Holders start defence in style

Last Sunday saw the group winners from 2005 entering the competition as well as the two teams that contested last year’s Final at Lord’s. Horsham, fielding 10 of their victorious team from Lord’s, stormed to victory at Hastings and Barnt Green cruised to victory at Stone.

Hastings v Horsham
On an overcast afternoon at Horntye Park Hastings batted first. With their score at 74 for one it looked as if they would set Horsham a challenging total to chase especially with the fast outfield that meant that batsmen were getting full value for their attacking shots.

However, with the Horsham attack bowling tightly and with excellent support from the fielders, pressure was brought to bear on the Hastings batsmen. Wickets steadily fell from this point and the weakened Hastings side struggled to 144 for nine. A good innings from John Morgan, the Hastings captain, took the score to 176 so that his side had something to bowl at.

After tea the sun started to break through and Horsham looked to prosper in the pleasant conditions. Chris Nash looked assured but he skied a gift to mid-on and Horsham were eight for one. Howard Kasey supported by Michael Thornley then proceeded to build a solid base for the run chase countering some aggressive bowling from John Morgan and Dan Cooks.

Once the batsmen were set Kasey opened up and played some aggressive shots in reaching his 50. He was then caught by Morgan with the score on 72 for two. Thornley and Luke Marshall (the star of the Cockspur DVD) then put the attack to the sword as Horsham charged to victory with a dazzling array of strokes all around the wicket.

Morgan did pick up two more wickets to finish with 3-39 but Horsham won in a canter with nearly 20 overs to spare. Thornley’s innings of 64 not out was one of high class and a joy to watch.

Stone v Barnt Green
Barnt Green, with only four survivors from last year’s Final, progressed with similar ease at Stone. They did not appear to miss the talents of Richard and Miles Illingworth and others as they bowled Stone out for 119.

Brian Sims top-scored for Stone with a battling 50 but Richard Wilkinson (3-12) and Gareth Williams (2-18) led the Barnt Green attack superbly. With such a low total to chase Barnt Green cruised home by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare thus raising hopes that another run to the Final is a realistic possibility.

Round-up
The highest total in the Cockspur Cup matches this weekend was made by Brighton & Hove as they scored 346 for six against Lewes Priory (191). This match was a family affair as Luke Wells opened the batting and scored 25 before being fourth out with the total on 93.

His father Alan (the ex-England, Sussex and Kent pro) scored 208, the top individual score in this year’s competition so far, and was joined in a partnership of 231 by Ray Beidber (62 not out).

Alan’s innings included 18 fours and no less than 14 sixes. In reply, Lewes were confronted with the bowling of Luke Wells who took 4-33 and Ollie Newey who took 3-26. This match therefore set a number of bests with the top team total, top individual score and highest partnership for any wicket.

Elsewhere in the competition other successful teams from last year also enjoyed their first appearance in this year’s Cockspur Cup. Last year’s semi-finalists Caythorpe and Havant both progressed.

Caythorpe won a close game with Devon Malcolm’s Dunstall where they chased down a target of 157 to win by four wickets. Havant produced a superb all-round batting display with three players passing 50 in a total of 310 for six against Gosport Borough who managed only 146 in reply.

Bath and Bridgwater both progressed in Group 9. Bridgwater eased past Warminster by 81 runs thanks in no small part to Darren Read’s 102 out of their 258 for four, but Bath were the highest scoring team in the area amassing an imposing 343 for six against Frome with Tom Hankins scoring 186 and James Campbell 92 – this despite Neil Dredge returning figures of 4-35.

Frome were then bowled out for 149 with Stuart Priscott taking 4-25. There is the mouth-watering possibility of Bridgwater and Bath meeting again in the Fourth Round - so long as they get past Round Three first!

Winchmore Hill had a much closer match at Potters Bar. Potters Bar scored 151 for nine and Winchmore Hill scraped home by one wicket in a very tense encounter reminiscent of one or two or their matches last year.

Teddington cruised to a nine-wicket victory in their local derby with Twickenham, Jamie Wade scoring 64 not out in their total of 124 for one. Sunbury looked to be in trouble when totalling only 131 in their innings but they bowled Shepherds Bush out for only 77.

Waltham had a close match at South Hampstead where the hosts scored 139 and despite M Saleem taking 5-23 Waltham won by three wickets.

Widnes won their match at Hindley St Peter’s on faster run rate where chasing 192 for seven they reached their revised target of 133 for the loss of only one wicket.

Knowle & Dorridge were not so fortunate although they had a titanic struggle with Old Hill that went to the last ball of the match. Old Hill scored 233 for seven and with Knowle & Dorridge on 231 for seven with one ball remaining all results were possible. Old Hill took a wicket with this last ball of the match to win by the narrow margin of two runs.

Other clubs with notable recent records include Kibworth, the 2004 winners, who appear to have settled in very nicely to their new ground. Two home ties and two wins! This time they chased down Finedon Dolben’s total of 186 for eight led capably by Nick Ferraby (59) and won by seven wickets.

Ockbrook & Borrowash, Kibworth’s opponents at Lord’s in 2004, eased past Water Orton, who only managed 108, by six wickets. Sandicare Town the 2003 winners, bowled Ilkeston Rutland out for 121 and led by Danny Birch (72 not out) eased to a nine-wicket victory.

A significant score was Richmond’s who pounded the Middlesex Tamils attack for 325 for three, running out winners by 190 runs. Cardiff scored 256 for five (Alun Thomas 70, David Kirtley 83 not out) against Frenchay. Huw Carter then produced the best bowling of the day to take 7-20 and bowl the opposition out for 53. The winning margin of 203 runs was another best of the day beating Bath’s 194 run win into second place.

Andrew Chidgey scored 113 for Stapleton for the second time in this year’s competition – a unique double – following his 113 v Hatherley & Reddings with an identical score against Usk. Andy Batterley of Leigh also scored his second century in this season’s Cockspur Cup with 105 not out in Leigh’s 250 for four win against Eagley (249 for eight). Andy had scored 145 in the First Round against Skelmersdale.

A match of two high-scoring batsmen was at Loughborough where the visitors Spondon scored 240 for seven thanks in no small part to Gary Balance’s 149 not out. Loughborough Town eased to victory by nine wickets with T Flower scoring 122 not out.

To finish mention should be made of the Gore Court match at Lordswood. This time around Gore Court only fielded one of their five ex-Kent staff. Martin McCague opened the batting but Lordswood bundled their visitors out for a mere 74 with Philip Mayes taking 4-16. Lordswood knocked off the runs for the loss of only one wicket.

Cockspur Cup 2006 - Third Round fixtures (33 KB)