Concorde v Christchurch

Match Report

A beautiful sunny day greeted the protagonists last Sunday and the Concorde team included two new debutants in the form of John Wilson and Peter Fodor. Like everyone else, they will have been pleased to see a hard and straw coloured wicket which looked excellent for a well balanced match between bat and ball.

On winning the toss, Christchurch CC skipper, Lennox, elected to field and Edgar and Nick Freeman opened the batting for Concorde. Edgar in particular looked to be seeing the ball very well and unleashed a number of meaty drives and a superb full blooded hook while Nick, though looking slightly less at ease, also played some nice shots.

It was actually a surprise then when Nick was caught for 17 but Justin looked well set before being bowled for 18. Edgar though was moving along nicely and had 37 before being caught with the score at 94 – 3

There followed something of a slump as Matt Stockbridge, Phil Hall and John Wilson went fairly cheaply though in making 17, John showed enough to suggest he will be a more than handy performer in the middle order.

At 140 – 6, the innings looked to be subsiding to a well below par score but Tom Barton, playing his first serious innings in 10 years, went on the attack and quietly supported by Jerry Wright, the score mounted.

Driving powerfully down the ground, Tom struck six 4’s and five 6’s in changing the complexion of the game. His innings closed with the declaration and with the score on 220 – 6 with Tom unbeaten on 70.

After the tea interval, Tom opened the attack with Phil Hall at the other end and bowling with pace and bounce, both made life uncomfortable for the opening batsmen. Following a catch being dropped at cover off Tom, Nigel grabbed a very good catch, low down, at silly mid off from the next ball.

Tom picked up another wicket and then took a well earned rest with two wickets under his belt and the two incumbent batsman began to look fairly comfortable and on a quick wicket and a fast outfield, the score began to rise uncomfortably.

But as is his wont, Cudders teased a batsman into a big shot and was smartly stumped by Justin and then tossed in a full length ball to claim an LBW.

Matt Stockbridge too was bowling tightly and claimed a wicket when Tom Barton stretched above his 6’5” frame to take an excellent catch at full reach above his head.

This looked a good time to give Peter Fodor his first bowl for the club and one of the more interesting debut overs unfolded thus:

1st ball – dot ball
2nd ball- boundary
3rd ball – bowled attempting to pull
4th ball – caught one handed at deep gulley by Jerry Wright leaping to his left.
5th ball – Hat trick ball blocked
6th ball – boundary

After this spectacular start (see family video above) to his Concorde cricket career and with figures of 2 – 8 from his one over, Peter pulled a hamstring chasing the ball to the boundary and had to leave the field.

With the score at 140 – 7 and with 12 of the final 20 overs left, it was time for Tom to return to the attack. In 6 overs of high quality fast bowling, Tom did what all Captains hope for in knocking over the tail, all three clean bowled, in spite of dogged resistance from the Christchurch skipper who remained undefeated.

A good win by 66 runs, a most enjoyable game played in an excellent spirit and no room for doubt as to the man of the match.