overs left. The middle order and tail were left to try and scramble some
late runs and contributions such as 15 from Neil Fazackerley and 18 from
Andrew Isaac ensured Mottram managed to reach 215 for 8.
The tea ladies refreshed the players at the half way stage and sent both
sides out for the second innings with victory in their sites. The game
was finely balanced and the fact both teams picked up 4 points a piece
from the 1st innings reflects this.
Baron and Walsh opened up for Broady and Martin Pottage and Andrew Isaac
searched for an early breakthrough. The breakthrough didn’t come and a
change of bowling was in order and Kendrick stepped up. After the
opening exchanges between Kendrick and Walsh, Kendrick came out on top
taking his first wicket of the day and putting Mottram in the box seat.
It wasn’t long before a rather distant Baron fell caught behind to
Kendrick and Broadbottom were 51-2. It must be said Baron did look like
he was away with the fairies for most of his innings and the wicket
wasn’t a surprise when it came. Pottage continued to plug away from the
other end, only to see his efforts clattered to the boundary once
Broadbottom captain Dodd had found his range. Off the back of a 100 the
week previous, there was certainly a bit of pressure on Dodd as wickets
continued to fall at the other end.
Kendrick continued to take wickets from the other end and after Demidh
was trapped L.B.W not offering a shot Broadbottom were looking down the
barrel at 93-4. Broadbottom were in desperate need of a partnership and
a young Phil Rowston blasted his way to 49 and put Broadbottom within
touching distance of victory. Dodd went on 46 to Kendrick and was Dan’s
5th victim of the game but things were not looking good for
Mottram.
Enter Neil Fazackerley. Already Neil has swung games into Mottrams
favour this season and again he did not fail young skipper Windsor. Neil
picked up 3 quick wickets including that of Rowsten and put Mottram way
in front. A tidy spell from Liam Wright kept the runs down and he picked
up a wicket for his efforts.
After 90 overs of play Broadbottom had reached 205-9, just 10 runs short
of Mottrams total. To be fair Mottram showed Great Spirit in the field
to turn things around and all credit to the lads for recording another
victory. Kendrick finished with 5-75, Neil with 3-23 and Pottage was
unlucky to finish with 0-60 from 15 overs.
Roll on Buxworth next week and hopefully Mottram can continue to march
forward in what we all hope will be a promotion season for the mighty
Motties
Stefan Fielding
Sunday
11th June 2006
Mottram
231 For 5 New Mills 217 For 9
MOTTRAM MALAISE SAVED
BY MAJESTIC MARSHALL
Following
Quinn and Pottage's heroics the day before Mottram looked to other
people to help get the job done against New Mills. In the reverse of
yesterdays fixture it was Mottram who looked to have a stronger side as
New Mills counted the cost of a day in the sun with a few injuries. The
returning Fazackerley, Conroy and Chinn would hopefully provide Mottram
with enough to earn a spot in the next round of the cup.
Amazingly
skipper Paul Marshall won his first toss of the year and it proved to be
the start of a great day for the opening batsman as he anchored the
Mottram innings on the same track that Adam Quinn had earned a famous
victory on the day before.
Quinn failed
on this day but with this current purple patch of his we can allow him
one or two! (As long as that's all it is!) This merely allowed the rest
of Mottrams batsmen to come in and play their shots. Kendo provided an
effective foil adding 37 runs of his own before getting a nasty little
'lifter'. Mottram's middle order on this day was probably the most
attack minded you are likely to see in this league with Kendrick,
Windsor, Conroy, and Fazackerley. Not to forget the 'all-rounder' (not
that he knows it yet) Gordon Chinn coming in at 7.
On a
similarly warm day as the previous one Mottram made the Millers toil
with Fazzer adding quick runs at the end with a sprightly 44 made in
double quick time.
Skipper Paul
Marshall batted the innings out for a superb 83* made in great heat and
off the back of a run of personal low scores.
Mottram
would be reminded that strange things can happen in the tea interval
when whilst watching Darts we saw Raymond van Barneveld defeat
overwhelming favourite Phil Taylor. This did not serve as a warning for
Mottram however.
