Irregs v Kinnerton 16/5/10

Format: 40 overs. Venue: Northop. Scores: Irregulars 69 ao, Kinnerton 70-5. Result: Irregs lose by 5 wickets.

Our fourth game of the season was on Sunday 16^th May when we took on roaming village side Kinnerton at Northop.  A 1.30 start was planned to allow plenty of time to get the full 80 overs in.  Oops.  A couple of years ago Kinnerton were very village but last season they recruited a few new players and are now a pretty decent outfit for a friendlies-only team.  After the toss skipper Neil got everyone together in the changing room for the pre-innings team talk.  There was one key instruction above all others: “Bat the overs guys”.  Mark those words – we will come back to them.  And not just once.

So out we strode to bat first in partly sunny conditions on what looked to be a reasonable grass pitch.  Dan and Neil opened and with 5 runs coming from the first 2 balls we thought we were off to flying start.  Unfortunately 10 dots followed (including a maiden from Spink to Dan) and then on the first ball of the third over Neil was adjudged leg-before playing a forward defensive to a good length delivery from the other Kinnerton opener Gillespie.  Neil was slightly miffed at this decision as he had a decent stride forward, but to be fair to umpire Graham the decision was not taken lightly and the finger was only raised after due consideration.

So, a disappointment to be 5-1 in the third over, but with Steve coming out to the crease we were still in good shape…weren’t we?  Well it looked that way for a little while as with Steve’s usual quick running, and a boundary from Dan, we moved on to 17-1 after 6 overs.  However Gillespie bowled tight for his fourth over and after 5 dots a frustrated Steve forgot his captain’s words and spooned a mis-time drive high to cover for a simple catch; 17-2.

Out came Richard and Kinnerton brought on new bowler Chapman for what turned out to be the spell that turned the game.  His first over, the eighth of the game, went fine, with 2 runs off the bat and 4 leg byes, but then Gillespie bowled a maiden to finish on 2-14 from 5, and took a rest to leave the wicket-taking to Chappers.  And take them he did.  A mis-field at square leg gave Dan a four from the first ball of the tenth over but that clearly riled Chappers and next delivery he fired in a straight full pitched delivery which Dan couldn’t get his bat down on quickly enough leaving him clean bowled for 17 with the innings at 27-3.

Out strode Rhodesey looking the part as ever, but 4 balls later it was 27-4 as Chappers knocked the stumps over again, giving him figures at this stage of 2-6 from 2.  Out came Mark and played a few flowing strokes as ever, but we didn’t stem the tide for long as Richard was out c&b in Chapman’s third over; 31-5.  Pete J came out and again proved that he can hit the ball, putting on a stand of 14 with Mark (don’t laugh – that was our highest partnership of the match), but he fell in Chapman’s fourth over having a swish at a straight one (captain’s words anyone?) leaving us on 45-6 after 14 overs.  Mark followed next over in similar circumstances at the other end after an entertaining but all too brief innings (was anyone listening to the skipper in the changing room?); Irregulars 46-7 from 15.  Chapman then finished off his spell with a maiden for figures of 4-15 from 5 overs.  But did that change our luck?  Not really.  And let’s face it we can’t blame luck anyway.

Mansoor and Graham provided stout defence for a few overs (yay, someone was listening!) but Mansoor was trapped lbw in the 19^th over by a ball that never rose above ankle height, leaving us on 55-8.  That brought Pete L to the crease and for a few more overs with Graham & Pete we looked like we could play cricket a bit, but it was all too late and when Graham was rather handily stumped by the Kinnerton keeper in the 23^rd over we were 65-9 and staring into the abyss (at least it gave Neil an opportunity for umpiring revenge).  However, there is always a bright spot in any dark sky (sometimes you have to look really hard, and perhaps use a little imagination) and in this case it was an opportunity for Scott Oates to show us the quality of the Northop junior coaching setup.  Scott’s batting technique did indeed do the club proud, but sadly it was only for a few deliveries as a suicidal single call from Pete did for Scott and we were 69 all out after 25 overs.

Ok, so it’s three o’clock, who’s ready for tea??

Sensibly, tea was postponed until after the game and after another inspirational team talk in the changing room (were we listening this time?) we took to the field full of our skipper’s confident predictions of making them work for it.  Following a slight delay due to the skipper forgetting to tell anyone to keep wicket, Mansoor opened the bowling with first over of what was to be an excellent spell.  The Kinnerton openers, Green and Spink, both looked pretty handy, but when Green was caught behind from Mansoor without scoring we thought we saw a glimmer of hope.

