CB Cricket Club
A cricket club existed in Castle Bytham until ??? .
NEWS
Cricket Club Report October 1995 (from Glenside News October 1995 : 15/01/12 : MG)
From Peter Kiely …
Following my article in the August issue in which I made comments about lack of commitment and concentration I received quite a number of unfavourable remarks. To me this proved that my observations were, to use an Americanism, ‘right on the button’.
If anyone needed further proof they should have seen our last League match at home to Wymondham. Quite a number of catches were dropped, there were many mis-fields and, because there was rarely any ‘back-up’ when the ball was thrown in we gave away about 20 runs in over-throws. I hasten to add that not everyone was guilty – there were a few members who tried their hardest to make amends. Alas, it did not work! We lost by 54 runs (9th September 1995)
Life is not all doom and gloom, however. In two matches we have recorded partnerships of 158 runs. The first was at Uffington (19 August 1995) where we chased a total of 194 for 4. Michael Windsor (66) and Michael Wright (77) put on 158 runs for what we believe to be a record opening partnership for our club. Finishing up at 180 for 2 wickets, we had a comfortable win.
On 3 September (1995) we entertained Rockingham and got of to a very slow start – losing 3 wickets very cheaply. Paul King and Rob Fenn got together and had to battle hard to get us out of the cart. Eventually Rob was out for 79, but Paul went on to score 106 n.o. in our total of 235 for 5 wickets. An excellent performance by both saw, we believe, a record 158 runs put on for the 4th wicket. We are still checking out both statistics! We won this match by 99 runs, by the way.
Out of the 9 matches up to date since my last notes we have won 4, drawn 1 lost 3 and had 1 abandoned at tea because of rain!
As usual in dry times the bat holds sway over the ball – as far as figures go. Our best bowling stint came from Paul King (7 for 41) in a good League win at Harlaxton. Mark Bradshaw with 46 and Rob Fenn with 32 saw us to 140 after a difficult wicket caused problems. Harlaxton lost by 30 runs. Other batting figures – M Bradshaw 34, M Palmer 39, Rob Fenn 32, show some consistency, but the two big stands must really have stolen the limelight.
Our Annual Dinner will be held at the Wishing Well at Dyke, near Bourne, on Saturday 28 October (1995) at 7.30pm. If you would life to come – and we hope you will – get in touch with any club member, quickly! The season’s trophies will be awarded; there will be the usual very large raffle, entertainment both musical and verbal, but no lengthy orations (speeches to you). Be there!
p.s. only 7 months to the start of next season.
Cricket Club Report September 1995 (from Glenside News September 1995 : 22/12/11 : MG)
From Peter Kiely …
Our season so far has brought out the “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome in our performances. Up to date (13 August – but not including today’s match) we have never won more than two consecutive matches and our largest losing sequence is three games.
You can see, therefore, what a roller-coaster type of performance we seem to follow when I tell you that out of 24 games played so far we have won 12 and lost 12. We still managed to produce some excellent performances – strangely enough in both matches against Newage. At Stamford we batted first on a beautiful green wicket – or so it appeared. The beauty was only skin deep regretfully and the ball soon “went through” the top causing problems. However Paul King (27) and Russ Fenn (24) stayed with Robin Fenn to steer us through the very good bowling in the first half of the innings. Then came a really good stand between Robin Fenn (eventually 94 not out) and Michael Wright (37 not out) to take our total to 202 for 4 wickets. A very short boundary with a fast outfield compensated for the poor wicket for both sides. Our bowlers – spearheaded by John Lamin’s 6 for 31 – restricted Newage to 139 all out. Our fielders performed well to turn in a good team effort.
The return game at Bytham (12.8.95) was a tighter affair. We won the toss and batted first but against very good bowling struggled and after 25 overs the score was only in the fifties for the loss of six wickets. Then came a face-saving stand between veteran of many titanic struggles – Michael Windsor – and Ronnie Dixon. They played extremely sensibly and saw us to respectability. Michael was 35 not out – Ronnie out for 30 in a total of 125 for 7 wickets.
Four dropped catches and a badly missed run-out caused us problems when Newage batted but our bowlers were so accurate that the score after 20 overs was just over 30 for 2 wickets. Rob Fenn then took two snorting catches and others were taken by Willie Sharp and Paul King and the wickets tumbled as we won by 35 runs.
Good bowling figures have come from John Lamin 5 for 58 and 6 for 31 – Martin Palmer 6 for 38 – Paul King 5 for 28. Batting “bests” came from Rob Fenn 94 not out – Martin Palmer 66 not out – Paul King 32 – Michael Wright 37 not out and 33 – John Lamin 34 – Mike Windsor 35 not out and Rob Dixon 30.
We are anticipating holding the annual dinner in October.
Cricket Club Report July 1995 (from Glenside News August 1995 : 22/12/11 : MG)
From Peter Kiely …
Since the last report we have had a bad spell of results – playing seven games (six league, one friendly) and losing four League matches. Two of these defeats were particularly galling as they were against Harlaxton (3 places below us in the League), and a humiliation of the greatest magnitude by bottom club Barrowby by 75 runs. In the Barrowby game our ground fielding was mainly abysmal, with only a few players playing up to standard. Five catches (some say seven) were spilled, and at least ten boundaries were gifted to the opposition by sloppy handling or should I say mishandling. It was very hard work for our bowlers who, through the bad fielding performances, gave their best efforts throughout, with nothing to show for such hard work.
