Fantastic Win for H&CHCC

Bardwell 214 for 6

S Wade 47, P Arnold 46 Not Out, A Sadler 45

N Ruttter 3 for 31 Including a Hatrick!!!


Hartest & Coldham Hall CC

221 for 3

David Hodge 97 Not Out, Benjamin Atkinson 90,



   A fantastic game at Bardwell started the season for the first time in a while with a super win against new boys Bardwell with only ten men plus only two regular bowlers.

   Captain Bryant and won the toss and decided on an unknown pitch early season we would insert the home team who duly got off to a steady start with Jack Armstrong and David Hodge opening the bowling.

   Wade and Collinge were making steady progress when Jack Armstrong caught Collinge full on pad and was given out LBW much to the players annoyance of the decision for 28 and the score on 47 - 1.

   The two opening bowlers were tight but runs from short area one side were mounting up a score with twenty overs on the horizon Hodge got Larder playing on to his wicket for 14.

   The last twenty overs were to be found with Dave Armstrong taking over form where Jack had bowled so well and continued in the same vein and quickly getting Palmer out for 5 LBW.

   P Arnold came in and his busy way of playing plus an urgency to push on had H&CHCC fielders spread wide and handsome with one missing making it difficult to plug all the gaps but Shaun Fairers kept on coming and off his last ball of his spell got the opener Wade caught with a running diving catch from Nick Rutter to send him back to the pavilion for 47 and the score on 122 for 4.

   Sadler and Arnold looked to have taken the game away from H&CHCC as both were hitting out young Joshua Toon making his H&CHCC debut was thrown the ball without a warm up and had a couple of difficult overs but kept on trying.

   Nick Rutter entered the fray replacing Toon and also came in for some hard hitting as Bardwell surged ahead to over 200 and H&CHCC were feeling the squeeze as the ball went to the boundaries more and more.

   However with three ball to go Nick Rutter finally got his deserved wicket when Sadler tried to bash him out the ground was bowled for 45 and as the next man was in a hurry came down the wicket to only miss and was stumped by the quick hands Benjamin Atkinson for 0 so with the last ball on a hatrick the team stayed in their positions as Bagwa tried a slog it out of the ground but missed for a huge cheer as he missed Nick Rutter didn't to secure a superb hatrick his first ever and also the first ever on the Bardwell pitch since there entry into the league - Well Done Nick Rutter.

   Tea the chase was on with the long standing opening partnership of Hodge and Roberts took to the almighty task of the chase and quickly applied themselves taking the sting out of the Bardwell attack.

   Roberts who looked comfortable hooked one up in the air and was caught for 20 with the score on 40 for 1 it looked a long way with ten men to chase down over 200.

   Ben Atkinson joined Hodge to devastating effect first ball smashed for 4 and that was the game plan as the bad balls were picked off with great regularity between both Hodge and Atkinson it was superb batting at its best and Hodge a H&CHCC legend appreciated the support he was getting from young Atkinson.

   Runs were flowing from both batsmen the confidence was visibly draining from Bardwell as the game continued and at the drinks break 128 for 1 with Hodge passing his fifty looked in command.

   After drinks and bowling changes the runs with boundaries a plenty continued with both players playing with great composure and confidence however all good things come to an end with Benjamin Atkinson well past his fifty he finally succumbed to the off spinner Beaumont slicing one to the covers ending the 143 run partnership scoring 90 runs in only 64 balls including 16 fours and two sixes leaving the party at 183 for 2 in 76 minutes.

   Josh Toon came in and had a hard act to follow and looks to have a good future although today he was given out LBW to a bit of a high one and walked for zero.

   Dave Armstrong continued his rise up the batting order with Hodge saw H&CHCC to a great victory where no drop catches and the ground fielding saw a couple of fumbles not leading to any runs and team spirit with two great batting performances gave H&CHCC their first win of the season at the first attempt which has not happened in a long time.

   Bardwell may have a tough season were a bit nervous and will improve however it has to be said their teas rivalled our own which is probably the highest complement I could find for them also their hospitality and friendship after in the six bells public house was also refreshing reminding us of ourselves so good luck to them and hello 20 points for the Mighty Hartest & Coldham Hall CC.

The Webmaster