Scholes Cricket Club: Scholes C.C.:167 - Holmfirth:140

  Scholes C.C.:167 - Holmfirth:140 Back to Games & Reports
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  Scholes C.C. vs 167      
  Holmfirth 140      
Game Played 7/18/2009 1:30PM  

HOLMFIRTH WIN EXTENDS LEAD TO 14 POINTS
Saturday 18-7-09 Scholes (167 for 9) beat Holmfirth (140 all out) by 27 runs
One of WG Grace’s most oft quoted pearls of cricketing wisdom was made over 100 years ago, when wickets were uncovered, underprepared and often downright dangerous. The great man said “When you win the toss – bat. If you are in doubt – think about it – then bat. If you have very big doubts – consult a colleague –then bat”. Scholes skipper James Noble is clearly a disciple of the Grace doctrine, (apart from the consulting a colleague bit) and his decision to bat first on Saturday on a wicket that had been covered the whole week, on a day when heavy showers were forecast, sent several scholarly Scholes supporters into a state of uproarious umbrage as he asked Holmfirth to bowl on a greenish track.
When Scholes struggled up to 167 for 9 in their 50 overs, those cheerless Chapelgater’s were righteous in their indignation as the formidable Dave Cocking defied his Flintoffian knees to send down 13 overs of skilful seam to secure 3 for 30, and he was snugly complimented by his youthful accomplice Tom Craddock, who whirled away unchanged for a superb 4 for 66 from 25 overs of exemplary leg spin. Hard as the likes of Smith (36), Khan (26) and Tom Brook (24) battled, it was left to the precocious talent of Mark Floyd, whose 23 ball undefeated 35 featuring three 6’s took Scholes to a decent total that would take some getting on such a lively surface.
Alsop soon saw Jakeman (2) on his way, but the in form Sadler (20) smashed Mott for three boundaries in his third wayward over, only to hit the Antipodean a few balls later high to Shahnawaz at mid off where the catch was safely taken. Confidence restored Mott quickly ripped out Gawthorpe and Alexander, and he then ran out opener Geldhill (27) with a magnificently aggressive piece of fielding from third man. When Shahnawaz quickly did for Cocking, the visitors looked dead and buried at 65 for 6. Forrester manfully looked to make a game of it with a defiant 40, but Brook took a telling 2 for 18 in his six overs, and Mott returned to castle Allen in the 48th over and secure another six point haul for the League leaders, as the popular Aussie took 4 for 45 from his 17.2 overs.
Scholes II’s arrested their recent slump in form with a five point win at a soggy Holmfirth in the reverse fixture. They made 162 for 7 batting first in a 40 over game, as Birkhead made 28 against his former team mates, Josh Brook grafted his way to a worthy career best 57* and Swindell provided vital and valiant support with his undefeated 30 including two 6’s. Cowell and the evergreen Boccarro were the best of the home attack with a brace of wickets apiece.
Boccarro also biffed 40 in Holmfirth’s reply, and Thornton’s unbeaten 32 threatened to take the home side to victory with only 28 required from the last 4 overs. However man of the match Brook bowled a tight couple of overs, and the flight and variation of Under 15 lynchpin Joe Wood bamboozled Holmfirth as he took 4 for 35 from 10 overs as Scholes won by 13 runs.
Scholes Under 15’s entertained Green Moor on Sunday in the final of the Hill’s Supplies Romida Cup, in a match reduced by rain to 30 overs a side. The visitors made 121 for 8, as Armitage top scored with 37 and Barton made a quickfire 22*. Jake Clayton bowled with pace and accuracy but no luck to take 1 for 12 from his 6 overs, and the Moor had little answer to the slow left arm of Joe Wood, who had far too much flight and guile for the visitors as he secured a superb 5 for 19 in his 6 over spell.
Scholes lost early wickets in their reply, and at 42 for 4 Green Moor were well on top. Skipper Tommy Boorman remained unflappable however, and found the perfect partner in Guy Pearson. Boorman pulled with aplomb and stroked the ball through the covers with effortless grace to reach his superb 50 (and retirement) with Scholes still needing another 30 runs, and it was left to the determined Pearson to steer his delighted team mates home to a six wicket win with three overs left, as he smashed six boundaries in his undefeated 34.