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If the Cowfolk are doing it, this is where it’s at…
Awards Do
Ok everybody due to unforeseen circumstances (all hallows double-booking us and other annoying things which I won’t go in to) we are going to make the most of a glorious sunny evening and have our first ever al fresco end of season awards do in the park behind easton community centre.
Bring a camping chair, a picnic rug or sit on the grass with a can of beer.
Be there at 7 and we’ll have plenty of time to make it to the plough after.
Please spread the word and see you there.
Match Reports
Saturday 2nd
Cricket! After last weekends washout, the Midweek CIL game cancelled and Knowle CC pulling out of today’s game vs the Wuns it was very nice indeed to be at the Farm.
The strip hadn’t dried after all the rain and the sky was lowering as the skippers tossed, so when Alex – undertaking skippering duties due to Jeffo’s tender groin -reported that we were batting, the general assumption was that Grendels captain must have called correctly. Nope, set a target and then bowl them out, that was Alex’s plan.
DC1 and Ahad were first up. The pitch was extremely slow, with the ball holding up and timing near impossible. Both openers were watchful, taking few risks, leaving and blocking, playing themselves in. The run rate was as slow as the wicket for the first ten overs and scorers and spectators amused themselves with an innuendo off, and an unfunny euphemism tournament, but thankfully gave up on this as the scoring out in the middle gradually increased. At drinks with all wickets still intact 65 was on the board.
With the foundation laid DC accelerated and after playing one particularly lovely off drive was bowled for 23. Ahad was out shortly afterwards having amassed 30 looking like a proper opening batsman. Alex W on debut looked comfortable, until he was given LBW. Evan rode his luck for a few overs and he and Steveo briefly pushed the scoring rate up, scampering between the stumps like a couple of whippersnappers ODing on sugar.
At some point Evan, who couldn’t seem to hit the ball off the square switched bats, requesting DC’s big old slazenger. This did the trick and couple of much needed sixes resulted as Evan proceeded to slog. At the other end a clatter of wickets of the duck variety followed and when Evan was bowled by Eric “the slut” Stephenson’s slower off break for 42 in the 39th over, leaving Martin with yet another Not Out against his name, Cowboys had made 129 all out on a horrible pitch, this made possible largely due to the classy opening partnership.
After tea – a tasty vegetarian feast prepared by DC1 – Martin and Alex fronted Cowboys attack. Conditions at the wicket may have slightly improved but there was still enough cloud cover to enable Alex to get late movement in the air, and Martin troubled the Grendel openers from the start with varied pace and flight. Martin had at least two dropped and three edges went through where first slip might have been had there been more runs to bowl at.
Martin bowled their big scary opener early on but numbers two and three put together a partnership and nudged it around well, scoring around the three an over needed. Alex was replaced by Steveo after a very economical spell and immediately Steve had the ball hooping about, passing the outside edge regularly until one that started well outside leg stump swung back to hit middle around the number two bats legs.
Jonse bowled a tidy spell and then took the keepers gloves from Evan so he could try his luck with the ball, and DC1 replaced Jonse at the road end. DC had a plum LBW shout refused and then shortly afterwards a slightly less plum one rewarded. The Grendel skipper got underneath a slower one from Evan and skied it straight up. When the moons gravitational force finally released it Evan managed to concentrate long enough to hold the catch and the cider moment.
Though losing wickets regularly Grendel were still scoring at the required rate and their number three was still there and had reached his half century. When DC took the catch to dismiss him Cowboys could see victory just up ahead.
However with 3 overs to go, one wicket to take and Grendel only needing 14, Evan momentarily lost his radar and bowled three wides. Next over Sadiq almost induced in Skipper Alex a nervous meltdown by bowling another one. Grendel now needed just five runs from an over and a half. Fortunately Sadiq finished it off by bowling their last man and we could all unclench and…. Breathe.
Despite the tension at the end of the game it was played in great spirit, thanks should go to the gents and Lady that are Grendel CC for that.
