Chapel-en-le-Frith Cricket Club

April and May Match Reports 2009

25th April 2009

Winning Start for 1st Team

Chapel 1st team got their season off to the best possible start with a convincing victory at Woodley. New captain Mike Edwards won the toss and stuck the hosts in on a dry wicket. The opening pair of James Hawtin (1-28) and Joe Jackson were straight into their rhythm and runs were at a premium with only 16 coming off the first 12 overs. Jackson bowled Picken in the 1st over with Hawtin dismissing Bradford in the 10th. Neil Pheasey (2-27) bowled a tight spell and the variable bounce being offered by the pitch was causing problems for the batsmen. New signing John Theyer returned fine figures of 3-19 on his return from Buxworth and Jackson came back to finish with 3-29. M.Walsh top scored for Woodley with 31 as they finished on 105-9.

In reply openers Theyer and Richard Topham got off to a flyer punishing some wayward bowling. Theyer was bowled going for one shot too many but his 40 off 37 balls provided the impetus to the innings. Garry Pheasey made 20 and it was left to skipper Edwards to hit the winning runs as Chapel won by 7 wickets and claimed 19 points in the process.

Disappointing Start for Seconds

Chapel 2nd team hosted Woodley and elected to bowl first at Willow Drive. The Woodley batsmen showed good early season form with A.Wilson top scoring with 61 in a total of 225-6. Paul Jones was the pick of the Chapel attack with 3-65.

In reply only Nick Pearson with 39 and Matt Fountain with 28 offered any real resistance for Chapel who succumbed to the spin of Tony Hayes who took 4-18 as they were left 143 all out.

2nd May 2009

Victory for 1st Team Over Rivals Dove Holes

Chapel 1st team won their second game of the season with a comfortable victory at home against Dove Holes. After electing to bat first visitors Dove got their innings off to an aggressive start with Joe Gregory hitting a quickfire 34. Ex-Chapel man Adam Critchlow was bowled by James Hawtin (3-29) in the 9th over and he removed Dan Jones LBW two balls later. Wickets continued to tumble with John Theyer taking 3-27 but a 50 partnership between Micky Johnson and Paul Scowan, who top scored with 48, lifted Dove to a respectable 142 all out.

In reply Chapel lost Lee Bradley early but this was to prove only a minor hiccup in the run chase. Theyer and Garry Pheasey put on 71 for the 2^nd wicket before Theyer became Matt Baldwin’s second victim for 54. Pheasey looked in good form making 56 not out as Chapel won by 7 wickets. Next up for Chapel is a trip to Buxton in the Bissenden Cup next Sunday.

Dropped Catches Cost 2^nd Team Dear

Chapel travelled to Tintwistle looking to register their first victory of 2009. After electing to bowl first the visitors made a tidy start with Jacob Pickering and John Stanway bowling tight spells and home skipper Dodd being run out by Dan Christie. Todd Candlin picked up a wicket caught and bowled but this was to prove one of the only catches that didn’t go down. Kieran Davies and Rob Barrow proceeded to build a big partnership but both were reprieved on more than one occasion by catches that normally would have been taken. Davies made a fine 89 and Barrow a measured 50 as Tintwistle closed on 195-7 despite a fine spell at the end of the innings from Matt Fountain who took 2-25 off 9 overs.

After the interval Nick Pearson and Tom Kelly opened the innings and made a solid start before Kelly was run out after a mix up with the score on 45. Pearson continued to make 37 and Matt Fountain made 20 but once they fell trying to keep up with the run rate Chapel’s hopes were all but over. Tintwistle collected full bowling points with Chapel all out for 90 as they look to bounce straight back to division 3.

10th May 2009

Batting Collapse Results in Defeat

Chapel slumped to defeat in the first round of the Bissenden Cup despite bowling opponents Buxton out for 81. After winning the toss and inserting the hosts Chapel produced a fine display with the ball. Joe Jackson (2-12) made early inroads as he bowled Luke Smith before James Hawtin trapped fellow opener Nick Smith lbw. Iain Betts (28) and Tim Frowhein (31) took the score to 73-4 before a lower order collapse ensued as the Bucks were skittled for 81 with John Theyer, Paul Jones and Neil Pheasey all taking 2 wickets apiece. In reply Chapel looked to be in control at 30-2 and even at 49-4 victory seemed highly likely but Tim Budd and Nick Smith took 4-21 and 3-14 respectively as Chapel collapsed to 51 all out.

