Cricket: Tons for two players are rare achievement
TW0 century-makers in the same team in the same match doesn't happen often in limited overs cricket.
The last for Sudbury was Jay Phillips and Jon Kent at Abberton last year. The former was again involved in this feat as he and Darren Batch both scored centuries at Chantry Park in a resounding 19-point victory for the firsts.
Phillips (134 no) batted all through the 50 overs to remain undefeated in a colossal effort of concentration while Batch (114), the perfect foil, destroyed the Ipswich bowling with 18 fours and three sixes.
South African Jandre Coetzee picked up his fourth five-wicket haul of the season, taking his tally to 33 for the year, and we aren't even halfway through. A great effort and just reward for the intense nature with which he plays the game.
The Seconds were also victorious on Saturday, although in a different style as a combined team effort saw them to 20 points in a tough, low-scoring encounter. Sixteen-year-old Kenny Moulton-Day top-scored, proving strength in depth and the vital work Andy Holness does with his team in tuning youngsters into league cricketers that become our first and second team players.
Unfortunately Andy's team didn't quite get the 202 posted by Kesgrave, at Cornard's ground, but Ollie Mills scored a useful 27, and he is another future hope for the club.
The 2009 T20 competition will nearly be over when you read this, but its influence has been enormous. People at work and old friends in the street who know I play have all told me how they are really enjoying watching the games and how entertaining it is; this from people who usually turn cricket off if it comes on the TV.
It may not be a game for purists, but times change, and the excitement and fast-paced nature of the 20-over game has got more people watching cricket and learning about the game. One area of influence has been the increased standards of fielding among all levels of cricket.
Sunday was blessed with sunshine, and I took a trip to watch our Seconds at Acton, who had a few youngsters in the side. Their fielding and commitment was excellent: they held catches and stopped the ball at every opportunity. Then, bar one or two mistakes, Sudbury's youngsters did the same: Ollie Mills in particular taking one stunning catch.
A junior coach once said to me that "in a game, season or lifetime of cricket, the thing you will do the most is field, so you had better be good at it". How true he was, and a good lesson for budding young cricketers.
The Sunday seconds had a great win as chairman Roger Troughton scored 52 not out and Dr John Pickett took five for just 13 runs to help them win by 110.
At home the Sunday firsts couldn't defend 150 as Battisford slowly edged their way to the target, and our ladies team on Friday night got a bit of a beating, being bowled out for 51. Captain Emily Banbury said almost all our players were caught and perhaps a little shot selection can be worked on this week.
As we head towards the end of June, thoughts are already with cricket week which this year is July 25 -31. We start with our annual ball on July 25, followed by continuous cricket for nine days.
This year we are hoping that the marquee will be full for the ball and again on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for a sumptuous lunch and great entertainment as we open up to all the public this year. Anyone interested should pop down to the club for more information.
The firsts host Copdock on Saturday in a top-of-the-table encounter. If you watch only one game a year, this is the one to watch. Starting at 1pm, it would be great to see the bank at Friars Street full for the entertainment. The winners of this could well be the winners of the league.
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Weather for Sudbury
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