The malaise
of which I speak was not in evidence from Andy Isaac's bowling as he
bowled his 8 overs superbly just back of a length making it impossible
to get away. He finished with 1-14 but should have had more as ONCE
AGAIN the match reporter dropped A.Holmes. (Six in a row but who's
counting?) I apologize for my Tourettes afterwards as I yelled an
expletive quite loud for the second day in a row. If anyone was offended
I wholeheartedly wish to retract what I said.
But it was
S***e.
A.Stevens
and A.Holmes were fairly motoring along towards the target finding runs
easy to come by and it looked for a while like the unbeaten run would
come to an end as Mottram's heads and fielding went down for a while.
However two wickets changes everything. Stevens fell on 82 caught in the
gully by Chinner off Rick Windsor who was no doubt fired up by comments
flying around from a New Mills crowd convinced we were "going to choke".
When Kendo
had Holmes stumped for 65 it seemed things had swung back in our favour
and so it proved as some adept bowling at the death by Fazzer (who's
eyes thankfully stayed in despite the wishes of certain brave boundary
pundits) and Sid Pottage (who must have slept in a bath of Radox after
his efforts the day before) enabled Mottram to tie up the remaining
Millers batsmen. Each bowlers figures warrant mention as they all
contributed at one point or another so here goes:
M.Pottage 8
overs 2-37 Great effort after the day before.
A.Isaac 8
overs 1-14 Can't speak highly enough. Has to bowl more with figures
like that!
R.Windsor 8
overs 2-59 Struggled but never knows when to quit. Top Guy!
N.Fazackerley 6 overs 2-37 Not bad for a wicketkeeper eh!
D.Kendrick 8
overs 2-51 Performed manfully with short boundaries to contend with.
So Mottram
progress in the cup. With some tough teams having gone out already
Mottram have a real chance this year but so do a lot of other teams.
There's a lot of cricket still to go in this competition.
Next up on
Saturday, Broadbottom. I need not remind you how up for this game they
will be. We shall have to match them to have a hope of producing a
positive result.
Duncan
Bennett
Saturday
10th June 2006
Mottram
185 For 7 New Mills 181 For 9
0% Tossers, 100%
Winners
Now given
what you will read in this report it seems strange that I not make
mention of one or more of the outstanding performances on the Mottram
side. However in hindsight I find it that difficult to seperate them
that I decided upon this (slightly) daring headline.
Of course I
am referring to captain Paul Marshalls unerring ability to lose the
toss! Once more he lost it on a big day for Mottram shorn of some
regulars and coming up against a New Mills side top of the league. On a
stiflingly hot day Mottram toiled hard as was known they would have to
beforehand. NONE worked harder though than the tireless Sid Pottage who
produced a truly Herculean effort of 23 overs 6 maidens to record
figures of 4-69 including New Mills danger man Alistair Stevens. On a
track baked by a fortnight of sun with a quick outfield these figures
truly come into focus for what they are. At the other end Rick Windsor
struggled a little but still managed to pick up 4-57 from 12. Young
Stefan Fielding should not be forgotten for his efforts behind the
stumps managing to pick up four victims and neither should Kendo who
took two of those catches that fizz on the way down. (You know what I
mean! Just because my good English not is don't take the mick out of
me!)
New Mills
would be pleased with this total as at times they looked to be
struggling to mount a decent target for Mottram to chase but in truth
the track was probably worth a few more and the Millers slow start would
come back to haunt them.
Buoyed by
Englands win over Paraguay and even more by being told it was a rubbish
game so we hadn't missed much Mottram set about the target with gusto.
Young Andy Metcalfe was out early on unfortunately but this only brought
Kendo to the crease who proceeded to play a Kendo innings before being
out for 23. When Windsor fell cheaply shortly afterwards Mottram were
adrift of the run rate by some distance with some ground to make up.
