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- Match Report Week 1-
Isham CC 1st XI
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Rushden Town 2nd XI |
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This season our overseas Player/Coach Adam is going to be doing a weekly match report and update on all the 1st XI's matches.
Round One- Isham 1st XI v Rushden 2nds To kick off season 2013, the 1st XI after a disappointing season last year that ended horribly to see them relegated to Division 2 were at home to Rushden 2nds. On a cold brisk afternoon and with new Isham skipper George Chudley missing the first game due to a wedding, it was left to stand in and a past Skipper in Simon Court, He won the Toss and decided to Bowl.
On a Flat wicket, but offering some assistance to the Bowlers , the innings was started off by overseas Adam Somerfield and bowling up into the wind was Chris Long. It was Long who struck first for the home team removing opener Sam Fowler for a Duck well caught behind by keeper Harrison (2/1). A small partnership begun to develop as Sam Perry and Darren Harrison dug in as the two Isham opening bowlers found their line and length. But with the score on 22/1, Somerfield deceiving Harrison with a well executed slower ball rattling his stumps saw the visitors lose their second wicket, and when Somerfield followed that up by hitting the new batsman James Freeman straight in front with a quick Yorker Rushden 2nds found themselves reeling at 22/3. Things went from bad to worse for Rushden 2nds, as once again Somerfield rattled the woodwork, this time it was James Rawlins who fell for 2 with the score 24/4. Number 3 Sam Perry was looking to play his shots on any lose deliveries while keeping out the good balls. Isham skipper Court, made the bowling change and with success straight away. Ryan Conyard getting his first wicket of the season removing Perry caught and bowled for a patient 18 off 44 balls.That left the visitors in a very sticky situation at 34/5. Some cool heads and smart batting from Barry Eales and Rushden 2nds skipper Anthony Jupp saw a mini fightback, the pair ticking the runs over and looking in no trouble before Eales tried to cut a delivery that was a fraction to close to the stumps only to knick it to Keeper Harrison to give him his 2nd catch of the match. Eales going for 21. Skipper Jupp was then brilliantly caught one handed by Chris Perkins soon after for 17, and a quick succession of wickets from Long, his inclusion back onto bowl was a great move from skipper court. Saw them go from 82/6 to 89/9. A couple late boundaries before the last wicket of Steven Chessum, bowled by Long saw Rushden 2nds reach 102 All Out off 35.2 Overs. Wickets for Isham: Long with 4, Somerfield 3, Raja Mahmood 2 and Ryan Conyard with 1. Top Scoring for Rushden 2nds Barry Eales with 21 and Sam Perry with 18.
After a great afternoon tea, and lots of full satisfied stomachs saw Isham openers Ben Reid and Nilesh Patel stroll to the crease to try and chase down the target of 102. Things didn’t start well for isham, as Patel was trapped LBW off the bowling of James Rawlins with the score only 4. That Brought Keeper and last seasons skipper Chris Harrison to the crease, with the Captaincy off his shoulders, and the eagerness to make runs he started very positively and was back to his free flowing best. Hitting the bad balls to the fence, and defending very well. Harrison looked in full control out in the middle, at the other end the wise head and ever experienced Reid went about his business as he does. Very watchful and solid in defence as the Rushden bowlers tried their hardest to force a break through. With the score on 42, Reid looking to maybe work one through mid wicket that possibly stopped in the wicket a little found the leading edge to be well caught by Sam Fowler giving James Rawlins his second wicket. At number 4, Stand in Captain Simon Court strode to the crease, after a brilliant start to season 2012 only to tragically injure his knee after 5 rounds to miss the rest of the season. All of the Isham players and supporters were happy to see him back out on the pitch. Always a dangerous player in the middle order capable of changing a game in the space of a few overs. Looking to be very watchful early, Court was getting himself in. Unfortunately, Harrison was trapped in front by Rawlins for 28 (7x4’s) who had all 3 wickets to leave Isham at 50/3 still needing a further 53 for victory. In came Australian Overseas Adam Somerfield, who with Court in the past have formed many quality and important partnerships. With their understanding between the wickets, stroke play and game awareness the two knuckled down and once again saw Isham over the line. Somerfield finishing it off in style after a short ball from Chris Law was dispatched over the boundary and out of the ground. Court finishing on 29 off 36 balls including three 4’s and two 6’s and Somerfield 30 off 29 balls including two 4’s and three 6’s. Isham- 22 points Rushden 2nds-3 points.
Positives out of the game would have to be the Performances of Chris Long, Given the responsibility and opportunity to open the bowling who put in a solid round one performance. Keeper Chris Harrison who was both clean and solid behind the stumps but also more importantly looked very relaxed and in control of his batting and Simon Courts return to cricket was very pleasing, Looked in good order considering what he has been through to get ready for the season , a tick for all his hard work and hope to see big things from him this year. Next week sees the Isham take on Brigstock away, a challenge against a team that is always there abouts. |
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© Isham CC 2013 |
