H&CHCC Lose in a Run Feast at The Richards Oval

H&CHCC 214 All Out

Hodge 113 Not Out, Roberts 28, P Richards 20, M Atkinson 13

BSSSC 217 For 2

Partridge Not Out 100, Vaughan 82.


On a cool windy and cloudy day at the Richards Oval the toss was won by BSSSC they decided to put H&CHCC in first with Hodge opening with partner Roberts.

H&CHCC started and a brisk pace with boundaries a plenty however from the bottom end the ball was popping up sharp causing the batsmen some difficulty however the BSSSC were trying to exploit this unusual bounce which sometimes played into Roberts & Hodge as the ball sat up to be spanked for runs.

The two openers took the total past 50 when Roberts got a snorter of a ball which clipped the off stump and he was gone for 28 and the total on 59 for 1.

Hamish Fiddes came to the crease and was promptly hit on the helmet from a length ball which unsettled him and two balls later one kept a little low with the uneven bounce due to heavy rain the day before and was bowled out by H Rout.

B Atkinson fresh from a top score last week fed Hodge the strike who was still moving the ball round the park with some sweet shots to savour and the pair put on 27 before Partridge returned from the bottom end where the uneven bounce was coming from to bowl B Atkinson out for six and the total on 95 for 3 in the 18th over but also in the same over with his next ball Captain Bryant hit a ball which he wished he had not to perish as he was caught out for no runs.

Peter Richards and Hodge who was still keeping the score ticking over put on between them a healthy partnership score of 58 before Richards got hit on the foot and deflected the ball onto his stumps for a score of 20.

M Atkinson coming in at seven felt that BSSSC had got through to the tail but some stubborn resistance and again trying to feed Hodge the strike was still moving the score on and when M Atkinson eyes lite up for a big heavy ho to miss was also bowled out for thirteen in a partnership of 37 moving the score onto 190 for six.

Before M Atkinson was out he was lucky enough to be in the middle to see David Hodge pass his century without giving any chances and hitting 17 four's on his way was a tremendous achievement and was roundly applauded for his efforts.

Shaun Faiers was sort of making his debut the first time since about 1988 before Hartest had joined up with Coldham Hall so can be excused to be a bit rusty when he was caught early on in the same over as Atkinson.

With Hodge running out of partners John Moriarty played three exquisite shots in a row gaining four runs each time but the uneven bounce took his wicket shortly after for a robust 12 leaving the score on 204 for 8 with five overs to go to the end of the innings.

Dave Armstrong hung around for three overs supporting David Hodge but eventually succumbed to H Rout who finally bowled him and Nick Rutter next ball to get his five wickets but end the H&CHCC innings for 214 with David Hodge carrying his bat through the entire H&CHCC innings unbeaten on 113 not out a tremendous effort on an uncertain wicket.

After tea with a few droplets of rain in the air and the wind blustery the H&CHCC took to the filed with great hope that a good score was defendable which was backed up more when H Rout was bowled out by that man again Hodge for a duck.

However Vaughan who opened the batting was joined by skipper Partridge and games can be won or lost on moments we will never know for sure but Partridge second ball from Hodge was a clear LBW as you will ever get but giving the skipper out never a good idea but he was not given out and he began to hit many balls into the air but not falling to any H&CHCC except one which sadly Richards lost in the low extreme sun light to see or not to see it fall safe.

Runs were coming fast with many good balls being bowled by Hodge and Moriarty who was unlucky not to get wickets last week then had a routine catch behind the stumps by M Atkinson dropped so a life line for Vaughan who was playing more acceptable cricket shots.

H&CHCC probably knew it was not their day when the wind was constantly blowing the bails off but when Hodge bowled Partridge it hit the off stump but did not amazingly dislodge the bail you knew he would go onto a bigger score.

Captain Bryant tried a few bowlers but it came apparent that this was not going to be H&CHCC day so when B Atkinson came onto bowl it was all over but he did manage to get Vaughan to sky one to D Armstrong who running backwards and the ball catching the wind stuck a hand up to catch him out one handed for a score of 82 but the BSSSC score on 195 for 2 the game was nearly up for H&CHCC.

Nick Rutter tried some spin and Shaun Faiers had a couple of overs the luckless Moriarty came back was not to be his day but tried valiantly but in the end it was not enough.

Partridge took a single which gave him his 100 but with a lot of luck he got there as the LBW, the drop catch and ball hitting stump and a few shots falling between the H&CHCC fielders we all dream of having that luck in one game it rarely happens his partner G Rout hit a enormous six to finish the game in the thirty fourth over for only the loss of two wickets.

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