Thrilling Finish but Seconds Fall Just Short

Chapel invited visitors Buxton to bat first in the first round of the Hawke Trophy. Jacob Pickering (2-14) got the breakthrough removing Graham Holder for 1 and he also had Mike Kelly caught at mid-off for 7. Two further wickets from John Stanway (2-14) and Matt Fountain (1-22) left Buxton 44-4 at the halfway stage with Chapel firmly on top. However, skipper Will Annison lead the recovery with an aggressive 40 but wickets continued to tumble at the other end with Richard Topham (2-28) having Phil Slater caught at cover by Stanway and the same combination accounted for Joe Allen. Dom Ferdani (3-30) returned to have Annison caught on the boundary and Dan Button was removed first ball thanks to fine catch by ‘keeper Nick Pearson. Will Gratton was unlucky not to take a wicket with his 6 overs costing only 5 runs but Buxton were eventually all out for 122.
In reply Chapel made a decent start with Topham stroking 3 early boundaries but wickets fell at regular intervals with Phil Slater picking up 4-14 with his off-spin. The game was in the balance after 20 overs with Chapel 59-5 and with skipper Pearson at the crease the target still seemed attainable. Tension mounted as visiting captain Annison juggled his bowlers to ensure they all bowled their allocation of 8 overs and the run rate remained at around the 5 an over mark. A 9th wicket stand of 33 between Pearson and Stanway kept Chapel hopes alive and with 6 required off the last over the crowd were assured of a nervy finish. Two dot balls and a two took the equation to 4 off 3 and Kirkup bowled a crucial dot ball to take it to 4 off 2. Pearson glanced to deep square leg but was just run out coming back for a 2^nd run for a magnificent 70 that kept his team in with a chance of victory. Knowing that a tie would see Chapel win by the virtue of losing fewer wickets the home side required 2 off the final ball for victory. However, Kirkup held his nerve as Chapel could only scamper a single and Buxton celebrated a 1 run victory. In such a close game so many things could have tilted the balance either way but Chapel were left to rue numerous dropped catches and the 31 extras that they conceded. Credit must go to both teams for a brilliant game of cricket which was played in the right spirit.

16th May 2009

1^st Team Suffer 1^st League Defeat of the Season

Chapel hosted Whaley Bridge at Willow Drive searching for a third league victory of the season. Skipper Mike Edwards opted to bowl first in the damp conditions and his decision seemed to be vindicated with runs hard to come by. Whaley closed there innings on 145-7 with Lee Bradley taking 3 wickets. In reply Chapel were bowled out for less than 100 for the second week running despite a fine 50 from James Hawtin. The home side were dismissed for 94 as Whaley recorded their 4^th consecutive win in Division 2.

Rain Comes to Chapel’s Rescue

Chapel travelled to Whaley Bridge and elected to bowl first in cold, blustery conditions. Whaley openers Russell Wild and Mick Madden made a solid start although Madden was lucky to survive as he was dropped 4 times. The opening pair put on a century stand before Madden was caught by Sean Critchlow off Paul Jones for 67 following a 40 minute hold up due to rain. Wild was run out for 51 after a calamitous mix up and John Stanway took 2 wickets before Whaley declared on 176-4. Chapel started there reply well with Tom Kelly and Norman Fletcher putting on 58 for the first wicket before Kelly was caught at cover for a well played 29. Fletcher followed soon after for 22 before Nick Pearson again added a valuable contribution to give Chapel a chance of victory. However some tight bowling from Colin Wild saw the run rate escalate and when Pearson was bowled for 29 Chapel appeared to be heading for defeat. However, as the sun set and the heavens opened, Chapel were handed a lifeline at 125-5 as the game was abandoned with only 5 overs remaining to leave the game as a rain affected draw with Chapel taking 12 points and hosts Whaley 14.

23rd May 2009

1^st Team Back to Winning Ways

Chapel travelled to Charlesworth and stand in captain Ben Harding invited the hosts to bat first. The opening pair of Gareth Evans and M.Hollin made a solid start putting on 67 for the first wicket before Evans fell for 41 and Hollin 38. Neil Pheasey produced a fine spell of bowling and Dan Christie continued the pressure at the other end with his off spin. Pheasey finished with superb figures of 16-6-31-6 and Christie took 2-35 from his 10 overs as Charlesworth could only muster 117-9. In reply the Chapel batsmen had few problems knocking off the runs with John Theyer helping himself to 61 not out, including one huge six, and Garry Pheasey making 37 off 38 balls as Chapel won by 9 wickets to go third in the table.

