|
|
|
|
|
26/8Webby's 100 . . . runs that is
And finally this week, John Webster, captain elect of Threlkeld next
season, scored a superb century at The George Hutton Oval to defeat
league pace setters Cockermouth IIIrds. John was undefeated on 101 as
Threlkeld made 188/2 in response to Cockermouth's 187/8. Young off
spin bowler Chris Wilson was arguably Threlkeld's best bowler with a
return of 2/22 from six overs.
During Threlkeld's innings, Graham Dixon opened with John Webster and
in the course of hitting 48 also decided on a one-man demolition job on
umpire John Knowles who was sent flying as Dixon collided with him at
the non striker's end. Dixon was watching the ball while Knowlsey was
watching the stumps. Fortunately, Mr Knowles is a tough old boot and
there's a rugged, finely tuned athlete beneath that familiar white
coat, so he was able to spring to his feet, shrug it all off and ask
young Dixon if he was okay.
12/8
Ian Dixon hits another century
Neil Swainson was not the only century maker at the weekend. That man Ian Dixon
* he who blasted 138 earlier in the summer * was at it again with an innings of
108 against Rockcliffe at Threlkeld. Ian hit seven 6s and nine 4s as he and Bill
Richardson (70) put on 155 in a partnership where the running between the wicket
was at a premium. Tom Hutton (23 not out) and Ben Ashcroft (16 not out)
completed the innings as the home side made 265/9.
Rockcliffe were then bowled out for 55 with Ian Hope taking 4/2 from two and
James Price 3/14 from three.
The previous day, Blencathra were at home to Wigton 4ths and made 242/9 with
James Price leading the way on 84, John Webster (45) and Ian (the hitman) Dixon
40. Wigton, in reply, were held to 180/8 as Rob Dixon took 4/30 from six.
5/8
The Fonz carries his bat
Up at Threlkeld, visiting Nunwick 2nds were bowled out for 35 with David Bragg
and Ian Hope each taking three wickets and Rob Dixon two. Ian Dixon (22) put the
game profoundly beyond Nunwick with 22, but I thought that it was interesting
that a product of the John Bryson School of Cricket Coaching (JBSCC for short)
should open the batting for Blencathra.
Young Joe Grisdale, who leads from the front for Keswick Under 15s and who is
Keswick's answer to The Fonz, carried his bat for 11. Joe has the potential to
become a very good batsman indeed, even though he appears to have been studying
too precisely the on field body language of Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq ie
languorous without the bulk. Joe is an excellent stroke maker with a solid
defence and, as he showed in a recent match at Penrith, is not fazed by fast,
short pitched bowling. In fact, come to think of it, very little appears to faze
him!
Another JBSCC (must think of a snappier title) youngster, Alex Reid came up with
a top performance for Threlkeld in their defeat against Penrith 3rds. As
Threlkeld were bowled out for 89, Bill Richardson carried his bat for 33 but 15
year old Reid made 14 and then took 2/23 as Penrith made 90/3. I should add that
Warwickshire's favourite son, John Patrick Knowles hit an exemplary nine.
29/7
James Price hits 87
Up at Threlkeld, Blencathra got the better of visiting Baggrow 2nds with James
Price top scoring on 87 followed by Graham Dixon on 55 and Brian O'Donovan on
53. Everton AFC enthusiast Sam Gibson made 38 not out coming in at No6; small
consolation for the fact that Everton will be relegated from the Premiership
this season.
Blencathra made 292/7 from their 40 overs and Baggrow were dismissed for 134
with former Braithwaite batsman Tony Shepherd (take note Gilbert Pike) top
scoring with 46. David Bragg was once again the home team's best bowler taking
3/26 from 7.3 overs.
Unfortunately, the Threlkeld team came unstuck in some style at Wigton 3rds on
the Sunday. They went for 266/6 and were then dismissed for 95. Andrew Rigg top
scored with 24 and Richard (the boy from the Browe) Bannister was 11 not out.