Sadly Spink and no. 3 Battersby had other ideas and took the score on to 37 before Battersby was trapped lbw by our stand-in opening bowler Pete L for 17.  No. 4 Harling soon followed, clean bowled by Pete who ended with figures of 2-23 from 5 overs, a very creditable performance from – I hope I’m not doing him a disservice here – an occasional bowler.  At 42-3 we were still in with an outside chance (outside as in out the door down the garden path and half-way round the block).  We kept the pressure on with a couple more wickets before the death: Mansoor finally bowling opener Spink for 35 to end a fantastic unbroken spell of 8 overs, 2 maidens, 2 for 28; and Steve getting Gillespie c&b for 1.  But to be honest they were always going to comfortably reach the modest target of 70, and in the end they did it in the 17^th over with 5 wickets in hand.

Result: Kinnerton won by 5 wickets with 23.2 overs remaining.

Man-of-the-match: Louise for an excellent tea, closely followed by Mansoor for a fiery unbroken 8 over spell, including the wickets of both the classy openers.

Champagne moment: don’t be silly.

Dan Longhurst

Kingsley v Irregs 9/5/10

Format: 40 overs. Venue: Kingsley Cricket Club. Scores: Kingsley 172 ao, Irregulars 100 ao. Result: Irregs lose by 72 runs

Having comfortably beaten Eaton last week, Irregulars with some confidence headed to another delightful venue at Kingsley Cricket Club, nestled within the rolling countryside in Cheshire. Due to last minute drop outs and without our regular skip (who was having a well deserved break!) we were struggling to get a team together to challenge a much sterner opposition at Kingsley. Thanks to last minute recruits; three juniors from Northop (two of them from the under 9s!) and new guest Tony Dowd, we finally managed to get 11 players to fulfil the fixture.

The day started off with a disaster even before we left Northop as I drove into the back of Graham’s car, denting my brand new motor! In hind sight, I fully regretted my decision to relinquish parental responsibilities of taking Ali to his first Welsh training session in Newport on the day.

Having arrived at the venue with no further accidents, acting skip Graham lost the toss and on a greenish pitch, they opted to bat first. Mansoor and Gerry opened the bowling and kept their openers pinned down for a couple of overs. This was short lived as they began to up the scoring. Graham then brought in the promising junior recruit from Northop; Nathan Price, who managed to induce a top edge off the more aggressive opener, which I managed to grab gracefully with my keeping gloves, breaking the ‘threatening’ first wicket partnership. Two balls later he cleaned bowled the new batsman for a duck with a peach of a delivery which swung back off the seam to hit the middle stump.

Pete (Langham) and Graham then kept things quiet for a while. Graham then suddenly produced the best over of the day; first clean bowling one of their juniors and next ball repeating the same to hit the top of middle stump to dismiss the other junior player for a golden duck. He narrowly missed the chance of collecting the first hat-trick for the Irregulars.

Although we managed to keep their run rate down, their opening batsman Wilson raised the tempo at the end of their innings along with their number 11 batter (who looked very decent) to pose a daunting total of 172 off 40 overs. Wilson fell in the final over after scoring a well composed 87, caught by Nathan off Gerry. He should have been out in the previous over when he skied a rising delivery off Mansoor but unfortunately both Mansoor and my self ran for the catch without calling, and the ball safely landing in-between us (Neil, glad you were not skippering!).

All our five bowlers bowled well and managed to get in the wickets column; Mansoor 1-43, Gerry 1-46, Pete 2-31 and Graham 2-28 but pick of the bowler was Nathan who ended with figures of 3-19 off his 8 overs.

After the tea break, Pete (Langham) and I walked into the middle to (try) and knock off the runs. Our tactics were to occupy the crease as long as possible! However, their bowlers had other ideas, bowling accurate line and length and with hostility. Pete gloved a rising delivery to the keeper in the third over without scoring (a rarity), bringing young Nathan to the crease. He also departed for a duck in the following over caught behind off a seaming delivery with the score at 8 – 2 off 4 overs. Graham and I then started to build a partnership but unfortunately I stood on the stumps chasing a wide delivery off their spinner in the 10th over for 2, which summed up my day.

