2004 Match Reports
COMFORTABLE VICTORY FOR NEWBOLD VERDON (6.6.2004)
Newbold entered this fixture missing key batsman Ryan Bird but Wigston were further weakened missing some of the main players including opening bat Jason Helmn. Wigston won the toss and decided to bat on another fantastic wicket. Both openers showed attacking intent until Wigston captain Paul Newnham was caught by Wilkinson at slip off Gransden for 14. The bowlers were made to work hard as Ian Riley and Robert Hensman added an impressive partnership of 97 before Hensman was bowled by Jones for 49. Runs flowed steadily but not too quickly as Newbold fielded tightly looking to keep the score under 200. Wigston’s middle order chipped in and Ian Riley contributed 55 as Wigston set a total of 197-6 – perhaps a touch under par for such a good track.
Newbold’s reply got off to a bad start when Davies, opening in the absence of Bird, was out without troubling the scorers playing a loose shot off the bowling of Paul Wordsworth. Wilkinson and the in-form Bateman steadied the ship though taking the total to 78 before Wilkinson was out for 28. Mark Bird was sent up the order to accelerate things but was out cheaply. Bell and Bateman put on 48 for the 4th wicket before Bateman was bowled for a fine 79. French added a quick 21 taking the scores level before being bowled by Rob Kenney. In came Adam Wykes who defended the remainder of the over allowing Bell to hit the winning runs and bring up his 50 in style. A comfortable 5 wicket victory for Newbold with 3 overs to spare.
A FANTASTIC GAME OF CRICKET (13.6.2004)
Newbold Verdon won the toss and elected to field on a pitch that looked as though it would be a bit lively. However the pitch played a lot better than it looked and openers Jason Helmn and Lee Creedon looked solid as they put on 41 for the first wicket before Lee Creedon chipped tamely to Matt Smith at point off the bowling of Mark Bird. Jason Helmn was unlucky to be dismissed soon after when he was given out caught behind off Bird despite the bowler’s appeal being for LBW. Robert Hensman and Ian Riley, the major run scorers in last weeks cup tie between the two sides were now at the crease and looking good again. Ian Riley played some good shots before being bowled by Henderson for 36. Captain Paul Newnham was bowled soon after by Davies for 6 but Robert Hensman was upping the rate crashing Davies for a couple of huge straight sixes. At 162-4 with 6 overs remaining, and Hensman in good form, Wigston looked on for a huge score but a brilliant hat-trick from Bateman slowed things down a little. Michael Dunkley chipped in with 17 not out and Hensman finished with a fine 66 not out as Wigston posted a challenging total of 200-7 from their 45 overs. Bateman was the pick of the bowlers with 3-45 but Henderson also bowled superbly to return figures of 17-2-50-1.
In reply Newbold lost Wilkinson early to an outrageous LBW decision that sent the usually placid Newbold opener into a frenzy of kit throwing on his return to the dressing room. Bateman continued his good run of form with the bat but when Bird and Davies were dismissed in quick succession to leave Newbold on 64-3 from 20 overs, victory looked a long way away. However Gaz Bell and Bateman both looked in good form, Bateman out for 47 in the 28th over. Chris French came in and supported Bell who was by now batting with a runner due to a calf injury. After losing French for 13 and Matt Smith for 5 and requiring 7.85 an over with 6 wickets down Newbold continued to chase victory. Bell and Mark Bird looked set to win the game but a huge 6 from Bell that brought up his 50 unfortunately also ended his involvement in the game as he had to retire hurt leaving Newbold needing 14 from the final 10 balls. Adam Wykes was dismissed first ball for the second time this season, 14 from 9 balls with 7 wickets down and Bell unable to bat. Going into the last over Newbold required 8 but Steve Brooks held his nerve to clean bowl Andy Jones from the first ball of the over. 8 needed from 5 balls with 8 down. After scrambling 6 from the next 4 balls it came down to 3 required from the last ball faced by Mark Henderson. Brooks again came up with the goods clean bowling Henderson to leave Newbold agonisingly short of victory on 198-9. A fantastic game of cricket that went right down to the wire between two evenly matched sides.
WELL CONTESTED MATCH (18.7.2004)
Wigston Town won the toss and elected to field. Newbold’s innings started slowly. R. Bird was soon back in the pavilion, but P. Bateman was in and looking in good form. Bateman and Wilkinson steadied things, putting on a fine 64 run partnership, before Wilkinson was bowled, like Bird, for 26. R. Wykes was sent in, but made only a small score, as did M. Bird, with things looking a little poor with Newbold 106-4 after 30 overs. There followed some fine batting from Bateman and H. Davies, with Davies looking very good before being run out for a fine 37. Batemen by this time had reached yet another 50, and was playing superbly. In went Gransden, to play what could only be considered as a masterful innings for a number 11 promoted up the order. Bateman fell late in the innings for a fine 65, whilst Gransden saw things through to the end with a wonderful 26 not out, with M.Henderson ably supporting him.
Newbold managed to rack up 215/6, a fine looking and competitive score on yet another fine Newbold track.
To begin P. Bateman and M. Gransden bowled tidily, with Gransden eventually getting his reward in the 14th over, a fine diving catch from Bateman. Wigston were finely poised at 52-1 off 14 overs, and the game was in the balance. The dangerous Jason Helmn was looking good, but the big hitting left hander Robert Hensman seemed out of sorts troubled by Gransden. Soon after, Hensman edged one just between keeper and slip, Randall made a fine diving effort, unable to hold on to it, but did the next best thing and parried it into the hands of Wilkinson. The scoring rate dropped dramatically, and the pressure kicked in, forcing a run out for the number 4, a superb effort by Douglas Crowley. Wigston were now 72-3 off 27 overs. Things still looked tight, but Newbold were fielding well, restricting runs. When the dangerous Helmn fell for 40, a fine catch by Dingle off Wilkinson, Wigston looked troubled at 96-4, and seemed to shut up shop, requiring 13 runs an over. Despite a late effort by Paul Newnham, hitting a fine 50, Wigston never looked like winning. M.Bird took the fifth and final wicket in the last over of the game, leaving Wigston on 169/5, denying them a crucial batting point. A well contested match!
