Scorecard

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI v Biddenham CC on Sat 25 Apr 2009 at 1:30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report The new season dawned with a torrential downpour at around 9 in the morning, the thought of play at this stage seeming unlikely. However the clouds broke and despite a stiff wind blowing glorious weather graced the afternoon for the first game of the season. The first fixture on paper against a Biddenham side that narrowly missed out on promotion looked to be a tough one, and that is what it turned out to be, the end result however is somewhat disappointing given the chances that we had to reduce Biddenham to a far lower total.
Following the usual show and tell of all new kit, including new pants for at least 5 of the team, some sparkly new boots for youngster Smail and a new thigh pad for Hallam, (unfortunately though the winter had not afforded Gibbo the opportunity of a hair cut, the nest looking to accommodate a nice family of sparrows for their winter home), the skipper went out for the toss. Winning the toss and equalling the sum total of tosses one last season, the skipper Keeping inserted the Biddenham side on what looked to be a solid wicket for the 1st game of the season, compliments to the Groundsman Andy Griffin for his hard work and effort in preparing such a good track this early in the season. We got off to an excellent start with the 5th ball of the innings, Iain Keeping taking an excellent low slip catch off the bowling of the skipper. In the third over things got better again, the other Biddenham opener not offering a stroke to a Skipper Keeping delivery that pitched on off and straightened to be trapped LBW. with the score at 1 for 2 we were definitely in the ascendancy. However that was as good as it got, 2 dropped catches followed that would have put Biddenham 4 down with less than 20 on the board. Pifle making his return to the first team following a year on family duties brought back his zinga bingers and was bowling well, Joe "The Swerve" Rice making his first team bowling debut bowled well with pace and accuracy and was unlucky not to claim his maiden scalp another catch hitting the turf. A good partnership had formed that was also scoring quickly and it needed something special to break it. However, Pifle managed to produce the worst ball of his spell and the batsman skied a catch that was taken by the skipper coming in from mid wicket. Charlie Brown by his own admission was poor with the ball and served up some juicy half volleys which were duly despatched. Keeping Junior returned and picked up his first wicket of the season. Before the skipper returned to take two wickets in two balls the hat trick ball missing by a whisker. The Biddenham innings duly closed on 222 a total that at one stage seemed unlikely, as already mentioned some poor dropped catches in addition to a couple of half chances could have reduced the opposition to a much lower total. Mention must be made to the as always excellent Christian Smail who again excelled in the deep, Joe Rice's bowling debut and a solid comeback by both Pifle and Ben Cadigan the latter taking a catch also.
At tea (which whilst im biased as it was prepared by my better half was exceptional) the team discussed what was thought to be an achievable total, the new look opening pairing of Hallam and I Keeping the latter replacing the injured Chris Soul started well, the Dravid esq wall of defence of Keeping mixed with the occasional flurry of attacking strokes, combined with the fluent stokemaking of Hallam moved the score comfortably to 35 before Hallam became the first of 5 victims to be caught in the innings, Keeping jnr followed chipping to cover whilst the skipper was deceived by a slow full toss and was through his shot before the ball had got half way. Brown was at his best at the other end though, punishing anything off line and moving the score along well, Cadigan came and went LBW, Neville with a Bucknor style decision time scale finally ending his stay. Smail continuing on from his growing ability of last year played some excellent strokes before faintly edging behind. This wicket bought Gibbo to the wicket, The hair flowing in the wind Helmet on it looked like Sideshow Bob had arrived at the crease, however he proceeded to play some attacking strokes before trying one to many and becoming one of the five caught victims. Brown still there was moving the score on and was looking settled for the clubs first half century of the season before picking out the deep mid wicket fielder for a well made 40. With 8 overs left and only "The Swerve" in the hutch we were now staring defeat in the eyes. However Gutsy and Souster had other ideas, and despite the best efforts of the Biddenham attack the pair played out the overs giving us a finishing total of 164 for 8. A losing draw, but positives were there.
Another tough game next week as we face fellow relegated side MK. However an additional couple of players are available, possibly meaning a selection headache, however this is Monday and allot can happen between now and the weekend.

Biddenham CC Batting
222 for 8
Player name Runs
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Stuart Keeping10.033147.753.10
Iain Keeping8.0026126.003.25
Nick French10.0146146.004.60
Joe Rice6.003300.005.50
Mike Brown7.015500.007.86
Stuart Griffin3.0122122.007.33

Olney Town Cricket Club Olney Town CC 1st XI Batting
164 for 8
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Mark Hallam Caught  18
Iain Keeping Caught  17 1
Mike Brown Caught  40
Stuart Keeping Bowled  8 1
Ben Cadigan Lbw  0 1
Christian Smail Caught  17
Dave Gibson Caught  8
Nick French Bowled  0
Stuart Griffin Not Out  16 1
Paul Souster Not Out  11
Joe Rice  

Biddenham CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
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