Scorecard: http://cowboys.play-cricket.com/view_results_details?id=11883636
Sunday 1st
Churchways (boo hiss) versus Easton Cowboys Sunday Firsts (Hurrah)
1/6/14 ; Badminton Road Playing Fields
10.30am on a beautiful Sunday morning. I just have to sort the kids out for the day and I can get going for cricket. I got mine and club kitbags ready yesterday so that saves a job so I can just keep looking at my lists and change the batting and bowling line ups several times. No tea to organise, no fingers crossed that the pitch is prepared and not being played on by someone else, I dont have to carry the stumps and bails with me. Scorebook and ball is with Vice Captain. Lovely.
10.31 am on the same beautiful Sunday morning. Text arrives from Omar. Oh no, he is very ill and cannot play. When I phone he has that voice that you use when you ring in at work to say you cant come in today. OK, so now it is a bit of time swearing at my phone which has no blooming signal, and when it does the line is going to be crap and if I see another ‘your text could not be sent’ message, well, I wont do anything except swear a bit more. To complicate matters, Wayne’s 2s are short as well and my first few calls are unsuccessful. Who are we playing today, what tactics are you looking at today? I dont know because my mind is taken up with finding a player at the last minute. I believe that a quick text to Omar is in order just to advise what a pain it is being let down on the day of a game. The response, ‘why is it a pain Bolts?’ One quick phone call later to clarify this and hey presto, Omar is recovered enough to play. His voice would still get him a day off work though. Phew.
12.43pm. Well, after a dodgy start to the day, all players expected are at the Plough on time. We have enough motors. Liz is scoring. Omar seems to be recovering at a good rate and we may even get a couple of overs out of him if we manage him sensibly.
1.50pm. The wicket is dampish, softish and green. Weather reports suggest more cloud later so the ball could swing later. Churchways know that later on they can bowl out of the sun or out of the dark background. perhaps the wicket will cut up, but the wicket next to it played on yesterday looks ok. Marek makes a feeble joke about using a 2 headed sided coin, so I call tails and win the toss. hah. 1-0. Cowboys. Oh yes. I have won something today. Take that Marek and all the committee cronies. Easton.
The Cowboys will bat 1st thank you very much and you can take that startled look off your face Marek.
2pm sharp as we now realise that Churchways have 9 players there with 2 about to show. Punish any wayward captaincy Bolts. Oh yes. Justin and I put on a respectable 35runs. Bolts out for 16 caught off an edge off the shoulder of the bat in the 9th over. Bugger. Blast. Damnation, Oh what hard luck. Oh well, the bare minimum for an opener to be ‘happy’ with. Funk it.
Justin is now kicking himself hard for running out Wilki who was I’m afraid, on 0. It was Wilki’s call and he could have stayed where he was but went for the suicide mission. Hats off to you Mark, but Justin swears he wont do it again if he can help it it all.
35-2. The ever welcome Tom Taylor is in next. Tom’s cultured innings was brought to a premature close as he was bowled on 11. 60-3 in the 15th over.
Time for another run out? This time it is Justin’s call but the ball has gone straight down the wicket to their fielder. Justin has an amazing turn of pace and could have made it, perhaps maybe, but RT2 was not having it and stayed where he was, Justin didn’t believe that this was happening and so carried on running. Justin a set batsman, RT2 can be destructive, tough one to call I suppose, so understandably, Justin called RT2 the c word and departed. (I believe that there is no animosity between the 2 fellows in question.)
68-4. Time for the middle order to take the reins and get us back on track. To be blunt, RT2 made a spirited 27 off 31 balls but with Zabi’s 6, Nick B’s 1, and Kalpit’s 10, the middle order had petered out with us on 135-8. Not a disaster but there are only 25 or so overs gone. Up to the tail to have a little wag please.
Wag wag, bang crash wallop, what the bleeding heck is going on here. Omar’s upside down grip, mixed with the remains of his illness, sees him slaughter the bowling attack. 24 heart stopping and, for Churchways, utterly disheartening balls later and Omar is out for 51. Oh what a sight. Marvellous. Sayedajan weighed in with 10 and Eddy was 1 sensible run not out. 180 all out in the 36th over. Good show Cowboys.
Tea was not too bad you know. Nothing of worth noting really though. I will start adding Pineapple to my teas from now though.
Churchways innings. The wicket has not deteriorated. Probably dried out a bit. We may have to bowl them out to win. It is going to be tight I’m sure.
