Fillongley Cricket Club

A big crowd tonight for the Under 16s big game against Bedworth, who had a 100% record in the league. The first game between these sides resulted in a three run loss for our boys, but a win would guarantee us a share of the title.

Batting first, Bedworth made an impressive 153 all out. Ryan Parnell was the star with 81 (9 fours and 4 sixes). This was a quality innings, but only one of the other Bedworth players got past 7 so to some extent he was doing it on his own.  As partners started to run out he hit an over from Mulhall for 25, taking the score to 133 with 4 overs left. Another over of this and they might have been out of sight, but we got the break and he miscued Harry to AJ. The tail disappeared quickly and we were left a challenging, but not impossible target. Again we suffered on the wide front, 20 of them.

Will Vinesis a key bat for us so we were in trouble when he was bowled by Sharma in the first over. This brought Kyle Taylor to the crease to join Matt Smith. Matt hit one big six then was well caught on the boundary going for another. 25-2 in four overs and sonmething special needed from Kyle and Jonny Brown. Something special we got. Kyle made an outstanding 81 not out off just 49 balls with three sixes and seven fours. There were plenty of the trademark straight drives but what really impressed me was the absence of any of the old big risk get out shots. Even with a big target and a decent Bedworth attack he never looked like getting out. Jonny is a different type of player. When you think he has 15 he has generally got 30 plus because even though the good balls get defended all the bad ones go to the boundary. He made 58 off 54 balls and the two put on 133. Giong into the last over we needed nine to win. Jonny got a single then Kyle hit 4 and 1. 3 off 3 needed but Jonny was out next ball, bringing in AJ. A single left Kyle needing 2 to win off the last ball, but no running required, just a flat straight six to win the game.

We are finished now. Bedworth face Griff next week, and will share the title with us if they win.

As a final note we asked for people to come to the game tonight and got a great turnout. A big thank you for your support. It makes a big difference on the big occasions.

The team for Saturday at Corley:

1. S Rose
2. M Gales
3.  A. Moore
4. K Taylor
5. Dn Howells
6. M Cashmore
7. T Jerrad-Dinn
8. J Kerr
9. J Simms
10. M Steady
11. L Duggins

Another massive game, heads on.  Party at the club afterwards to celebrate the return of Binga…….

Rose

This slipped through the net a bit with holidays and the knockout, but there is a report on our win in the Hilditch cup on the Coventry Telegraph site.

Our seconds are mounting a late challenge for promotion. We are currently 5^th, just 27 points behind third place Masseys, who we beat last week. Continue reading Seconds on a charge

Fillongley 183 all out    Bretforton 173 all out

We are through to the quarter finals of the npower Village Cup after a tense 10 run win over the Cotswold Hills League leaders and champions. In two weeks time we host Quatt, who hail from Shropshire.

Batting first , Reg and Pro made a steady start, seeing off the opening bowlers and taking us to 39-0 in 11 overs. The introduction of their captain Jones led to things going wrong. He took wickets in each of his first three overs to leave us at 51-3. Waqar tried to hit us out of trouble but nicked to the keeper after making 14 off 11 balls. We needed a partnership, and it came from Azza and Tom Barber. 59 were added in quick time before Azza fell to what looked a very tight run out decision. Barbs went on to make 48 off 43 balls – ultimately a match winning innings. Runs from the tail got us to a competitive 183, though we were bowled out a couple of overs short.

Strangely the feeling amongst the opposition camp seemed to be that it was start the car time, even though 183 will win more games than lose them in this format. They soon knew they were in a game as the openers had no clue how to combat a brilliant spell from Junior. Davies kept out 20 balls for 2, but could have gone any time. Daud got him well caught at slip by Barber. The openers made 3 and 2, then Dell and Berry started to rebuild, taking the score to 71. At the end of Steves spell the big shots came. A six and a four, then both were back in the hutch within 4 balls. Reg took an excellent over the shoulder catch to get rid of Berry. With rain about Bretforton needed to stay ahead of the run rate so shots started to come. Jones tried to hit his second ball from Tom Nightingale and holed out to Daud on the boundary. With him gone and the score 86-5 at halfway we looked well placed. There was work to do though as Witts and Stanley put together their best partnership. They took the score to 40 short of the target before Stanley was tempted by the straight boundary and hit Tom Nightingale to Barber. A diving one handed catch from Waqar saw off the number 8 then another straight hit from Witts and a great catch above his head from Barber. Tom Nightingale took a fourth wicket leaving the last pair 11 short with 14 balls left, but an attempt to scramble a second run gave Reg a shy at one stump from 20 yards. Champagne moment!

Thanks to all who travelled. The support was magnificent. Thanks of course to all the players. A fantastic performance against a good team, but we were the best team on the day and the result was right. Apologies for not getting the report up earlier but for most of the day my liver has been recovering.