The inspired and inspiring captaincy of George Holden, and the benevolent presence in the side of Club President Peter Hockin, as well as the usual welcome from Colin Poole and all at Crakehall CC, helped us all to have a very enjoyable game, as always, at Crakehall.

George won the toss and inserted the opposition, and although they immediately started hitting some boundaries, having Keith Egerton’s spinning wiles to open the bowling with George, led to the dismissal of many of Crakehall’s young, fit, and crack league batsmen. 3 clean bowled by Keith.

George took himself off, saving some overs, put on Howard Elgot, who immediately got another wicket; plumb LBW with his very first ball. George himself then got a spectacular direct hit run-out, (with a throw reminiscent of Samit Patel’s at T20 Finals Day the day before). Howard then appeared to have bowled another Crakehall batsman, but it was with an over waist-high full toss, so ruled out as a no ball. However, he was soon back among the wickets with a very good low catch by Geoff Lawler (his first Romany catch) and another LBW.

Crakehall were 95-7 (better than we’ve normally achieved against them mid-innings). However , despite some steady and not too expensive bowling by the rest of our attack, Andrew Moore, Peter Hockin, Charlie Read, and your humble scribe, several hard catching chances or half-chances weren’t quite accepted- ( great efforts by Scott Munro, and  young Charlie Read among them) so Crakehall recovered.

George came back and bowled Crakehall veteran Colin Poole, but Crakehall closed on 188-8 in their 30 overs. John Surtees had done an excellent keeping job, as keeping is never easy at Crakehall, especially on the kind of dull, grey day it was throughout.

After an excellent tea, as usual Duncan Read gave us an excellent start with hard-hit boundaries,  but was bowled for 14, others found it tougher but Scott Munro made 10, and George made a superb captain’s innings 38. He was then, ironically, himself a victim of Crakehall’s own direct hit run out.

We were behind the required scoring rate but John Surtees hit several boundaries in making 24, before being unluckily bowled off his pads. It was difficult to deal with Crakehall’s opening bowlers brought back, and the target was out of reach, but to salvage some pride by not being bowled out, Geoff Lawler (4 not out) and your scribe (10 not out) held out to the end at 135-7.

(Crakehall then kindly volunteered to bowl an extra over so young Charlie Read could have a hit, which he enjoyed, and he hit some good shots and wasn’t out.) – Pleasant drink, as always, in the village pub opposite, after the game.

Nick Hawkins
4th September 2017

Another Romany Victory.

Caribbean CC 153 all out (30 overs). Romany CC 154 – 2 (29.4 overs)

After twice losing the toss I decided to ask our good friends from Caribbean to bat as we only had 10 men.
We got off to a great start when the electric pace of Haseen Bashir got an early LBW. Fortunately for us their other opener had to retire after a very quick 40 and didn’t get back in until almost the end of their allotted 30 others. The other Caribbean batsmen came and went at regular intervals kept under pressure from Shamiraiz (1-15), Zofi Akhtar (1-21) and Larry Audain (2-21). Keith Egerton (4-21) then ran through their tail, hitting the stumps at regular intervals. Two other bowlers deserve honourable mentions. Lloyd Thompson made his debut for Romany while on holiday from his teaching job in Qatar and Charlie Read would definitely have had a wicket stumped Read bowled Read if the umpire at square leg had been watching.
Tea was taken in the grand style with chicken, rice and beans prepared and served by Harwood Williams who had organised the game from the Caribbean side. Thanks so much, Harwood.
We opened our innings with Larry and Duncan Read and they both retired at 40 and 41 respectively. This was a terrific effort by both batsmen as the Caribbean bowling was tight and skilful. We reached 100 for no wickets and it was a surprise when Haseen eventually got out for a very quick 25. This brought in Freddie Read who unselfishly sacrificed his wicket in the last over to allow Zofi to regain the strike with three balls left and 4 runs to win. The next ball was straight-driven for 4 by Zofi. I was man of the match for an excellent 0 not out in the crucial last ball partnership.

Howard Elgot
13th August 2017

MATCH REPORT SUN 9TH JULY v LOFTHOUSE & MIDDLESMOOR
Although we all enjoyed the game, in lovely weather, (as we always enjoy L & M), this result was a big contrast to our glorious victory at Bolton Percy on last Friday. It was (proposed by them and agreed in advance by Harwood, for the avoidance of doubt…) a 35-over game, and 164 all out in 34 overs was not too bad-though we’d hoped for 200+.
Romany was indebted to the collective Read family-after your scribe had won the toss and elected to bat, Duncan opened with a fine 23 before getting a really good ball which bowled him. Elder son Freddie went on and held the whole side together, making about 70-odd (haven’t got scorebook in front of me) and being out only when “going for it”, on instructions, with about 6 overs left, and running out of partners.

All others chipped in-new stars Tom Egerton and Charlie Lloyd at 3 and 4 (Tom perhaps somewhat unlucky on LBW decision) , lusty blows from John Surtees, and some scrambling by Geoff Lawler before he ran himself out, Adam Bowen seeking to strike out and young Charlie (CJ) Read confident shot off the mark – Andrew Moore another good not out at no.11.
Tom and Charlie L bowled really well with no luck at all for first 8 overs-the L & M openers simply gave no chances at all. Same story when Rob Smith bowled well, Andrew Moore no luck, Duncan tried an over then it was decided we should change keepers, John Surtees took the gloves so Freddie Read could bowl medium-pace.

At last, the first chance, with half the overs gone and L & M ahead of the rate-a hard one Duncan couldn’t quite cling onto-off his son’s bowling….

Your scribe decided, after Adam Bowen’s excellent bowling at Swinton Park, he should have a go and at last our first and only wicket-(caught, inevitably, by Freddie Read at deepish mid-on).
Young CJ Read came on to bowl with 4 needed and his first ball was excellent, but sadly a swipe off the next brought L & M a deserved victory with time to spare. It should be noted that Romany’s fielding never lapsed-CJ Read especially athletic at the top of the hill and Geoff Lawler very safe with a lot of stops to make.
Wonderful tea as always and a good drink afterwards up the hill at the Crown at Middlesmoor.

Nick Hawkins

9th July 2017