As it turned out I was not really correct in this assumption. Omar’s illness restricted him to just 6 overs. 3 wickets for 12 runs will do though. 2 bowled and 1 catch to the highly delighted Nick B who seemed glad to finally pouched one for the Cowboys. A cracking running top speed take it low down, one for the cameras, catch. I was jealous although could see that he could have made a bit more of a meal of it, that will come with experience. I am afraid that poor old Zabi could only manage 5 overs. 4-15 will also do. 2 bowled and 2 caught. It is worth noting that Tom was standing up to the stumps for both Omar and Zabi. Yes that is right. He took a catch off Zabi from an edge off a full toss that I still cannot quite believe that I witnessed it. Nick B and Sayedajan took over the bowling duties and both were excellent. However, nobody was going to deny a clean sweep of wickets for the Afghan trio as Sayedajan took the last 3 wickets for 11 runs in 4 overs. Now, Nick B would have had a wicket except for Eddy and his piss-covered fingers. A chance came to the great man at gully, but unfortunately it was just after Eddy had relieved himself all over the Churchways outfield for the second time.
Churchways all out for 47. Take that and party.
man of match: Omar.
Cider moment : Justin took a catch at point, off the bowling of Zabi. if you know Churchways ground, it slopes off on one side. Thus, Justin had to run backwards, down the hill, and as falling over, caught the ball one-handed, crashed onto his lower back but held on to the ball.
That will do. Sorry if I have forgotten any pertinent points. if I have you can tell everyone about it at nets tomorrow. Lovely.
Cowboys etc.
Bolts
Awards Do
The awards do.
Match Report: Friendly XI v Long Ashton Occasionals
After a miserable day of steady rain it’s amazing this game got played. Thanks must go to LA skipper David who remained positive throughout, and to their newly purchased massive tarpaulin which kept the wicket bone dry. Shall we buy one?
During the coin toss said skipper pointed out that the cowboys hadn’t won this fixture since 2010 when we played them at Winford pissed out of our minds after watching England beat Slovenia down the pub.
Winning the toss we decided to bat. Simon and Iggy opened up and immediately set about putting their attack to the sword. After just 4 overs we had 38 runs on the board, 31 of them scored by Iggy. To say his innings was aggressive doesn’t do it justice – this was a man clearly not in control of his anger, and when he was bowled after just 15 balls, any semblance of self-esteem shattered, he sloped back to the pavilion sobbing and howling, a broken man.
In contrast Simon was every bit the image of calm and debonair. Until Evan pushed one straight back to the bowler and yelled yes. Simon was run out by miles.
Angelo and Evan kept it moving awhile, until next ball after hitting a straight 6 Evan was trapped LBW.
Bri and Ange scampered (not sure that’s the right word) a few singles before Brian was run out, then Nick and Ange put on a useful 20 or so before Nick was bowled (just as Iggy was describing how classy Nick was looking).
Angelo was seeing it well now and was finding the boundary regularly. He and Jeff ran well together pushing the score to 117 after 15 overs.
When Ange hit a huge 6 over long on he had reached his 50 and so retired for a much needed rest. But when Stroddy was golden ducked he could return to knock up a few more. The innings closed when last man Trev was bowled by the final ball of our 20 overs. 146 all out. Angelo 57 not out.
Chris and Trev opened the bowling. Their openers began well and at 8 overs were up with the required rate but some tight bowling from Chris and then especially Steveo, clearly relishing the conditions, put them under pressure and forced them into taking more risks.
Two stumpings by Jeffo from Steveo and Stroddys bowling changed the game and thereafter we were in control. The required rate steadily increased. Our fielding was sharp, particularly Brians judiscous use of his bionic legs, and then a tidy spell from Nick took it away from them.
When he bowled their number 7 first ball with the last ball of our 20 overs they had only managed 126 in reply.
Fora do jogo
This is an exhibition that Piva is involved with which is to coincide with the World Cup. If you were to visit it you would find pictures of the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls strutting their stuff.
From more details see https://www.facebook.com/events/270752029764575/?fref=ts
Match report 20/20 cup V Failand and Portbur
The full moon moving out of Scorpio give’s you a chance to “shed your skin”, put the demons to rest, and you know, start fresh.
So with a few drop outs, some last minute Tinklering and 11 men selected and confirmed, in the usual Cowboy styley, we headed out through the rush hour traffic to the peacful setting of failand and portbury cc.
