Superb Victory Against all Odds Brockley

HCCC 121 all out

M Atkinson 38, S Lankester 22, S Dunne 19.

Brockley 109 all out

Lankester 4 for 11, Moriarty 3 for 32. Roberts 2 for 33.



With harvesting in full swing and holidays taking there toll how HCCC got a team on the pitch was a victory and thanks go to Justin Crisell who at 13.45 was in the pub pint in hand and answered a call to make up the team to 11 players, and also young Jake Richards who also was willing to step in at the eleventh hour well done.

On top of that we had two youngsters playing the first time in a men’s game Joe Horgan and Stephen Dunne with Mel Evans making his first game this season with Stephen Lankester only his second of the season. So with so many regulars out and up against a top team the thoughts of victory were ambitious but to make a good game.

Captain Roberts on a scorching day won the toss and took a brave decision to bat first with M Atkinson and J Ralling opening the batting with some quick but erratic bowling HCCC got to 24 before Ralling was caught. Lankester joined M Atkinson and looked in fine form to score a quick 22 before he played on with the total on 46 in the eighth over. Bryant played a more reserve game but sensible as the team had plenty of overs in searing heat that it was a case of batting the overs out and posting a score. Bryant was tempted and was caught and bowled for 6.

Captain Roberts joined M Atkinson and again the fact that the tail was close to being exposed was a time of careful batting with taking few risks and this duly worked with a 24 run partnership before Roberts was bowled by Fisher who was the most accurate bowler who was very hard to get away for 11.

M Atkinson was toiling away but succumbed to a catch at slip for 38 with the total on 95 for 5 in 27th over and then three wickets fell quickly leaving debutant S Dunne and Hannan playing a supporting role with Dunne playing some excellent shots a maturity way beyond his years and got a very creditable 19 with Horgan valiantly try to get the team to a batting point was bowled leaving HCCC all out for 121.

After tea with the odds small defending a small total had one ace up it’s sleeve with an unbelievable spell of spin bowling from S Lankester taking the first 3 wickets with great support from Hannan and J Moriarty who then claimed 3 wickets to go with Lankester 4 wicket haul. However the Brockley team had Jones in who was free scoring and closing in on the HCCC score. With Jones on 36 the adage of catches win matches was probably made for a catch at deep mid on from Moriarty with a juggled catch falling to the ground to remove the dangerous Jones but the tight bowling from Roberts and Hannan second spell forced errors in the Brockley batsmen backed up with some sterling work in the fielding department from the whole team where every run was defended with vigor that Brockley had to work so hard for every run that when Captain Roberts bowled the last man for Brockley in the 38th over they were all out for 109 which gave the HCCC an incredible win that was deserved with a great team performance from the whole team which again showed that with spirit and effort great things could be achieved.

Again a thank you to the young guys who came in and Justin Criesell who came in and without having 11 players in such a tight game would surely have meant defeat so well done to the whole team a great victory.