Graham and Mansoor played sensibly to steady the ship until Graham was out caught and bowled for a patient knock of 15 runs. Gerry joined Mansoor but was struggling to run between the wickets due to his sore and stiff back. Having consulted their captain, it was decided to have a runner for Gerry and as I was just about to walk in to the middle (having fully kitted up including a box), Gerry was out lbw next ball!

Pete (Jones) walked into the middle with full of confidence after last weeks heroics at Eaton having collected the Man of the Match award for his brutal batting display, but  unfortunately was clean bowled for a golden duck (Pete that’s cricket – an uncertain game). New comer Tony Dowd also came and went quickly without troubling the scorer bringing Nigel to the crease. As we all know, Nige only knows one way to bat, and he did not disappoint us. He scored a quick fire 21 with three terrific boundaries before getting bowled out trying to go after the bowling, I am sure with the hope of trying to get close to the target! Mansoor was finally out lbw, having tried his best to play the anchor role for a superb knock of 26 with three boundaries.

Josh and Henry (who are both in the North East Wales under 10s squad), enjoyed the company in the middle and showed their potential with their text book defensive technique. They managed to get the score up to the landmark figure of 100 with singles and even the odd two, which was a consolation achievement. Irregulars were all out in the 36th over when Henry was caught at silly point for 2, leaving Josh on 10 not out.

My Man of the Match is young Nathan Price for his superb bowling effort; 8-1-19-3 and a great catch to dispose their top scorer. Champagne moment has to be Graham’s two wickets in two balls.

Overall it was an enjoyable game played in the right spirit against a bunch of friendly lads. Post match analysis revealed that they had quite a few players who play regularly for the seconds and at least one who plays for the firsts. Considering this, although their winning margin was 72 runs, it was a decent effort from the Irregulars. Well done to all and especially to the Northop youngsters. Finally a special mention and thank you to Graham for skippering the day.

PS: (Graham…many apologies for running into the back of your car, will be in touch with my insurers details shortly!!)

Ushan Andrady

Caption competition

Bucolic scene at Eaton Park

What a marvellous sight. Little wonder we won by 10 wickets.

A special prize for the person who comes up with the best caption: a free pint plus his preferred place in the batting order in the next game.

Terms and conditions apply.

Eaton Estate v Irregulars 6/5/10

Format: 20 overs. Venue: Eaton Estate. Scores: Eaton 115-4, Irregulars 116-0 (15.2 overs). Result: Irregs win by 10 wickets.

As the repercussions of the 6th of May Election Night result gradually dawns on the Irregulars, the electorate of the UK also look forward to a new dawn in British Politics.

Which result will live longest in the memory depends on what your politics are and whether you can say “I know I was there!”

The evening started unremarkably, under cloudy skies and with rising damp underfoot. Sporadic rain throughout the day threatened but ultimately didn’t render any need for Duckworth-Lewis.

A spectacular venue backdrop, a private pitch and pavilion surrounded by a narrow gauge railway amid sprawling parkland filled with mature deciduous woodland and strolling deer. Eaton Hall the ancestral home of the Duke of Westminster standing at long-on, I kid you not.

The opposition Estate workers were without their employer, formerly top of the UK Rich list, ‘old’ money now replaced by the oil soaked Roubles a certain Roman Abramovich and the Rupee of an Indian Steel magnate. However despite his absence he did us proud with drinks, soft and otherwise, and a pie and pea supper. Thank you your Grace.

Village rules agreed, maximum two over’s each, everyone bowls, no LBW’s (useful Ushan), all balls down the leg side = wides and Retire a ‘Gentleman’ at 25.

Irregulars took the field as Eaton Estate chose to bat first on the sluggish and damp but well maintained track. Keith and Doug opening for Eaton started steadily but obviously surprised by Gerry and Mansoor’s accuracy and pace. Their 2 over spells both returning 0-8 figures. Graham at first change encouraged by Neil’s words from mid off “keep it pitched up on this wicket” tried hard to provide line and length over pace to keep the scoring down, even managing to beat the bat once or twice and hit the top of middle to account for Bruce who by now had replace Keith (retired 27 NO) returning figures of 1-7 from two over’s. Mark bowling from the ‘Country Pile’ end supporting with 0-13.

