Fantastic Game at Exning to Start the Season

Exning 269 for 9

M Catley 127

Hartest & Coldham 271 for 9

Bryant 77, Hodge 45, Richards 44


The new cricket season started with a friendly game with Exning Cricket Club a very well run club which plays a very decent level of Cricket in great surroundings plus amenities.

Exning fielded a very strong side and batted first with Dave Armstrong bowling the first over as he was the bowler of the year for 2009 as a reward to bowl the first ball of the new 2010 season.

He was replaced by his son Jack Armstrong and Gus Walton the two fast young bowlers who formed most of last years pace and opening attack.

Both players were not quite used to the calibre of players they were facing and the first few overs were a bit new season rust and playing against top batsmen the like they have not been used to before.

50 runs were on the board when L Bryant from Exning was tremendously caught by Captain William Bryant running in one handed already in the running for the Champagne moment for the season but a long way to go yet before he picks up the champagne.

Dave Monk came in and runs were still coming but Jack Armstrong got some reward for his bowling when he trapped Monk for 11 LBW.

Buoyed on by this he shortly got Simon Allen caught behind to a fine edge well taken by wicket keeper Ben Atkinson leaving the score on 80 for 3.

Mathew Catley Captain of the Exning first team was storming on with some big shots however Captain Bryant after taking an earlier wonderful catch spilled him when nearing his ton.

David Atkinson of Exning was giving great support to Catley and with young Nick Lomas out for 4 earlier to Gus Walton the score went rapidly from 111 to 202 with still ten overs to go the score was going to be big.

Dave Armstrong came back and Mark Atkinson dropped a low hard catch again it was Catley who by then had scored his well played 100 and still going.

Nick Rutter was introduced in an attempt to try something new with some "swan nee" spin and soon proved a success when he lobbed up and gave a ball plenty of air to bamboozle Ben Coupe which bowled him for 13 and left the score on 210.

Captain Bryant and Wicket Keeper Ben Atkinson changed places which was fortunate as Mathew Catley and Ben Atkinson are team mates on a Saturday and Mathew smashed a ball in his direction looking like it was heading for another six young Ben Atkinson leapt off the ground and took a terrific catch staying just inside the field of play so Captain Mathew Catley ended his innings on a super 127 which got a warm round of applause from spectators and the Hartest & Coldham team.

Rutter & Hodge took another wicket each and with the last pair in scrapping a few odd runs they ended the innings not out with a total to chase and win the game of 270.

Tea was done by Judith Atkinson who also scored as well as did the tea which unbiased opinion was very good a trait H&CHCC have a great tradition in recent seasons.

270 on a wicket that goes low as the game goes on the warm sunny day turning chill the outlook of a H&CHCC win looked a little bleak with no game practice or not known for good starters to a season however what happened next will go down in folklore history.

The new opening partnership of Hodge & Roberts started with some aplomb and found the bowling to their liking driving the ball to all parts of the ground and although up with the run rate the total was still a massive one.

75 on the board when Roberts was caught for 36 by Simon Allen and shortly after the effervescent Hodge who played some glorious strokes soon followed caught behind for a majestic 45 leaving the score on 89 for 2.

Ben Atkinson came in and his very first ball was greeted with the whole of the Exning team going on the leg side plus most at mid on they seem to know him so well but he would not would he, er yes he tried to hit it there but after the one ball they went back to normal positions but the game was competitive but played so with great respect fun and dignity.

Ben Atkinson hit five fours before being brilliantly cuaght by Nick Lomas this brought Mark Atkinson to the middle with most of Exning team knowing he tends to bat lower down so his namesake David Atkinson did the dirty on him bowling three straight balls in a row and out went Mark Atkinson for 3.

Hannan was trying to be aggressive and was joined by the Captain William Bryant they put on 36 runs before Hannan skied one to Woods for 13 but this brought in the master and legend Peter Richards.


Richards & Bryant put on an amazing 81 runs with some super hitting with the ball flying across the outfield runs were coming a plenty and Bryant was storming past his 50 plus when he was caught again by Lomas for a super knock of 77 but a big but the position to be well in the game with wickets falling plus overs running out the sun had gone it was getting to be game on!

Richards then took on the mantel hitting some super shots with some agricultural ones too but able support from Walton another 24 run partnership when Richards already with a runner as early fitness had deserted him was finally out for 44 the tail well exposed but needing 7 runs with 7 balls to go the crowd watching didn't know which way it was going to go.

Jack Armstrong with intense pressure got a single plus hit another two as did Armstrong senior then Jack Armstrong was caught by Dave Monk but they had crossed leaving Dave Armstrong on strike needing 3 in 3 balls with number eleven Nick Rutter at the non strikers end.

The next ball Armstrong struck towards the boundary with the shout for two and his team wondering if it could make the distance and go all the way the excitement went to joy as it crossed the boundary just as the fielder got to the ball but could not stop it and Hartest & Coldham Hall produced a very unlikely but super win against all the odds and a performance most will always look back with great pride.

Can they take this form into the league fixtures starting next week we hope so but whether they do or do not you can't take away the victory with two balls to spare and above all the fixture was a worth while game with plenty of runs and great cricket.

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