Graham Dixon took 4/45.
22/7
Threlkeld beat Patterdale
It's always good for a Threlkeld side to get the better of Patterdale and they
did so with some gusto last Sunday. Captain John Webster led the way with 74 and
fellow opener Andy Rigg (31) contributed to a great opening stand. Kevin Clark
(31) Graham Dixon (35) and Tom Blakeley (36), not forgetting Ian Hope (16 not
out) all added invaluable runs as the home team made a massive 268 from 39.2 of
their 40 overs.
Webster, mid fifties and rising and young Rigg, aged 16, formed one of the club's more unusual opening partnerships in recent seasons but this combination of the veteran and the relative novice clearly worked well for all concerned and I feel sure that Rigg will have imparted some invaluable advice, especially if there was ever any danger of Webbie's notorious red mist descending!
In reply, Patterdale were restricted to 122/9 (pity they held out for the draw) as another promising youngster, Richard Bannister, straight out of the famous Windebrowe Avenue Cricketing Academy (WACA for short) took 3/6 from five overs and Andy Rigg 2/3 from three.
1/7
Andy Rigg hits 67
Up at The George Hutton Oval last Sunday, Threlkeld hit 257/5 against visiting
Appleby 3rds with young Andy Rigg hitting an impressive 67 out of 81 for the
first wicket. Simon Grisdale also came up with a surprise package 62 not out
while Under 15 captain Jamie O'Brien * who hits the ball as hard as any batsman
I have seen in the nets * made a fantastic 54 in only his second senior match.
With youngsters like this in Keswick CC, there is a great deal to be optimistic
about.
Appleby were fired out for 96 with another fine young cricketer, David ("The
Bulldog") Bragg taking 5/32 and Andy Rigg 2/6.
17/6
No Game
10/06
Chris Wilson’s hat trick
A few seasons ago a very young off spinner by the name of Chris Wilson showed signs of being a very good bowler. Unfortunately his ability in the nets was not easily converted into the same out in the middle and the bowler – over keen perhaps to do well – took some fearful pastings at the hands of Eden Valley League batsmen.
But now he has had his revenge and is showing every sign of realising, at competitive senior level, the ability that he so often demonstrated in practice sessions.
In a game against an Appleby team in the Eden Valley League last Sunday, Chris returned the excellent figures of 5/46. Not only that he also took a hat trick. Well done Chris. More’s the pity then that he ended up on the losing side as Appleby (on 189/9) only just managed to overhaul Threlkeld’s total of 188/8. Still, it was a close run thing and a result of which the young Threlkeld team can feel proud.
Another young player also came of age in the match because Andy Rigg hit an undefeated 51 (his first half century in senior cricket, I think) and, together with Olly Davies (48) and young Oliver Hinkley (25) saved the home innings from the wreckage of 54/7.
On the Saturday Ian Dixon’s Blencathra were at home to Penrith Academy. The visitors were bowled out for 133 in 29.3 overs as James Hinkley and captain Ian Dixon both claimed 4/34. In reply, Blencathra strolled to 134/3 in just 16 overs with Dixon blasting 84, including seven 6s and six fours. Threlkeld supremo John Knowles tells me that he is thinking of applying for lottery funding to have the ground extended making it more difficult for Dicko to hit sixes!
Personally, I think he should be more concerned about his fashion sense. Strange reports reached me at Keswick on Saturday of an umpire wearing a white coat (nothing wrong with that) shorts, a white hat with a straggly black bandana attached (passable, just) but then the ensemble was completed by a pair of white socks pulled fully up to the knee and rooted in sandals. Arrggghhh
27/5
Action man Dicko
A dynamic Ian Dixon, in his role as captain of Threlkeld * and clearly a man for
whom four games of cricket in four days holds no fear * hit a belligerent 76 as
Threlkeld made 132 in an Eden Valley League game. The match was played at Fitz
Park because the ground at Threlkeld was unfit.