Peter J coming on for his first bowling spell for the Irregulars bowled with tenacity accounted for Craig for four to a sharp catch from Mark Sudder at mid wicket taking 1-4 off his one over. Neil after taking the wicket of Doug to a nonchalant catch by Harry, went on to record figures of 1-12 however along with Steve Oates his bowing suffered from the misfortune of being in the firing line of Big Jim who quickly came in and just as quickly departed (Retired 30 NO) from no more than 2 over’s faced depositing the ball, and threatening users of the estate road twenty yards behind the railway tracks which themselves were 20 yards behind Mansoor at long on. Steve’s figures suffered more than most without any real justice (26-0), however to be fair anyone would have faced the same fate bowling to Big Jim in that mood. I’m just glad I’d finished bowling by the time Jim came in.

Jim’s departure left Edwin and George to see Eaton home despite the occasional referral to the TV umpire for a stumping chance (square leg Ump looking the other way), and two fumbled run out chances to the keeper (me) and Ushan, before getting it right to Run Out Ed for a duck.

With the innings coming to a close Pete Langham bowled his now reliable line and length in the corridor of uncertainty without just return (0-5 from two) and Harry (0-12) beat the bat regularly with his normal slippery quick accurate pace however by now the ball seemed to be coming off the sticky surface as if pitching in a bowl of treacle forcing the keeper to stand a lot closer than his ‘head’ said was reasonable for his immediate safety. Ushan turned to his shoulder injury induced spin for 0-11 whilst Dan finished off the innings with both batsmen looking for quick runs in the last over for 0-6.

The target of 116 looked reasonably daunting, given the slowness of the pitch and a need to keep the score board ticking over. Only setting the Northop U15’s 96 the previous week didn’t help, and the need for a more disciplined batting performance was required to get somewhere close to the winning score.

Pete Langham and Dan set the standard for those to follow, with good judgement of singles keeping the score board moving interspersed with regular boundaries led us to keep up the required run rate without significant alarm, the main concern was to keep the runs coming before really good bowlers replaced those that we were able to score freely from. Seven an over looks alright on paper until you face two or three maidens and their productivity was welcome whilst the going seemed good and we weren’t offering chances.

Dan Retired on 25 from 24 faced making way for Ushan who struggled to lay bat on ball. The mental image that this statement conjures is unfair on the batsman as the scorebook confirms that from his first 17 balls faced no less than 9 wides were bowled. His ultimate score eventually only equalled the extras he’d faced.

Pete Langham’s bowling performance was equalled by steady but effective batting particularly a ‘trade mark’ dab outside off between gulley and point which resulted in a single every time and some busy running between the wickets which made sure we never looked behind the required rate. He too had to retire on 26 from 27 balls making way (with some distance remaining to the objective) to Peter Jones and his first bat for the Irregulars. To say his 17 ball 26 was just brutal would be unmerited. His immediate ability to time shots to the boundary on a pitch that wasn’t coming on was impressive, as he said upon his retirement to the pavilion “I had to wait and wait until it got to me before I could play a shot”. His shots were effective if not out of the MCC Coaching manual resulting in three fours and a six and rapid progress towards the target. Mark Sudder quickly replaced him with an expressed intention of giving it a swing until it was pointed out that this could result in him being the only casualty in what could be a record win at which time he decided to take a more rational approach. Mark and Ushan carried their bats Ushan’s 9 not out, and steady 5 from 3 balls faced for Mark brought us home for an unexpected 10 wicket win.

Although some of the fielding was a bit creaky, and a couple of bowlers suffered from the attentions of Big Jim, the batting performance, albeit against some modest (at times) bowling is what provided the platform for a splendid win. The sportsmanship and hospitality of the Eaton Estate team made the night. Some new acquaintances forged, and hopefully a return fixture within the view of the Northop Church Tower if not Michael Owen’s house (the best we can come up with on the UK’s Rich list). Alternatively another match on the ‘estate’ on a warms summers eve’ would be a mouth watering prospect.

So the final ballot has been counted and here is the result of the Eaton Park constituency. Northop Irregulars win by 10 wickets, no puns about swing to the opposition, no dazzling computer graphics just the coldness of back and white print. That in itself doesn’t do justice to the evening, as without the opposition we are nought, a splendid evening shared in good company, from the initial threats of dark cloud despair, and the chance to enjoy the surroundings of a world within itself, and the opportunity to look upon the history of the Irregulars and say “I know, I was there”.

The Champagne Moment should be the scoreboard recording the margin of the win, 116-0 from 15.2 over’s, however that is merely a statistic, a champagne moment should be a moment of individual brilliance, or at least to savour, so I’m happy to celebrate Pete J’s six, as my champagne moment, just collect your reward from the cellars of Eaton House … and don’t get caught mate.

Graham Aveyard