Wednesday July 28th 2010

Rain forces abandonment

The Over-50's may have been foiled by the weather on Tuesday, against Long Melford Seniors. Only 35 overs were possible when the second interuption for rain proved terminal, with the Two Counties team having just gained tghe upper-hand by reducing the Long Melford team to 123-7, of which Steffan Marks scored 33, with Garner and Byford both departing in the 20's. Martin Southwell, Glyn Webster, and Ian Johnson, had each claimed two wickets.

Sunday's results

DIVISION C
Copdock & O.I.* (8pts) 281-7 Brightlingsea (18pts) 282-6 Brightlingsea won by 4 wickets
Ipswich (5pts) 99 Kelvedon & F.* (20pts) 126 Kelvedon & F. won by 27 runs
Maldon (8pts) 214 Frinton* (20pts) 247-6 Frinton won by 33 runs
Mistley* (5pts) 176-7 Coggeshall (18pts) 177-2 Coggeshall won by 8 wickets

Saturday's results - Sudbury held to a tie as Coggeshall lose again, and at the other end of the scale, only East Bergholt II are now searching a win after Braintree III break their duck.

DIVISION ONE
Coggeshall* (8pts) 232-8 Ipswich & E.S. (19pts) 233-6 Ipswich & E.S. won by 4 wickets
Copdock & O.I.* (12pts) 146 Sudbury (12pts) 146 match tied
Frinton (6pts) 138 Woolpit* (20pts) 248-9 Woolpit won by 110 runs
Mildenhall* (20pts) 346-7 Abberton (6pts) 162 Mildenhall won by 184 runs
Mistley (20pts) 186-3 Maldon* (5pts) 185 Mistley won by 7 wickets
Wivenhoe* (20pts) 251-8 Exning (7pts) 162 Wivenhoe won by 89 runs

DIVISION TWO
Braintree* (5pts) 168 Ipswich (20pts) 172-5 Ipswich won by 5 wickets
Brockley* (20pts) 216-7 Hadleigh (5pts) 125 Brockley won by 91 runs
Dunmow (20pts) 198-4 East Bergholt* (6pts) 197 Dunmow won by 6 wickets
Elmstead G. (6pts) 139 Easton* (20pts) 161-9 Easton won by 22 runs
Haverhill (17pts) 262-7 Felixstowe* (8pts) 259-5 Haverhill won by 3 wickets
Woodbridge & O.W. (6pts) 122-9 Brightlingsea* (19pts) 201 Brightlingsea won by 79 runs

DIVISION THREE
Kelvedon & F.* (5pts) 159 Lakenheath (20pts) 163-4 Lakenheath won by 6 wickets
Little Bardfield V. (8pts) 216 Mildenhall II* (20pts) 247-7 Mildenhall II won by 31 runs
Sudbury II (20pts) 132-6 Coggeshall II* (5pts) 131 Sudbury II won by 4 wickets
Witham* (19pts) 216-6 Clacton II (8pts) 207-9 Witham won by 7 runs
Worlington* (20pts) 194-8 Bury St. Edmunds II (7pts) 153 Worlington won by 41 runs
Yoxford* (8pts) 207 Copford (20pts) 212-6 Copford won by 4 wickets

DIVISION FOUR
Exning II (4pts) 98 Copdock & O.I. II* (20pts) 213-8 Copdock & O.I. II won by 115 runs
Ipswich & E.S. II (5pts) 167-7 Wivenhoe II* (18pts) 253-5 Wivenhoe II won by 86 runs
Maldon II (4pts) 120 Mistley II* (20pts) 221-6 Mistley II won by 101 runs
St. Margarets (20pts) 141-1 Earls Colne* (2pts) 139 St. Margarets won by 9 wickets
Stowmarket* (19pts) 343-5 Halstead II (7pts) 228-8 Stowmarket won by 115 runs
Woolpit II (20pts) 163-1 Long Melford* (3pts) 162 Woolpit II won by 9 wickets

DIVISION FIVE
Abberton II* (20pts) 276-5 Harwich & D. (7pts) 203 Abberton II won by 73 runs
Great Bromley* (20pts) 293-5 Frinton II (6pts) 177 Great Bromley won by 116 runs
Hadleigh II (18pts) 201-5 Kelvedon & F. II* (7pts) 200-7 Hadleigh II won by 5 wickets
Ipswich II (20pts) 145-9 Witham II* (6pts) 144 Ipswich II won by 1 wicket
Mildenhall III (8pts) 166 Boxted* (20pts) 173 Boxted won by 7 runs
Tuddenham (6pts) 162 Achilles* (20pts) 275-7 Achilles won by 113 runs