Adam Quinn began the innings of the summer (Pietersens 142 against Sri
Lanka? PAH!) as he looked to haul Mottram into the game almost single
handed. Of course it wasn't single handed but it sure felt like it at
times. By the time Quinny had reached his fifty we suspected it was too
little too late but partnerships with Mike Marsden, Andy Isaac and
Stefan Fielding saw Mottram home.
Quinny
finished with 106* and five 6's. This as I said before was the innings
of the season hands down. Quinny dismantled the bowling from both ends
including making Alistair Stevens look benign as he launched him for
some enormous blows (Must have had his Weetabix). Fittingly it was
Quinny who finished the match with a four to send the Mottram balcony
into rapture and left New Mills despondent.
With this
result we headed with good heart back over the tops only to go back in
the morning to play New Mills again in the cup.
Duncan
Bennett
Saturday
3rd June 2006
Mottram
180 for 4 Dove Holes 178ao
BRING ME SUNSHINE!
Miracles
were the order of the day at Mottram as after a 2 week sabbatical
enforced by the weather Mottrams first team finally saw some action.
On an
unfeasibly sunny day given the weather the week before Mottram skipper
Paul Marshall continued his winning trend of losing the toss and letting
the opposition worry about what to do. So it was that Dove Holes chose
to bat and looked to make Mottram toil in the sun whilst they got to sit
inside and watch the England football team smash a hapless Jamaican team
on the TV.
Cheered on
by a bumper Saturday crowd which included the returning Gordon Chinn
plus posse Mottram looked to make Dove's decision foolish. Sid Pottage
continued his recent good form with the ball by making early inroads
with some fiendish out swing (We later discovered that he had been
practising in his garden. A man with too much time on his hands?) Sid
would bowl twelve overs straight picking up 2-28 but this should have
been more as the amount of times the ball beat the bat had to be seen to
be believed.
At the other
end Daniel Kendrick struggled along picking up only one wicket.
Obviously he was thinking more about his batting. The two change bowlers
Liam (or Lima) and Rick Windsor managed to pick up the wickets that Sid
had struggled for earlier on as Dove chased the runs needed for a
competitive score. Liam bowled really well in his 4-68 and would have
had more were it not for a fourth dropped catch in a row by the match
reporter (Any future opponents looking for somewhere to hit it need only
look in my direction). Rick Windsor finished with 3-55 from his overs
and Dove looked to be pleased with a total of 178 when in truth it could
have been a lot worse for them at points.
After tea
Mottram would head out confident that they could get the runs needed.
This confidence was soon punctured though as opener Adam Quinn was out
in the first over. This only brought Kendo to the wicket who was
desperate to end a rotten recent run. His first runs in four weeks
brought him visible relief. When Windsor joined him at the crease
fireworks were anticipated and Windsor didn't disappoint. He scored 57
with 3 sixes before being caught behind. Kendrick received a 'popping
ball' on 27 which reared up at him and provided a return catch for the
bowler. (Despite being able to see the ball 'popping' Kendo left no-one
in any doubt as to what had happened entering the pavilion with a stream
of expletives. Ahhhh the English cricket season. Don't you just love
it?)
With Mottram
still adrift by some 90 odd runs we were looking down the barrel of our
first defeat of the season. Enter stage right Mr Fazackerley and Mr
Conroy. From an unenviable position when they joined at the crease these
two turned it into one of dominance as they powered their way to the
victory target reaching it with a huge 14 overs to spare. Conroy
finished on 48* with one six while 'Fazzer' finished the match with a
six to take his total to 3 and to add to his 37*. Superlatives were
flying around about this partnership in the bar afterwards and to be
honest I find no words better than Kendo's which unfortunately can't be
printed here. Suffice to say he thought it was a good partnership.
Next up it's
a massive weekend. New Mills twice both away. A couple of victories in
these fixtures and Mottram will truly believe promotion is on.
Duncan
Bennett
Sunday
14th May 2006
Mottram
84 For 3 Mellor 80 All Out
QUINN AND WRIGHT STEER
MOTTIES HOME
After
beating Mellor well in the opening game of the season Mottram were
looking to record another victory in the fist round of the cup. Hopes
were further raised by the admission of the Mellor captain that they
only had 9 players. Surely this would be a cakewalk?
