Friday 18 September 2015

Nocton Cricket Club - Match Reports

Sunday 6th September

Bracebridge Heath 2nds (141-2) beat Nocton (140 all out) by eight wickets

Nocton headed to Bracebridge Heath with eleven men and were confident of a good performance.

The skipper won the toss and chose to bat. Dylan Garfoot smashed the first two balls of the innings for four, and looked set for a big score, but he was dismissed in the third over for 12. Mikey Atkinson then went first ball, before Matthew Stephens and newcomer Russ Hayward started to rebuild the innings. This partnership was broken when Stephens dragged a full delivery on to his stumps. Hayward batted well until he was dismissed for 38, before another newcomer, Sam Chatterton, joined David Franklin in a free-scoring partnership. Franklin was dismissed for 26 before Chatterton fell for 36. Unfortunately the Nocton tail failed to wag, as the team crumbled from 135-4 to 140 all out.

After one of the best teas of the year, Nocton headed out looking for early wickets. Unfortunately Ollie Bentley, a thorn in Nocton’s side this season, found the boundary early. The other opener was dismissed by Garfoot, thanks to a well-held catch by Isaac Appleyard at mid-off. Russ Hayward took the second wicket of the innings, but Nocton’s joy ended there as the Bracebridge batsmen powered their way to an eight-wicket victory.

But wait... it emerged shortly after the match that Bracebridge Heath had conceded their 1st XI match, while playing their 2nd XI match against Nocton. This is against league rules, and after a lot of discussion by the league committee and the playing community in general, it was decided that this could not go unpunished, and therefore Nocton were awarded a full 20 win points for the match!

Match scorecard: http://nocton.play-cricket.com/website/results/2413909

Sunday 13th September

Billingborough (126 all out) lost to Nocton (143 all out) by 17 runs
Nocton headed south to Billingborough for their final match of the season, seeking five points that would guarantee safety in Division 3.

The Nocton skipper won the toss on a flat yet slightly sticky wicket and chose to bat. Run scoring was slow early on, as openers Dylan Garfoot and Matthew Stephens played themselves in. This changed in the 12th over of the innings, when 17 runs were scored, as Nocton brought up their fifty. Garfoot was dismissed for 33 with the score on 56, as Mikey Atkinson joined Stephens at the crease. The run rate increased after drinks, before Stephens was dismissed for 24. Atkinson went on to make 34, but only David Franklin (10) and Rob Appleyard (12 not out) reached double figures thereafter as Nocton were all out for 143.

Huge turn for Billingborough’s spin-bowling option, who took six wickets, saw Nocton open with spin from both ends. Garfoot struck early thanks to a well held catch by Lee Willford, but Billingborough attacked the Nocton bowlers and made their way towards what seemed a comfortable victory. In the 13th over, Miles Lynch turned the game on its head with a hat-trick, as 86 for 1 became 86 for 4. The fourth wicket saw Nocton claim their fifth point of the match and avoid relegation. This was Lynch’s second hat-trick of the season, with both coming against Billingborough.

The key for Billinborough then became the home captain, but he was dismissed thanks to a fine catch by Lynch on the boundary, off the bowling of Rob Appleyard. The score crept up but regular wickets saw Nocton eventually come out on top as Billingborough were dismissed for 126, 18 runs short of their target. Lynch finished with four wickets, while Garfoot, Appleyard and Atkinson took two apiece.

The win put Nocton third in Division 3, and while that may drop to fourth after the final round of matches, that is a great effort after a season plagued by a lack of numbers, the team fielding a full 11 only twice in 16 games.

Match scorecard: http://nocton.play-cricket.com/website/results/2413877

League table: http://ldc.play-cricket.com/website/website/league_table/57427

A big vote of thanks goes to Jonathan Sides for diligently submitting all match reports and photographs during this year's season.

A glorious late summer sight


Congratulations after a wicket falls

David Franklin hits out

Mikey Atkinson beats the bat

Skipper Stephens prepares to hit a boundary

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: All comments are moderated and will not be posted until screening has taken place. This is to ensure no foul language is posted online. Please leave your name if you are making a comment, even if it is just a first name - thank you.