The best performance has come from Martin Palmer with 117 n.o. against Chilwell, out of a total of 201 for 2 wickets, ably supported by Rob Fenn with 44. This was in reply to the visitors score of 200 for 2 wickets, ably supported by Rob Fenn with 44. This was in reply to the visitors score of 200 for 6. Good bowling performances have come from John Lamin with 5 for 51, Jon Abbott 6 for 51 and Paul King 3 for 7. Besides Martin’s unbeaten century a few good scores have come from Martin himself with 38, Neil Brown 46, Mark Bradshaw 30, Robin Fenn and Russell Fenn both with 30 and Paul King, 33.
At the risk of being unpopular to say the least, I believe a lot of our self-inflicted wounds are due to a lack of discipline and concentration both on and off the field from several players. No names need mentioning for am sure that with a little self-examination, the guilty ones will know to whom I refer. The lack of interest that seems to be present in some people manifests itself in several ways, but chiefly in lack of real effort on the field. Our club has had a very good reputation for many years as being capable of turning out very keen dedicated cricketers who never gave up without fighting to the bitter end. Please, please, try and bring back the determination that several people seem to have lost. This is what makes a successful side – which we only achieve spasmodically.
Cricket Club Report June 1995 (from Glenside News July 1995 : 18/12/11 : MG)
From Peter Kiely …
We have played 4 league matches since my last report. I suppose we broke even – winning two quite comfortably against North Luffenham (our first ‘double’ of the year) and Allington, and losing the other two against Pickwell and Claypole. These two, in my opinion, must surely provide the eventual title winners this season.
There have been some good performances with both bat and ball. Martin Palmer (71) and Neil Brown (51) put on over 100 runs for our 3rd wicket against North Luffenham to allow us a score of 173 for 8 wickets. Paul King (6 for 30) and Robin Fenn (4 for 42) then ensured our victory by 40 runs by some excellent bowling.
Other good batting has been provided by M Palmer (33), John Lamin (75 and 28), Michael Wright (37) which was our best contribution when losing to Pickwell, who beat out total of just 100 with a couple of overs to spare. Colin Bradshaw contributed 33 not out in the friendly defeat by Stragglers. 149 for 6 to our side was passed by the opposition with an over or two to spare.
Best bowling in other matches has come from Martin Palmer (5 for 18), Paul King (3 for 7) – both against Allington who were dismissed for just 61.
I am writing these notes on Monday 12 June after a Norman-Blankley Cup match against Barrowby that ended in a tie. We batted first and were a little disappointed with an 18-over total of 77 for 6 wickets. John Lamin being top scorer with 28. Barrowby required just 12 runs from their last two overs with only two men out. In an eventful last over Paul King clean bowled an opponent with the third ball. The scores were then tied at 77 off the 4th ball (played for a single). He then bowled another batsman with the fifth ball, and another man was run out off the last ball to finish level. The replay, again at Colsterworth where all ties are played is on Thursday 15 June.
Disappointing news to finish with. The Single Wicket competition was not run due to lack of support, mainly from senior players.
Cricket Club Report May 1995 (from Glenside News June 1995 : 10/12/11 : MG)
From Peter Kiely …
Our season started exactly the way it did in 1994. You’ve guessed it! Our first match against Swinton Lions, from Manchester, was rained off.
Our first actual match was away at Great Easton as our opponents on 23 April (1995), Harby, called the game off at short notice. Whether it was lack of match fitness or practice I do not know, but put bowlers were hammered to the tune of 202 for only one wicket. Our reply was a mere 147, with Robin Fenn getting 60 of them.
The experience must have done some good as our first League match – Sproxton away – yielded a pleasant win. Mike Windsor made 42 of our 144 for 7. John Lamin and Paul King claimed 4 wickets each as the home side were all out for 123.
Another home match was cancelled as Bretton couldn’t raise a team, so our next fixture was away to 1994 champions North Luffenham. What a good match our new player Martin Palmer had. He scored 93 not out in our total of 205 for 3, well backed up by Mark Bradshaw (40) and Russell Fenn (33 not out). North Luffenham were restricted to 142 for 9, and Martin did the hat trick, clean bowling all three victms.
Regrettably, fielding a much weaker side, we were brought down to earth at Barrowden on 13 May (1995) suffering a defeat by 47 runs. Scores were 119 to 72. Roger Bower clained 4 wickets (for 33 runs) whilst Tony Fenn, bowling in a competitive match for the first time in 2 or 3 seasons, showed he had lost none of his old accuracy and finished with 2 wickets for only 2 runs.
Please remember the Single Wicket competition on Sunday 25 June, and as it is the same day as the Bythams Street Market and Fair, I need to know numbers before the actual day. Please co-operate and spread the news to get the maximum numbers possible.
Added : 10/12/11 : MG
Last Updated : 15/01/12 : MG
