First Team - Saturday
DCCL Division One
Dove Holes 200/7 v Newton 114ao
Dove Holes win by 86 runs
Dove Holes hosted Newton with Hallsteads looking spectacular in the sun- credit to the grounds team. Grego won the toss and elected to bat.
Gilly and Baggy opened up and it looked to be a positive start putting on a brisk 15 before Baggy nicked off to the keeper. Jones then entered the fray taking the score to 37 before Gilly missed a full bunger off downend. Eddie soon followed leaving dove in trouble at 40-3. The skipper looked in good form after hitting downend for 2 boundaries before being dismissed thanks to a good catch from the oversea. Gem was then dismissed with the score 91-6.
This left Forder and Eggbert as the last 2 recognised batsmen. Both batted sensibly under pressure treating every ball on its merits- punishing the few loose balls from the Newton attack. They put on 65 before egg was dismissed for 28 with the score 156-7. Forder and the Duke then pushed on Forder hitting a massive 6 over the marquee and Carter planting the oversea back over his head also for 6. Dove needed 8 off the last 2 balls to reach 200 and maximum batting points- Forder duly obliged hitting 2 4s off the oversea finishing 69no.
Crich and Gilly opened the bowling searching for early wickets. A quick partnership of 23 looked threatening before Williams chipped one to Forder at cover off Gilly. Another partnership of 24 then followed before Joy looked to hit Gilly over the top- the skipper taking a great diving catch running back at mid on. From here on in Carter and Golly bowled tight lines and picked up regular wickets. Gilly taking a 5er and Carter picking up 3 before Cocker come on to mop up the tail with 2 with Newton finishing on 114.
Credit to Newton for a good bowling display- their league position will surely improve.
The European Valuations MOTM went to birthday boy Tom Forder for his crucial 69no- thanks to vision express.
Second Team - Saturday
DCCL Division Two
Charlesworth 90ao v Dove Holes 92/2
Dove Holes win by 8 wickets
On another sunny afternoon, dove 2s travelled half the world away to league leaders charlesworth on boneheads bank holiday weekend. Motys masterplan backfired straight from the off as he lost the toss and dove were made to bowl first.
Opening bowler big bash ash bowled a tremendous spell getting dove off to a great start with the opposition losing a couple of early wickets. He finished off with 5-32 after 12 overs. Rock n roll star Mark Hill opened from the other end. Despite the hard efforts he failed to take any wickets but he didn't look back in anger as the skipper once again brought himself on to bowl his magic pies, taking 3 wickets including a supersonic leg side stumping from Keegan. Ted Johnson then came on and mopped up bowling 1 over and taking 2 wickets leaving Charlesworth all out for just 90 runs.
Dove opening batsmen Vernon and Turner got off to a great start before vern ran himself out when he thought there was definitely maybe a single. Some wise words from his teammates brought the mood back up as he was told to stop crying his heart out! Wonderwall Rob Hawkes entered the frame at number 3 and carried us all to the finish with 40 not out. MT had a fabulous 49 before being dismissed. Keeg was due in at 4 but the skipper sent young roy out first, forcing the former to roll with it. Dove knocked the score off for the loss of 2 wickets.
Another great win led to a champagne supernova and plenty of cigarettes and alcohol after the game.
Margaret Cartledge's MOTM Ash Burgess
Third Team - Sunday
Dove Holes 110ao v Tintwistle 124/9
Tintwistle win by 14 runs
On an overcast afternoon Dove holes 3s took on Tintwhistle 3s in a clash for the ages. Dove holes skipper Shaun lost the toss and dove holes where elected to bowl. Shambling moron Ted Johnson opened the bowling with a tight spell of 2-8 unrooting the opener. Tommy ‘spray gun’ green kept it ticking from the other end also picking up wickets before Wayne ‘Gregory’ Collins came in decimating the Tintwhistle middle order reminiscent of a certain former man of the year.
A wicket from young Roy as well a direct hit from missile launcher Cartledge gunned the stumps down as Tintwhistle reached 124 off the 35 overs.
The dove holes chase started poorly with wickets lost regularly. Tommy Green an exception to the rule scoring a strong 32. After more wickets fell a strong partnership between dove holes debutant Thomas ‘piano man’ Broadley and Wayne Collins restored faith. Another partnership between Dove holes stalwarts Rob Jones and Mark Vernon made the game close however Dove fell short by 14 runs.
The motm was Tom Green
