First Team - Saturday
DCCL Division One
Hazel Grove 117ao v Dove Holes 118ao
Dove Holes win by 1 run
The Great Escape
Dove Holes travelled to 3rd place Hazel Grove. Grego won the toss and decided to have a bat on a used track.
With a bit of drizzle in the air and clouds about Groves opening bowlers bowled well. Gilly was the first to go bowled by D Nunn for 4. Baggy looked good before nicking off for 13. Chez then fell shortly after. Hally threatened with a couple of boundaries before he was then caught. To leave dove 46-4.
Jack and Eddie then dug in for a while trying to rescue the act like the previous week before Eddie got one that popped off a length and was caught with the score on 61. Gemmell and the skipper then dug in brilliantly trying to bat the overs. They ticked along nicely and the momentum was just changing before Grego was brilliantly caught by Wilkinson diving at cover. The score was now 114-6. Dove then completely collapsed to 118 all out.
At the half way stage the consensus was this was around 40 short with Grove bowling brilliantly and the big outfield being slow with the rain.
Grove started off really well with the openers putting on 26 before crich bowled Wilkinson. Carter was then introduced with hodgson chipping one to cock. A partnership of 20 between Chester and Evans was going well before Chester top edged a sweep to crich off Carter. Evans was then bowled by Gilly by an absolute peach and Coram fell lbw the ball before drinks to leave grove 72-5.
Carter then picked up 2 wickets the first over after drinks 1 caught and bowled and another caught by cock with the score 73-7. Hodgkinson then got one that didn’t bounce from Gilly smashing into the stumps.
For the first time in the game cricviz had Dove as favourites. However Rodger’s and D Nunn batted sensibly putting on 27 before Carter tempted Nunn into skying one to the skipper halfway back at long off. This left Rodger’s and C Nunn needing 19 for the win. Nunn swept one off Carter with crich diving to his left and stuck out a mit but unfortunately didn’t stick.
Rodger’s continued to bat well and these 2 got grove to 117.
1 to tie 2 to win. Under the circumstances Dove bowled very well with Gem bowling 5 dots of his only over with Crich bowling another 4 before he pulled a great Yorker out of the bag to bowl Rodger’s to send Doves players and travelling support into ecstacy.
A game that the spirit and fight got Dove through. Commiserations to Grove who played well and as always in the right spirit of the game.
Motm sponsored by Mick Oliver was Carter who finished with 5-37
Second Team - Saturday
DCCL Division Two
Dove Holes 153ao v Buxworth 129/9
Dove Holes win by 24 runs
On one of the windiest days in dove holes history, the 2s hosted Buxworth 1s looking to get revenge for their defeat earlier in the season.
Moty once again lost the toss and Dove were put in to bat first. After some shaky batting and impeccable bowling from buggy’s young openers Dove were left in peril at 44-6. A good knock from young Roy and Dawse dropping anchor at one end set the stage for the return of Big Bad Jon. Stood at 5’9” weighing 265 broad at the shoulder and wide at the hip, he teed off and scored a fantastic 46 to carry dove out the pits to a more respectable 153ao.
In reply, a fully motivated dove holes started tremendously with the ball. Opener Stephen Green bowled tight as always and picked up 3 wickets narrowly missing out on 4 as Awesome Dawson showcased his juggling skills in front of a bumper dove holes crowd.
The aforementioned Big Bad John also bowled well, bouncing out the dangerous Lister who chopped on to his own stumps. Dove were cruising before a great middle order partnership dragged the visitors from 27-5 to within reaching distance. Tight bowling from Ted Johnson and skipper Joe Gregory closed the game as buggy fell short of the target for the loss of 9 wickets.
Another well earned win for the 2s keeps them highly motivated for their home game next week against Charlesworth 1XI.
Dove Holes win by 31 runs.
The Vulcan sports man of the match was the big bad Jonti Norton