groups, clubs & societies : cricket club : reports archive : november 2002


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Reproduced from the November 2002 issue of the Glenside News


Our Annual Dinner has been changed rather drastically. Due to various circumstances, both date and the venue have had to be changed. Now the date is the 23rd November. the venue is The Wishing Well at Dyke. Not 16th at South Witham as previously stated!

If this has inconvinienced you, please accept our sincere apologies - but please make every effort to attend.

For a change this year our last game of the season was not away against The Stragglers at Old Somerby. This year it was our penultimate match.

Batting first against some very fast and, at times, very hostile bowling our openers got off to a very slow but solid start. James Hutchinson and John Lamin both made 32 but Phil Abbot made 50 not out as our total reached 184 for 8. Russ Fenn, Ralph Bradley and Pat Hewitt all reached double figures.

When Stragglers batted we took three wickets fairly early on but then came up against the Durham boys who both survived dropped catches and went on their way to win the game with three overs and seven wickets to spare. Richard D. scored 100 not out and Mark D. 48 not out. Richard was dropped on three occasions, once again proving that old adage ' Catches Win Matches!'

So on to our last game - a friendly against Ashton near Oundle. We could only manage to raise 9 players and I turned down the request to make it 10.

Batting first against a combination of medium and slow accurate bowling we reached 145 for 6 wickets at the end of 40 overs. Ralph Bradley top-scored with 39 and five more helped - James Hutchinson (29), Russ Fenn (17), Michael Wright (17 no), Pat Hewitt (14) and Rob Fenn (11) all did their bit.

Ashton plodded along on a wicket that never looked like allowing a glut of runs. It seemed, with a few overs left, that a defeat was on the cards as their star man, Stuart Francis was just over 50 not out. That was when James Hutchinson stepped in to take his first ever hat-trick - all three clean bowled.

As the last ball was due to be bowled, by John Lamin, Stuart Francis was at the non-strikers end. Experienced bowler, John, bowled a ball of good length and direction that could only be played back down the wicket. They had to go - they needed two to win! The result? A run-out and victory by one run! Not bad for a depleted side. It certainly made the atmosphere in the dressing room and the bar much more enjoyable.

Another season done - what a struggle. I reckon we will manage another in 2003 - just about.

p.s. don't forget the dinner.

Peter Kiely



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