[Cricket] The Village / Amateur CRICKET Thread- 2025 Edition

hans kraay fan club · May 23, 2025

Billy in Bristol said:
As well as weekend Cricket, being a big city we have a lot of opportunities to play midweek 'franchise Cricket but too many teams not enough players. So I am now 4 games into an eight game stretch playing for eight different teams...

Yes I am single.

I might also be single, if I play too many midweek games - and stay a bit too long in the pub afterwards like last night.

Decent win though, chasing down 92 with 3 overs to spare.

Especially pleased with my figures of 4/0/9/3, given that I had to bowl three of the overs before our last two fielders had arrived.

Eeyore · May 25, 2025

'We go again.....'

Cheshire Cat · May 25, 2025

Two !!!!!!

Ouch.

Eeyore · May 25, 2025

Cheshire Cat said:
Two !!!!!!

Ouch.

One extra included !

Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo · May 26, 2025

Another weekend of cricket.

Yesterday was played in absolutely horrible conditions. Bitter wind, cold and occasional spots of rain but not enough to bring the players in.

Playing the team that beat us by 7 wickets in our first game of the season and are top of the table we were expecting a tough afternoon and not just because of the weather. We won the toss and put them in. The boy was wicket keeping his first second XI game and we had instant success as he took a catch behind the stumps to remove one of their openers for 0.

In very difficult conditions they struggled to get going and only their captain made any real runs (68), helped by some questionable catching in the field. Thankfully our bowlers were taking wickets regularly and we ended up restricting them to just 158.

We also struggled to get going and lost some early wickets. Thankfully one of our openers (and former chairman who has come out of retirement at nearly 60) was going along quite nicely. The boy came in at 4 and played a few nice shots for 3 singles before he got bowled by one that tuned sharply by what was their best bowler (3-17). We were worried our former chairman would run out of partners but a couple of our youngsters held up their end well allowing us to end up with a 5 wicket win and our opener finishing on 97no.

Onto today and a development game locally. Both my boys were playing in this one, my younger boy making his debut at this level. We won the toss and decided to have a bat with the oldest boy opening. Unfortunately he lost his opening partner early but then dominated the strike batting with another lad who isn’t quite as confident with the bat, but these games are all about giving the younger lads a chance to learn so we put the pressure on my lad to take a lead role in the partnership and help talk his team mate through the overs.

It worked as when the other lad was out he’d gone for 14, which is his highest ever score. My boy went on and passed 50 for the second Sunday running. We thought he’d be called in at this point but our captain told him to stay out. He kept going and was helped by some good efforts from a couple of other lads who got into the 20s.

In the end my boy got caught on 92. So close to his first ever 100. But in a week he’s hit 78, 45 and 92. I’ve told him his next step is to get his second XI scores up where his highest is still only 15.

We ended up running up a decent 248/5 off 35 overs. Which we thought would give us a chance. They started cautiously and struggled to keep up with the run rate but we found wickets hard to come by. We eventually made a break through and this pattern seemed to repeat itself. My youngest came on to bowl (he wants to be a wicket keeper like his older brother) so his bowling isn’t the best but he had a go and was fairly economical. My older lad took a great catch at mid off (he wasn’t keeping this one), running backwards with the sun in his eyes he did well to hold it.

They couldn’t get their run rate up and even bringing my oldest lad on to bowl the last over we ran out winners by 72 runs.

I get two nights off cricket this week as our Slam game is Friday which gives me an unexpected Thursday night off.

Fignon's Ponytail · May 26, 2025

Prem Century for Frank this weekend.
126 off 78 balls - 10x 4s, and 10x 6s

So pleased for him - and nice that the likes of Jamie Atkins and Alexia Walker messaged to congratulate him. Shame we weren't there to see it though!

Fignon's Ponytail · May 26, 2025

Eeyore said:
View attachment 202647

'We go again.....'

Richmond are my best mates old team - he messaged me earlier having a good old giggle about it. One of his mates was playing for them in this game as well. Ouch!

Badger · May 26, 2025

Eeyore said:
View attachment 202647

'We go again.....'

If Richmond had batted first, they could have been in the pub by 2pm

Audax · Tuesday at 12:12 PM

Rinse and repeat for Uckfield 1sts, except this time we don't have the excuse of our opponents stacking their team with players from a higher div ... as it was also their 1sts.