Dicko's innings included seven 4s and four 6s. He was ably supported in the
cause by Stephen Hindmarch with 25. In response, Arthuret and Esk (Longtown)
were bowled out for 97 as the Hinkley brothers, James and Oliver, produced the
excellent bowling figures of 4/16 from 10 and 3/10 from 10, respectively. James
bowls off spin while Oliver is a left arm medium pacer who fires the ball across
the right hander. Both are very talented players, as is another product of the
Windebrowe Avenue Cricketing Academy (WACA), young Richard Bannister who
produced a return of 2/21 from 4.5 overs; clearly unaffected by the mountain of
fast food he consumed on the way back from an Under 15 game at Penrith last
Thursday night.
13/5
Threlkeld * who do not now have a game this weekend * came to grief at
Patterdale
Where encounters are invariably difficult, unsmiling affairs. And so it proved
on Saturday when Threlkeld were bowled out for 60 with only Dan Gaskell (18) and
Peter Rainey (11) in double figures. In reply, Patterdale made 61/3 with James
Hinkley taking 1/11 from four overs. Nuff said.
5/5
Youth has its fling
Youth had its fling for the Threlkeld and Blencathra teams at the weekend. The
Threlkeld team at Temple Sowerby fielded eight players under the age of 17, and
only three adults of varying maturity. While the Blencathra team, at Wigton,
played with seven players under the age of 17 and four seniors.
Threlkeld, under the captaincy of Ian Dixon, batted first at Temple Sowerby and
were all out for 90 in 18.4 overs. Dixon himself top scored on 47 (including
five fours and two sixes) while Gary Stevens was unbeaten on 17. The home side
replied with 92/5 after being a dodgy 16/3 at one point. Dan Gaskell's spinners
claimed 4/39.
29/4
The only win of the weekend in senior cricket came for the Threlkeld team which
made 130 at Wetheral where Dan Gaskell (34) and Sam Gibson (27 not out) worked
wonders to put on 56 and take the visiting score from 73/8 to 129/8. In reply,
Wetheral were bowled out for 117 with James Price taking an impressive 4/23 and
Dan Gaskell 2/5 from eight.
The game was marred by the news that Wetheral player Rob Jackson (formerly
secretary at Keswick Golf Club) was taken seriously ill the previous evening.
23/4
Somers here already at Threlkeld
Up at Threlkeld, the season has still to get underway and while the new playing
area looks fantastic there are one or two worrying wet patches on the square and
outfield. Still, I am sure they will have been rectified by the time home games
eventually get underway. The nets area at the ground is now also making
progress, and the club made £1,000 plus thanks to a fund raising lecture at The
Theatre by the Lake on Tuesday evening when Keswick-based Geoff Somers gave a
great talk based on his recreating Scott's epic walk to the South Pole. About
270 attended the lecture which was very well received. The money raised goes to
junior cricket at Threlkeld.
The Threlkeld team made its first outing of 2006 when they travelled to
Lanercost in the National Village Competition. Unfortunately, the final at Lords
is now out of the question this season thanks to a resounding defeat.
Again, it was a case of insufficient runs as Threlkeld made 112 with Albert
D'Leny (23 not out) and Chris D'Leny (24) the most prolific before the latter
was allegedly triggered. Lanercost made 116/4 after being 60/4 at one stage with
Stuart Dowson (1/17 from seven) and James Price (2/24 from seven) bowling well.
Tom Blakely was impressive in the field.
The last two words . . . "that's out"
And finally, heartiest congratulations to Albert D'Leny and Ian Brotherton on
passing their final umpires examinations. This now means that they have to
attend a five year course at the Doug Beebe Academy of Incomprehensible Rule
Changes where, if they are really fortunate, they will avoid having to learn by
heart the interminable story of the Englishman explaining to an American the way
in which the game is played. For those unfamiliar with this literary epic, it
can often be found on a tea towel. Enjoy your cricket. KTR.