Monday, May 2, 2011

The 3rd Xl kicked-off their season at The Avenue on Monday when thanks to an unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 113 they beat visitors Wimblington by six wickets in a 40-over friendly.

Dan Martell (65no) and Ben Pyle (52no) both recorded maiden half-centuries for the club, chasing the visitors' 189-9. They came together at 77-4, after Nathan Foad (29) and Pat Ringham (19) had given the home side a tidy start.

Martell followed up the previous day's impressive batting for the 1st Xl with a stylish knock that contained eight boundaries. Pyle, who completed his half-century with the winning boundary, found the ropes on six occasions.

The ex-Doddington duo also picked up wickets between them - Pyle taking 3-42 and Martell looking good for his 1-16 off eight overs. For Wimblington, Dave Walker carried his bat for 71 on a dry track and fast outfield.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

An embarrassing one wicket defeat to a 10-man Longstanton 2nd Xl side, containing a number of young schoolboys, was no way for the 3rd Xl to start their season in CCA Junior League Division 2A, on Saturday.

Not since the opening day of their 2009 campaign, has the team performed so abjectly - and it didn't help matters that they finished with just nine fielders after the drinks break due to social commitments.

At 36 without loss the home side were coasting at The Neal-Wade until they lost both openers without further score - James Hilliard making 23. And at 59-5 they were shaking their heads wondering what had gone wrong with what appeared to be a strong batting line-up on paper.

Thankfully, Nick Peck hit a spirited 31 and along with Nathan Oliver doubled the total for the sixth wicket. Peck found the boundary on seven occasions, with Oliver showing a great deal more application than his elders for his dozen runs. Wickets again tumbled, as the
3rd Xl were dismissed for a disappointing 141.

At the end, the game could have gone either way, but too many loose balls and failing to capture that elusive last wicket resulted in defeat.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

A last over thriller saw the 3rd Xl bounce back from the previous week's horror show to record their first victory of the season in CCA Junior League Division 2A.

With five runs needed from the final over at the Neale-Wade, the home side somehow managed to lose two wickets inside the first three balls, only for teenager Toby Nulty to calmly score the required runs off the next two deliveries for a three wicket win.

And it was Nulty the bowler, who finished up with four Little Downham wickets to his name, as the visitors struck 195-8. Their opening batsman, Peter Baker scored a century and then was out next ball to Nulty, who had his fielders to thank for some smart catches during a blustery afternoon.

Off-spinner Stuart Fox looked more like his old self with a tidy 2-36 spell and Jamie Stimpson put in a good shift in what was his first bowl of the season.

James Hilliard was in no mood to hang about in reply - hitting seven boundaries in his knock of 38. His opening partner Pat Ringham relied upon determination over timing for his 36, as the game was nicely set up at 121-3 with 11 overs to go.

Scott Welcher (42) and Rob Cummings (20) looked as if they would see things through, only for both batsmen to lose their wickets. It was then left to big-hitting Nick Peck to smack a run-a-ball 26 to put the side insight of victory.

But when Peck was bowled second ball of the 40th over and Stimpson trapped lbw next delivery, the game looked as though it might have slipped away. Nulty coolly nudged two runs through mid-wicket off the fourth ball - did the same off the fifth, with the winner coming off a miss-field.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Fifteen-year-old Toby Nulty claimed a hat-trick in a five wicket display and James Hilliard hit a century, as the 3rd Xl annihilated CCA Junior League Division 2A leaders Pymoor by a massive 166-run margin at the Neale-Wade.

Stand-in skipper Hilliard's 101 was the highlight of a 221-8 total, with newcomer Marcus Kirby unbeaten on 33. Hilliard, who took nine deliveries to get off the mark, then smashed 16 boundaries in a 98-ball stay at the crease. Pat Ringham's 15 and Dennis Furnell's 25 supported him at the top of the order, but it was Kirby's innings that was the telling one - the pair putting on 54 for the fourth wicket.

Nulty then went to town, taking three consecutive wickets in his fourth over to return figures of 5-19, as Pymoor found themselves 33-7 off nine and then 55 all out after 18 overs. The youngster, who has two centuries to his name already this season, spearheaded the attack for a team that contained five fourth teamers.

Manuj Patel and Neil Alger both picked up a brace of wickets in the second win from three games.

The 3rd Xl's top-of-the-table clash went down to the wire as leaders Leverington maintained their unbeaten record in CCA Junior League Division 2A despite a final over scare.

It looked all done at dusted at tea, with March only making 130-9, but that was nearly enough against the 10-man visitors, who suffered against the tight bowling of skipper Matt Hubbard, Stuart Fox and Toby Nulty. Leverington edged home with one wicket and four balls remaining.

In fact, it was a day for the the bowlers, who held the upper hand on an ovecast and blustery afternoon. Leverington's bowling unit was the best March had seen all season. Pat Ringham struggled to the game's highest score of 29 and Nick Peck came with a late flurry for his 21 - the remainder of the order all getting decent starts.

An opening stand of 39 looked to have broken the back of the home attack, until Hubbard took two wickets in his opening two overs on his way to 4-23. He bowled well, as did off-spinner Fox and together they held the visitors in check.

But you don't get to the top of the table without grit and determination and in the end that was enough to see Leverington squeeze home.