We bowled first (similar reason to previous week, due to a player needing to leave early). Our openers kept them quiet initially, and the change bowlers carried that on for the first 20 overs. With scoreboard pressure mounting, we picked up a few wickets - but our bowlers were also very unlucky, beating the bat on countless occasions. After drinks it all went a bit pear-shaped with their #5 bat making a rapid (and well executed) 100 off 72 balls to lead them to a 221 total from their 40. As expected, I didn't bowl ... which was painful as the conditions were absolutely perfect for me. Bit of swing on offer, bit of nibble off the seam, and rewards for cutters if you can get enough rotation on the ball. Oh well - wasn't worth the risk just a week on, despite the groin coming out the other side of 40 overs fielding feeling absolutely fine.

Batting was forgettable. No one in our line up really got the measure of the pitch (was a bit two-paced from one end). One of our openers was looking very good with some find shots through the offside, but was given out LBW (oppo brought 2 umpires with them, in hindsight we should have insisted on umpiring one end) to one that was easily going over the top. From there it all fell apart, regular wickets dropping and we ended on 85. Made a scrappy 3 from 6 balls for myself, popping an absolute dolly of a catch back to the bowler after being suckered into coming forward to one that stuck in the pitch a little.

Weather (and wife's schedule) permitting I'll be back in the nets this week to a) test bowling ahead of the weekend, and b) keep working on my new batting stance.

Billy in Bristol · Tuesday at 10:49 PM

Played my first Bristol League cricket since COVID season...got a wicket with my first ball , inswinger through the left handers gate. "Have you missed me?" I smugly asked, the answer was a resounding "No!". 8-2-21-2 . We lost and irritatingly on 99 wickets for the club so I am going to have to play another for them.

Audax · Thursday at 9:28 PM

Audax said:
Weather (and wife's schedule) permitting I'll be back in the nets this week to a) test bowling ahead of the weekend, and b) keep working on my new batting stance.

A) success! Fit to bowl.
B) fail. Schedule didn't permit getting to nets early enough to bat.

hans kraay fan club · Friday at 11:24 AM

Evening League again last night. Good win. Three more wickets (4/0/18/3) means an evening league season total of 12/1/41/9 - in a league where the average over goes for 7 or 8.

Wasn't all so impressive though - I misjudged a big skier - ran in towards it far too quickly, and ended up wearing it on the chin. Despite the impressive amount of blood shed, it doesn't look like much today. It really hurts though, and FEELS as if my lower jaw is massively swollen.

Ali_rrr · Friday at 12:20 PM

Couple of weeks ago, I think we had the one of the freakiest injuries I've ever seen. Bowler runs up, our batter cuts it into a space and the non striker starts to run as it's an easy single. However, the batter wasn't running.

He sits down, takes off his pads and there is blood everywhere. Turns out he cut the ball directly between his pad and the seam has landed directly onto his skin. Ripped his leg wide open and required around 8-10 stitches. Proper grim.

Worst part was we only required another 8 or so runs to win.

Guinness Boy · Friday at 12:46 PM

hans kraay fan club said:
Evening League again last night. Good win. Three more wickets (4/0/18/3) means an evening league season total of 12/1/41/9 - in a league where the average over goes for 7 or 8.

Wasn't all so impressive though - I misjudged a big skier - ran in towards it far too quickly, and ended up wearing it on the chin. Despite the impressive amount of blood shed, it doesn't look like much today. It really hurts though, and FEELS as if my lower jaw is massively swollen.

View attachment 202997

OUCH!

Ali_rrr said:
Couple of weeks ago, I think we had the one of the freakiest injuries I've ever seen. Bowler runs up, our batter cuts it into a space and the non striker starts to run as it's an easy single. However, the batter wasn't running.

He sits down, takes off his pads and there is blood everywhere. Turns out he cut the ball directly between his pad and the seam has landed directly onto his skin. Ripped his leg wide open and required around 8-10 stitches. Proper grim.

Worst part was we only required another 8 or so runs to win.

DOUBLE OUCH!

Fignon's Ponytail · 2025-06-02T11:49:58+0100

Well, after the amazing 126 last week, my lad went for a first ball duck vs Nomads this weekend. The life of a cricketer eh?
At least he took 3 wickets & a catch though, including clean bowling Archie Lenham, who was completely tied up in knots on a slower ball.