It was obvious on arrivial that they were taking this cup tie seriously, their team was out and warming up and they looked sharp. The inner ring markers were out implying that these guys usually play at a higher level than us. Do we care ? no. Are we scared ? no. The attitude was positive.
Rt1 did a Iggy, won the toss and elected to bat, tricky one to call really, is it harder to bat or field in the dark? will the evening dew slow down the outfield? I wouldnt fancy facing Kalpit with those trees behind him and the sun going down. Good shout to bat first i reckon. The skippers agreed to have a minimum of 4 inside the inner ring at all times and to use an old ball.
Nick and Justin were the opening pair, the wicket was good quick and hard and so were the opening bowlers, Nick returning to the pavillion a few balls later having had a quick inswinging yorker force its way under the bat and trickle onto the stumps.
Matt C then batted very sensibly defending the straight ones and punishing the bad balls, of wich there were few. Him and Justin ran well, but boundries were hard to come by, the fielding and the bowling was spot on.
Justin hung around for a bit, until one kept low and trapped him LBW, gone for 10.Grant came in and swung at everything in true 20/20 style and put on a partership with Matt untill Matt was bowled trying to pick up the run rate. Kalpit came and went for 9 having been hit in the box about a mile down the track. Iggy came in and smacked a few 4’s. Jeffo was a star with the bat hitting his first ever competative 6, Im calling it a daddy 6, it was massive, His wife and kids seemed disinterested, we thought it was great Jeff. the wickets then fell in the last over mostly caught on the boundry trying to put some runs on the board. All out for 90 with 2 balls left, a good effort considering the standard of the bowling.
Quick turn around then, its getting dark.
Their opening batsmen were good and just plugged away at us, we bowled and fielded really well and never gave up, put pressure on them at times. They knocked off the runs with just over 2 overs to spare, without the loss a wicket. Kalpit only went for 4 of his 4 overs, top spell mate. Myself being the most expensive going for 25 of my 4. Jeff was busy behind the stumps too, coping very well with the mystical reverse swing.
A good team performance all round. Well played Lads.
We didn’t vote a man of the match, but seen as though it was his birthday, he hit a 6, scored a very solid 17 and did well behind the stumps, Jeffo gets my vote.
Happy birthday mate!!
20/20 Hope Match Report
A last minute change of venue meant this was played up at the Phoenix ground. The pitch was very wet and was unprepared so was slow, but with even bounce.
Cowboys decided to bat first. Tom made a nice looking 39 from 39 balls, putting on 58 for the 2nd wicket with Angelo.
Angelo and Evan then slogged and scrambled until Angelo was calling for the defibrillator. Eventually Ange reached his half century from the last ball of our innings – 50 from 43 balls including 2 sixes. Cowboys total 149 for 3.
Once Alex had bowled Hopes opener who looked like a handful, with the aid of some late swing ,they collapsed. Only Dave Toole hung around as Kalu (turning it sideways) and Alex knocked them over. At one point both bowlers were on a hat-trick simultaneously! Surely a first? Steve Meadows took his debut wicket when Tom stumped Dave T and Hope were all out for 44 first ball of the eleventh over.
World Cup Predictor Score 2014
The Brazilian World Cup gets underway in Sao Paulo on 12th June 2014 with the opening fixture featuring hosts Brazil against Croatia, the tournament runs for a whole month with football on everyday to keep us addicts up to date with our fix of football.
If like me you have no-one to support in the world cup, or like most of you will have no one to support once England are knocked out of the groups I have done a predictor score to keep everyone interested to the final.
Prizes and Donation
Prizes for the competition are as follows, 1st Prize = 30%, 2nd Prize = 15%, 3rd Prize = 5% of the overall takings. The other 50% will then be split between a local sports charity called Ability Sports that provides sports and activity sessions for kids with disabilities including Autism and Downs Syndrome. The rest of the raised money will be sent to our comrades in Brazil so they can continue their good work in the local community of Sao Paulo.
There will also be a very special prize that has been donated by Nick, Angelo and Tom (Thank you guys) at The Plough, details of this prize will become more apparent after the world cup has started.
If you would like me to email you an entry form please email webgimp@eastoncowfolk.org.uk.
Entry forms are also available from The Plough by asking Nick the Barman.
Good Luck
Scott
Poster