2^nd Team Lose Out in Another Thrilling Contest

Chapel elected to bowl first on a damp wicket which favoured the bowlers but with the outfield sodden after a terrible week’s weather, the boundaries were brought in on one side of the ground which favoured the batsmen.

Will Gratton found his rhythm straight away with the ball and Charlesworth made a defensive start to their innings. Jake Pickering bowled Eric Shufflebottom at the other end before Gratton bowled Sheard for 3 and Paul Jones had Nicholson caught at mid-off. However, the visitors fought back with an aggressive partnership between captain Mike Fitzgerald and Dave Gilham who put on 76 for the 4^th wicket. Fitzgerald, who came into the game having scored 185 in his last innings, blazed his way to 66 in no time before he played one shot too many and was caught on the boundary off the bowling of Gratton, who finished with excellent figures of 10-4-20-2. Pickering and Matt Fountain both picked up 3 wickets as the tail attempted to hit out but Gilham continued to his century eventually finishing 118 not out with Charlesworth closing on 247-8.

In reply Chapel lost Jones early but Tom Kelly and Norman Fletcher took the score to 59 before the latter departed for 28. Pearson, Fountain & Critchlow all fell cheaply and at 95-5 Chapel seemed to be dead and buried. However, Kelly, who had already passed 50, was joined by Pickering who was in a belligerent mood and they began to put pressure on the bowlers. Kelly continued to put the bad balls away and brought up his maiden century off 91 balls with his second 50 coming off just 30 balls. Pickering stroked some sweet boundaries and crashed a pull shot into the pavilion before he went for 29 but the partnership had seen 91 scored in 10 overs. Todd Candlin chipped in with a useful 20 as the equation reached 18 required off 2 overs. Opening bowler Bates returned to bowl Candlin and Maybury in successive deliveries to put the pressure back on the batting side. With 1 over left Chapel required 11 for victory but Kelly just failed to see his side home as Chapel ended on 245-8. Kelly finished on 150 not out including 17 fours and 5 sixes with Shufflebottom taking 4-41 for the visitors. Chapel were left to reflect on their 2^nd successive home game where they were defeated by less than 3 runs but the team did well to get anywhere near the target, producing their best batting performance for some time.

30th May 2009

1^st Team Slip to Defeat Against Mottram

Visitors Mottram won the toss and elected to bat in conditions that were ideal for batting.

James Hawtin bowled a tight opening spell picking up 2-25 from 11 overs as Mottram made a steady start to their innings. A 3^rd wicket stand of 115 between P.Elliott and Stefan Fielding laid the foundations for Mottram before Fielding was trapped LBW by Neil Pheasey for 59. Pheasey also had Elliott caught for 64 and the visitors lost their momentum as Pheasey continued to take wickets finishing with 6-66. Mottram closed their innings on 204-8 which was going to be a competitive score.

Chapel opened with John Theyer and Hawtin but the latter fell cheaply as the innings got off to a bad start. Theyer made 35 in good time and Garry Pheasey made 40 but nobody made the big score that was required to chase the total down. The innings finished on 177-9 with Chapel still looking for more consistency in their results.

First Win of the Season for 2^nd XI

Chapel recorded their first victory of the season with a fine team performance at Hadfield. After electing to bat first captain Nick Pearson opened with Tom Kelly and they got the innings off to a good start putting on 86 before Kelly was caught for 33. Pearson continued in aggressive fashion before he fell for a well played 66. Max Newiss followed soon after to the looping off-spin of J.Squires but Jacob Pickering kept the runs flowing as he made 27. Squires continued to pick up wickets at the other end and it looked as though Chapel may have missed an opportunity to set a high total. However, a brisk 28 from no.10 Dominic Ferdani pushed the total up to 206-9 with the impressive Squires finishing with 7-37.

In reply Hadfield lost wickets early in their innings with Will Gratton (1-27) and Ferdani (4-32) causing problems on the low bouncing wicket. Paul Jones picked up 2-14 before a defensive partnership for the 7^th wicket frustrated the visitors. After an interruption in play due to crowd trouble, Matt Fountain came on and took 2-7 and Ferdani removed J.Rochelle for 42 as Hadfield were left 134 all out and Chapel collected 20 points.