Batting
first and obviously thinking that a team shorn of regular first team
players had nothing to lose Mellor flew out of the blocks. The first
ball of the innings was despatched over extra covers head for 4. Smith
did the most damage for Mellor hitting 32 in no time at all. Sid and
Kendo opened the bowling as they did for the first game of the season
but were powerless to stop the onslaught for a while but it couldn't
last.
All of
Mellor's batsmen went for it big time and it was only a matter of time
before their luck ran out. Kendo ploughed on and was rewarded with 5-41
from his 8 (which included a HUGE six over my head at cow corner) while
Andy Isaac laid down his marker for the season by following his '2 for'
the day before with 3-8.
While we
were pleased to remove Mellor so cheaply we were concerned by the pitch.
Kendo had managed to bounce an opposing batsman off a full length.
Worrying considering he is an off spinner. So it was with wariness that
Mottram went out to bat.
It seemed
our worst fears would come true as Marshall, Windsor and Kendrick all
fell early on. Kendrick for his second duck in as many days (a little
harsh I know but he wouldn't let me forget my THREE dropped catches the
day before).
This only
brought the 'new and improved' Liam Wright to the crease. Looking like
he had been there all day Liam guided Mottram home with some classy
drives in his 25* along with Quinny who earned himself another 'red
inker' with 43* and one six. Smith added to his 32 with the bat by
claiming 2-14 from his 8 overs.
I cannot
underestimate what a fine partnership Quinny and Limas was as they added
over 50 runs on a minefield of a track. Both applied themselves to the
situation superbly.
Next up in
the cup I believe it will be New Mills (I cannot be held responsible if
not!) whilst on Saturday coming up we have Old Glossop. A team who are
only just behind us in the current standings (A 44 pointer already?) and
who I'm sure will be eager to be the first side this season to beat us.
Then again
we could be the first side to beat them in the league this year........
Duncan
Bennett
Saturday
13th May 2006
Mottram
128 For 2
Hollingworth 127 All Out
SIDS BACK IN TOWN
English
summer time finally arrived on Saturday with the murkiest day of the
season so far. On what was definitely a jumper day Hollingworth batted
first on what you might call a 'green top'.
Sid Pottage
charging in from the school yard end had the batsmen in trouble on
several occasions and was unlucky when he had a dropped catch at cover.
If it bothered Sid then he didn't let it show too much as he dismissed
the same batsman soon after (sparing my blushes).
After
looking in trouble at one stage with 4 wickets down relatively cheaply
Hollingworth rallied well to post 127. Kendrick with 3-22 and Isaac with
2-34 were good value for their wickets but ultimately were a sideshow to
the returning Sid who posted 4-40 from 11.2 overs.
Isaac's
figures would have been better were it not for the unfortunate yet
devilishly handsome cover fielder who dropped two more catches (one of
which had to be seen to be believed) taking his total for the day to 3.
I shall be undergoing surgery for the large holes in the middle of my
palms.
After tea
Mottram set about the target but were rocked by the dismissals of
Marshall and Kendrick. Kendrick in particular thought he was the victim
of a poor decision but we all get them. Perhaps more frightening was his
ability to predict he would get one earlier in the day.
Adam Quinn
settled many nerves in the Mottram dressing room with an unbeaten 51*
which contained many of his trademark pulls. He was clapped 3 times for
reaching his fifty which says quite a bit about our combined maths!
Rick Windsor
was as pedestrian as ever in his 43*. After injuring a rib in the
Hollingworth innings Windsor was asked by captain Marshall if he was
alright to bat at 4 to which Windsor replied "I'm going to stand there
and smash it". Smash it he did as he finished the game with a 4 to go
along with the 3 sixes he put into Longdendale school.
Next up are
Mellor in the cup. Hopefully Mottram would prevail.
Duncan Bennett
Saturday
6th May 2006
Mottram
198 For 7 High Lane 178 For 8
THE BOY DONE GOOD
Mottram Cricket Club