DIVISION SIX
Brightlingsea II* (19pts) 265-7 Ipswich III (8pts) 248-8 Brightlingsea II won by 17 runs
Bury St. Edmunds III* (19pts) 186-8 Elmstead G. II (7pts) 172-9 Bury St. Ed's III won by 14 runs
East Bergholt II* (3pts) 105 Melton St. Audrys (20pts) 106-4 Melton St. Audrys won by 6 wickets
Felixstowe II* (5pts) 131 Nacton (20pts) 132-6 Nacton won by 4 wickets
Kesgrave (6pts) 124 Haverhill II* (20pts) 214 Haverhill II won by 90 runs
Long Melford II (19pts) 190-7 Braintree II* (7pts) 186-8 Long Melford II won by 3 wickets

DIVISION SEVEN
Copford II (20pts) 110-3 St. Margarets II* (2pts) 109 Copford II won by 7 wickets
DBSL (8pts) 171 Eye & District* (20pts) 182 Eye & D. won by 11 runs
Harwich & D. II (18pts) 138-5 Stowmarket II* (4pts) 134-7 Harwich & D. II won by 5 wickets
Ipswich IV (20pts) 138-2 Felixstowe Corinthians* (3pts) 137 Ipswich IV won by 8 wickets
Maldon III* (20pts) 265-4 Kelvedon & F. III (2pts) 81 Maldon III won by 184 runs
Sudbury III* (20pts) 170 Witham III (5pts) 41 Sudbury III won by 129 runs

DIVISION EIGHT
Coggeshall III (5pts) 147 Halstead III* (20pts) 182-7 Halstead III won by 35 runs
Easton II (6pts) 165-9 St. Osyth* (19pts) 219-7 St. Osyth won by 54 runs
Sudbourne Hall* (6pts) 161 Brockley II (20pts) 165-6 Brockley II won by 4 wickets
Tendring* (18pts) 230 Mildenhall IV (9pts) 185-7 Tendring won by 45 runs
West Bergholt* (3pts) 115 Braintree III (20pts) 116-5 Braintree III won by 5 wickets
Woodbridge & O.W. II* (1pt) 85 West Mersea (20pts) 86-3 West Mersea won by 7 wickets

Win double for the Over-50's

Contrasting types of matches on Wednesday and Thursday, against the MSC Suffolk Cricket Alliance Over-50's and the over an Eight Ash Green XI on Thursday. At Easton we elected to field first in the 45 over match as then saw Simon Halliday hit 73, and S.Cooper, 59, helped the "home" team reach 216-7, Edgar Dunkley and Steve Bulger each taking three wickets. The Two Counties team did not make a particularly bright start, but the partnership of Steffan Marks, 73, and Graham Penny, 70, changed the outlook from which Ian Johnson and Bob Richards guided us through to 217-7 with two overs to spare.

Certain different conditions atr Eight Ash Green on Thursday, where the ball, by and large, dominated the bat. This time the Two Counties team batted first, and through intermittent showers we closed with 154-9. Mark Paget top scoring with 38 not out, with Ian Robison adding 27 early on. Merreiday, Aston, and Guthrie each taking two wickets. Eight Ash Green found run scoring even more of a testing proposition. John Stonehouse almost batting all the way through for 36 as they were dismissed for 88. Ian Johnson was in inspired form with 4-20, and Martin Southwell taking over at the same end and taking 3-22. Both of them were assisted in some small part by the catching. Jonno taking one brilliant caught and bowled, but elsewhere in the field Steve Isaac took three catches from first slip and Jon Wiseman two at mid-off.

Shortest match in 40 years of the Two Counties Championship

After scouring records various, we believe that it can be confirmed that last Saturday's match between Long Melford and Ipswich & East Suffolk 2nd XI is the shortest match ever recorded, at just 19 overs. It was not a new record score for the division though as Copford's 35 in 2006 will remain that.

Missing results sheets

Alan Rogers has submitted the following list of result sheets from matches which have still not been sent to him, and added the reminder which follows.

15-May Div 7 Copford v Felixstowe C
22-May Div 3 Coggeshall v Witham
22-May Div 7 Copford v Ipswich
29-May Div 1 Mildenhall v Exning Rained off
29-May Div 4 Copdock & OI v Halstead Rained off
29-May Div 5 Gt Bromley v Tuddenham Rained off
29-May Div 5 Mildenhall v Witham Rained off
29-May Div 7 Harwich & D v Felixstowe C Rained off
29-May Div 7 Kelvedon & F v Stowmarket Match abandoned
29-May Div 8 Woodbridge & OW v Sudbourne Hall Rained off
05-Jun Div 5 Tuddenham v Abberton
06-Jun Div C Copdock & OI v Mistley Match abandoned
19-Jun Div 5 Tuddenham v Hadleigh
20-Jun Div C Copdock & OI v Ipswich

To the best of my knowledge these are the result sheets that still have not been sent to me by the home Club. You have all ready been fined £10 for failing to deliver these sheets. I would like to remind you that at last years AGM, you the Clubs voted to increase the penalty to £10 PER WEEK for missing result sheets. Unless these sheets are faxed or posted very soon, then I will be issuing some very heavy fines. For the rained off matches, rather than sending a result sheet, I will accept an email confirming that no play was possible. Should there have been any play, then a fully completed result will be required.
To dispel any misconceptions, a match abandoned after commencement of play is treated as a completed match for the purposes of compiling  the averages.

