Cricket- County Division Six (East)
Luckett v St. Neot
This was the game that both teams had been waiting for as first took on second. On the hot summer afternoon Taverners skipper AK had no hesitation to electing to bat on winning the toss.
The opening partnership of A. Kent and K. Marks set the innings off to a lively start as they used the quick outfield to their advantage against the bowling of Colwill and Bolitho.
They had put on 58 before Colwill enticed AK into an edge and he was well caught at slip for 29. Marks soon followed as Colwill with a fresh spring in his step repeated the feat via the same safe hands of Warne. Warne then replaced Bolitho and in his second over claimed the wickets of both Tamblyn and Clapham.
The St. Neot innings was now starting to look slightly shaky. Pearce and Searle had the task of keeping the innings alive. Slowly but surely Searle got into his stride and Pearce was soon after the bowling. With these two looking steady a moment of madness from Pearce led to him calling for a suicidal second run, the ball was then fired like an arrow from Ingerson and the direct hit left Pearce well run out.
Searle was left to watch the demise of Bunt and Taylor who both got going but could not continue as the bowling of Colwill, Warne and Robins tied the batsmen down. At 152 for 7, runs were needed and as the remaining batsmen played their shots wickets fell. The innings soon finished at a disappointing 176 all out despite a resilient 15 from 21 overs by Searle.
Knowing a good performance was needed to defend a relatively small total at this ground St. Neot took the field. Prior made the early break through having Gold caught and Luckett were 19 for 1. Bolitho then played a supporting innings to Piper as he sent the ball all round the ground. The variety of bowling offered by St. Neot had little effect until Bolitho attempted to sweep Prior and was caught behind.
This only brought Warne to the middle. Piper soon reached his 50 and allowed Warne to play his shots, these two took the score onto 114 before Piper survived one chance too many and was caught behind off Bunt. With a glimmer of hope left St. Neot never gave up in the field and Prior claimed the wicket of Ingerson who failed to pick the googly. With 26 needed, in came Colwill who let Warne get his fifty, before blasting the ball to the boundary and finishing the game with a six. Luckett had won the first match between these two but not to be dispirited the Taverners looked forward to the rematch and aimed to be back on track the next day.
Match sponsored Pot Black and match ball by Stan Hutchings.
Scores - St Neot 176 (A Kent 29, M Pearce 24, K Marks 21, M Bunt 19, N Searle 15, G Kent 12 n.o., D Taylor 11; A Warne 4-38, D Colwill 3-45). Luckett 178-4 (A Warne 55 n.o., D Piper 53, D Colwill 26 n.o., R Gold 13; I Prior 3-56).
Luckett (20) bt St Neot (6) by 6 wkts.