Exciting Last Wicket Win Against Nowton

MATCH SPONSOR GLEMSFORD CHERRY TREE PUBLIC HOUSE


Nowton 178 for 9

Godden 87,

J Armstrong 3 - 31, P Richards 3 - 58,

H&CHCC 179 for 9

P Richards 51, Bryant 37, M Atkinson 21,


An exciting game at the Peter Richards Oval and it was he himself who became man of the match in a fantastic game of cricket where the complete team put in a performance to win a fourth game in a row.

H&CHCC lost the toss and Nowton decided to bat and H&CHCC were very flat in the field it was uncharactistic of them but 8 drop catches possible more during the innings was probable evidence to support this although the bowlers were putting in great effort.

However an early wicket from Jack Armstrong when Howes chipped one up to that man Richards and things looked like it was on track but opener Godden was stead fourth with some excellent shots put on a long partnership with Cordell, then Leeks but a bit on the slow side as after 20 overs only 59 runs but 8 wickets in the hatch felt a big onslaught was coming.

The wicket had some variable bounce with the large amount of rain so a steady score looked nothing out of place and when the rate increased to 80 Godden had got his very well earned fifty.

Dave Armstrong toiled away and got a break through when Hodge caught Cordell then Niall Hannan caught Leeks off Hodge leaving the score on 146 but only six overs left the incoming batsmen were on the look out for quick runs it was this period that the catches really did pop out of a few hands.

Peter Richards guile and leg stump line kept the scoring rate down and picked up the wickets of 3 Nowton batsmen with Jack Armstrong taking two on his return after his first spell but could not get the last man Rolfe so at tea Nowton had a competitive score of 178 for 9.

After the delightful tea from Mrs Richards H&CHCC took to the field for the run chase with Roberts and the returning Hodge opening the innings.

With only twelve on the score board Roberts was given out LBW for 10 and this brought Niall Hannan to the crease to steady the ship and this was going well with the score on 29 when premier batsman Hodge was bowled by the Nowton fast bowlers both left arm over to leave the target now a mammoth one.

Bryant was playing in his style and struck some lusty blows including three sixes and with Hannan in support re building again well above the run rate at the time.

With the score on 79 in the sixteenth over Nowton got the wicket of Hannan when he was bowled which brought Mark Atkinson out into the middle and with it being the last ball of the over watched as Captain Bryant nicked the ball to gully and was caught by Leeks for a super 37 runs.

Nowton were on a high and both Atkinson and Armstrong were playing to survive as two maidens were bowled leaving four in a row with the score still on 79 after 18 overs.

Jack Armstrong was getting a lot of chat in the ear mainly to the young ones but Jack Armstrong was trying to put one over the bowlers head miscued to deep mid off and Nowton were smelling victory.

Atkinson spoke to the main man Richards to keep him calm and slowly runs began to flow also some good luck when Atkinson edged, clipped his pad hit his stumps loud as the familiar death rattle but survived the call for leg before as the bails were not dislodged and perhaps the tide was turning as Richards began to feel at home in the middle with some big strikes rolling back the years as the runs began to flow which quietened down the Nowton exuberant chatter.

Opening bowler Ward returned as the runs were adding up when a mistimed chip of his legs led to Mark Atkinson departing for twenty one runs but the score now on 131 for six.

Ian Copping kept the fast bowler Ward occupied while Richards was firmly moving the score on scoring three sixes before Nowton again felt the game was back in their own hands as Copping went on 147 for 7 the excitement was intense on and off the pitch.

Shaun Faires back from a couple of weeks off joined Richards and did not look out of place scoring freely with Richards who finally got his very deserved fifty runs to a big cheer from the home team.

The pendulum swung again when the Peter Richards show finally came to an end he survived an earlier drop catch which proved costly for Nowton but Ward got his fourth wicket as he bowled Richards for a great 51 runs.

Dave Armstrong under extreme pressure that comes with batting low and close encounters stuck with Faires with only 9 runs to win and 5 overs to go tension was in the air and Dave Armstrong got 3 runs within spitting distance of a great win was bowled leaving a very nervous last man Mike Durell walking into the arena.

Three balls left for Durell to survive against opening bowler Rolfe who has been around a long time and Mike Durell fended off the first two balls and on the third chipped it up with three Nowton players running to catch it but it fell safe and left Shaun Faires with his mind made up he had to win the game quickly as Durrell would not survive the onslaught much longer.

Cordell was bowling and his second ball was hooked through mid wicket high and with a fielder running round to cut it off but he could not get there and a huge cheer went up and Hartest & Coldham Hall had recorded a historic win over a local rival when perhaps not at their best still dug deep to win a terrific game of Cricket where both teams had contributed a lot a large crowd.

Smiles all round for the home team and with contributions from all the team a victory will stay long in the memory and enforce a very good season however with the onset of harvesting players will again be missing and the squad will have to dig deep over the few remaining games of the season.

Webmaster