Audax · 2025-06-02T12:29:24+0100

Uckfield season '25 going the same way as season '24...

We travelled to face Bells Yew Green 3rds, match played at Cousley Wood. Was a bit of a trek getting there. Ground is very pretty, but the pitch is a bit wobbly due to elevation changes and that had me concerned - I've always struggled bowling if I don't have a level surface under me, likely a legacy of playing so much indoor cricket in my younger days.

We lost the toss and were asked to bat first on a pitch with a definite green tinge to it. They bowled really well, in particular from the end I was umpiring at with their opener putting the ball on a really good line and length and getting decent late out swing at a gentle medium pace. The odd ball slowed up on pitching, and this was the undoing of one of our openers ... after trying multiple times to pop up a catch playing too early (and being dropped twice), a dolly of a catch was offered and taken at mid wicket. From there we did our usual ... very slow run rate up to the drinks break at 20 overs, and a few wickets lost along the way. We picked up post-drinks, but a total of 142/6 felt low at the tea break. Our bright spot was one of our juniors hitting a very well constructed 51 batting at #4. I went in at #7 in the closing overs and managed a respectable 12*, although I wasted the final over - 4 dots trying to hit the ball too hard.

As with previous weeks, our bowling effort started strongly. Our two openers have been in great form so far this season when it comes to economy, but we've lacked early wickets. And so it happened again this weekend. The first 10 overs were very respectable, keeping the run rate down, before one of their openers began to get his eye in and take advantage of anything even remotely loose. I came on first change, and my pre-match fears were realised - I struggled with my footing in my first over, sending down a mixed bag of wides, short balls, and good deliveries. I was encouraged by the good ones getting some good swing. Second over started with a wayward slower ball no-ball for a waist-high full bunger, followed by the rest of the over being reasonably decent - good swing, beat the bat a few times. Third over ... we shall not speak of it. Footing struggles returned, slower ball just wasn't coming out right, and I got yanked with figures of 3-0-20-0. Not my best day.

Their opener finished on 58* and led them to a comfortable win by 7 wickets.

We're at home next week, and we need a win somehow...

Chicken Run · 2025-06-02T12:31:15+0100

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Well, after the amazing 126 last week, my lad went for a first ball duck vs Nomads this weekend. The life of a cricketer eh?
At least he took 3 wickets & a catch though, including clean bowling Archie Lenham, who was completely tied up in knots on a slower ball.

Did they win?

Fignon's Ponytail · 2025-06-02T12:34:06+0100

Chicken Run said:
Did they win?

No, Nomads did

Billy in Bristol · 2025-06-02T14:47:06+0100

Cricket wise we won, bowled well blah blah, the ground at Selsley CC Stroud, Glos, has the outfield sloping in four different ways

but the post is about the tea that was prepared by 2013 Australian MasterChef finalist.

Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo · 2025-06-02T15:13:11+0100

Fignon's Ponytail said:
Well, after the amazing 126 last week, my lad went for a first ball duck vs Nomads this weekend. The life of a cricketer eh?
At least he took 3 wickets & a catch though, including clean bowling Archie Lenham, who was completely tied up in knots on a slower ball.

Similar to my boy. A 78 and a 92 in the last couple of weeks to 6 and a third ball duck this weekend.

As one of his team mates text me, from 92 to a duck, such is the life of an opening batsman.

The 6 did come when we were chasing about 40 off the last 4 overs and he was told to go out and be aggressive. He did that but got out to a big hit well held at deep mid wicket. Our former chairman completed his century this week (after being left on 97no last weekend), eventually falling for 124. In the end we needed a 6 off the last ball to draw but our batsman got caught out. Was a very exciting end witnessed by our first XI who’d got back from their game having defended 110 to gain a victory after their last ball defeat last weekend.

They boy also got 14 off 15 opening in a slam game on Friday night. He did take 2 catches in the slam game which makes him one of the best performing fielders at his club. He should have had a third but he was a bit slow off the mark and it fell about 2 foot in front of him.

The problem is proving himself to be more valuable out in the field rather than as wicket keeper at the moment, so he’s only keeping for his Sunday team as even when playing development games at the moment they are putting him in the field as he’s a very safe pair of hands.

[Cricket] The Village / Amateur CRICKET Thread- 2025 Edition

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