Over 50's/60s tour - 3-1 to the tourists in the final count up

The Over-50/60's tour of Devon has opened with two fine victories. On Monday a 55 run victory was recorded over Paignton CC. Trevor Mills hitting 122 as the Two Counties team reached 310-3 from 45 overs. Graham Penny weighed in with 87, and Alan Cooke added 32. Martin Southwell then took 4-47, and Stuart Carpenter, 2-33, as the home side were dismissed for 255, of which A. Cooper hit 101 not out. On Tuesday a 40 over match was played at Upottery. It was not such a high scoring match but a 35 run victory was achieved. Trevor Mills was again the top scorer with 30 as the Two Counties team ended their overs with 162-9. Alan Cooke adding 28, and Phil Cox, 23. The home team were then dismissed for 127, with Martin Southwell again taking four wickets, this time for just 17 runs. Pat Patel, 2-30, and Mark Sargeant, 2-16, also took wickets.

Wednesday saw the only defeat of the tour as a "youthful" Dartington & Totnes team overcame the Two Counties team by 74 runs. The home side batted first and scored 256-8 with 111 not out coming from the bat of H.Baxendale (surely not Helen Baxendale, the actress??). While Chris Simmons took 3-54 for the tourists. Martin Southwell then hit 88, and Ian Johnson, 31, yes I should repeat that, 31, but they could not prevent the DT's winning as they were bowled out for 182. L.Vialli (surely not Gianluca Vialli) claiming 2-10, while the Colgate's J. and D. brushed up six pastey wickets.

The Glory Days returned on the final day at Abbotskerswell CC, when the Devon Over-50's XI were stunned into a 28 run defeat. The Two Counties team had been restricted to 156-7. Martin Southwell (surely not the same Martin Southwell who plays in every match?) hitting 42 not out, and Trevor Mills, 34. The Devon team then look super-confident as they reached 61 without losing a wicket, but the dismissal of A. Rose for 41, saw the pruning of their innings begin. Phil Cox bowled nine overs for just 17 but he was unrewarded with wickets. Instead Pat Patel, who incidentally bought nine more cornershops on his travels, mopped up with 4-21, Russ Abbott (surely not THE Russ Abbott) claimed 3-24, and Mark Sargeant-Major ended with 2-22 as the Devonians slumped to 128 all out. The celebrations went long and hard into the weekend as it took Geoff Newman until Sunday to send his reports in. Copious bottles of brandy must have been sunk.

Earls Colne suffer sixteen point deduction

Earls Colne have been docked sixteen points after fielding an ineligible player in more than one recent match. Bobby Don already having played for Halstead in the East Anglian Premier League this season. No player is permitted to play for more than one club within the feeder pyramid, Rule 13a. The league tables have now been amended to reflect this deduction.

Tourists after fixtures

Linton Park CC, the former National Village Cup winners, are looking for clubs able to host matches against them on their tour of Essex and Suffolk between 23rd and 27th August. Could any club who is interested in hosting a match please contact Nigel Thirkell on 07850 336447 or via email to Nigel.Thirkell@porterscs.co.uk

Over limits

Also to remind all teams that the number of overs that can be bowled in one spell, and in one day, for some of the junior age groups, has been raised by one over this season.

New forum

In the next few days a new Forum, to replace Have Your Say, will be instigated on the site. I am hoping that Rick Jones will act as the Administrator, and arbiter of good taste.

Tied matches

There seems to be some confusion abounding about how the points are split in the event of a tied match. Rule 16 is quite clear, 5 points for each team plus the batting and bowling points accrued by each team in the match. So a maximum of 15 is possible.

Results and the telephones

Statistical link

Mel Phair has sent me this link which should take players to the League's stats for the season. Mel asks if we can be informed if there are any errors or omissions. So to see just clink on the following link: http://twocountiescricketleague-stats.moonfruit.com

Photos

I would like to be able to publish more photos on the web-site during the course of the season, whether they be team groups or actions shots. I did not have any pics sent to me of last seasons' various champions and so have been unable to update the opening page to the site. So please send them in via e-mail, the link for which is further down the page, and also add a caption as to what the shot is, and the players names thereupon. Thanks very much.

All the news, results and tables on your mobile

Anyone with a wap enabled mobile phone can now access these pages there upon. Just go to www.twocounties.com/news and you will get this page, and all the links will lead you to the other pages.

Club links page

I have updated the clubs links page as much as I can, if any other the links need updating then could someone from the club contact me with the revised details sr.isaac@btclick.com

Just how well this web site functions is also very much down to the individual clubs as I would like to receive news of the matches and the clubs from individuals within the clubs. So please nominate someone in your club to act as your representative to forward such to me via e-mail. I would like to know about outstanding performances, strange events during matches, well you know the sort of thing we can put on the web site.

Your input is extremely important, whether it comes from a club, an individual, or the General Committee itself. So please just mail me via the link below.

Contact Steve Isaac via this link sr.isaac@btclick.com