Cricket: Twenty20's arriving at the club
Twenty20 cricket will be arriving at the club tomorrow night. The format that has got everyone's cricket juices flowing at last sees a first team competitive game at Friars Street. It's going to be a hot and steamy night so come down to watch Sudbury v Felixstowe in the quarter finals of the Suffolk Cup.
Jandre Coetzee's last wicket in 20/20 cricket was Graeme Smith, the South African captain, in their national final. Come and see if he can get the Felixstowe skipper out!
Twenty20 comes to Sudbury as the cup quarter-final on Sunday was abandoned at Felixstowe due to a dangerous pitch. After eight overs of no bat on ball but plenty of balls on helmet Jandre Coetzee had one take off a length and go through the batsmen's grill and rearrange the batsmen's eye.
It was a bit like watching South Africa v the Lions. It was nasty and we hope that he is OK, but it means cup progression comes down to this rearranged game. Come down after work if you can, it starts at 6pm.
Someone else in the wars was Chris Cook, who suffered a nasty blow when he was knocked out going for a catch and colliding with Steve O'Brien against Braintree. Cookie, fully committed, dusted himself down and took a lovely catch a bit later.
The first team needed a win on Sunday to erase the memory of a beating at Elmstead Grasshoppers. The team were second in the table going into the game. All out for 90 only picking up one point has dropped us to fifth. It's exactly the halfway stage of the season and these things can happen.
Pete Siegert needs to get his guys back on the winning trail and go on a winning run. The lads can still get back to the top; we have to make up two games on Copdock which I know they can do.
At halfway, apart from Saturday, the first team have done well, have a good spirit and have seen some great performances from Darren Batch. Jay Phillips and Jandre have taken 42 wickets and scored 400 runs at the halfway point. Jandre is also the best coach we have ever had down the club and it would be good to see all support his benefit night ball on July 25.
The second team suffered their first defeat in six weeks at home to a strong Braintree side. We made mistakes in the field and could have scored more runs but they were the better team. Steve O'Brien has made a great impact on the second team, and we still have a shot at promotion, having won seven and lost four.
It was a big game on Saturday at home to table-topping Dunmow. Chris Cook, Steve Witham and I all reached the high 40s and there was some great bowling from Thomas, Backler, Macdiarmid and Robins. So quite a few are knocking on the first team door.
Man of the season so far could be Colin Walters. He is certainly contender for player of the year. He hit his second 100 of the Sudbury season, scoring 126 not out against Stowmarket seconds.
In seven matches he has nearly hit a total 400 runs already, at an average of 70. He has also scored two centuries for Suffolk over-50s as they are looking to get to the final at Lords.
Andy Holness has had a great first half season. Phil Halliday, Chris Powell, Roger Troughton, and Andy have been doing well and people coming through such as James French, Ollie Mills and James Poulson are looking good. The lads sit mid-table after getting promoted.
On Sundays, Dave Shropshire has also made a great impact. His side lie third in the Hunts County Bats Division Five table, pushing for promotion with some great wins and performances from the lads and lasses. Penny Everett has been making a great impact playing men’s and ladies cricket, and taking four wickets against table-topping Bardwell. It is good to see the juniors having a great season.
The first team have found it tough on a Sunday. The Hunts County Bats Division One has got a lot stronger in general over the last couple of years. James Yallop’s side have lost four and won two. Phil Halliday is leading wicket take and Jandre Coetzee top run scorer.
The ladies have enjoyed having a larger squad of players with some good net sessions on a Thursday and some good performances in the middle. They would have liked to have won a couple more, but they have run the top sides close, had some good wins and are really enjoying their cricket.
The junior section continues to thrive and thanks to all managers, coaches and the junior committee for their efforts this season. It is great to see so many kids down.
Cricket Week commences with the ball on Saturday, July 25, and carries through to Friday 31. The tent will be up; we have many booked in for lunch each day but we can always take more.The club is grateful to all the sponsors. The Angel are the new sponsors of Cricket Week, with the New Angel opening this month.
So don’t forget Friday night is Twenty20 night first team v Felixstowe, with the ladies away to Abberton. Saturday sees the first team needing a win at Woodbridge, the thirds play Eight Ash Green and the seconds are at home to table-topping Dunmow.
Steve O’Brien is away this Saturday, so I am taking charge and we may just see the return of the pineapple and the marrow!
Thanks to Will Shropshire who has done a great job with this column this year. We eagerly await the report from his cricket tour to Holland!
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Weather for Sudbury
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
