Fillongley Cricket Club

All cricket fans are welcome at The Parks this Sunday when we take on Sessay from North Yorkshire with the prize of a place in the Final at Lords at stake.

The game starts at 1.30 but be there earlier as it looks like there will be plenty there.

There will be cream teas and a barbecue available to keep you well fed while you watch what we hope will be a cracking game of cricket.

Listen out for the latest news on the game on CWR on Friday night when Ian Webster will be talking to Clive Eakin about the game. We also hope to see the game mentioned on BBC Midlands Today programme. Nick Owen has sent us an email wishing us all the best.

See you there.

Losses to Streetly and Solihull have moved us down the table, so we went into this game against bottom club Aston Unity in need of a decent points haul. A bad run at this stage can easily spell relegation – you only have to ask Bedworth last season. It was raining for most of the morning in Coventry, and apparantly in Meriden and Bulkington, but on driving to the ground the roads were dry after Corley.

Aston Unity won the toss and opted to field, and with showers about we had to get on with it. The big black cloud on my left walking up to the footy spelt rain at about 3pm, with 15 overs lost. Despite this we were able to declare on 240-7 after 35 overs so that Aston would be left with the full 50 overs. Simon Cooke top scored with 64, Aaron Blackmore made 43 and Chris Moore 38.

Aston Unity adpted the Pakistan Test team batting approach from the start, but in doing so showed more application than one or two of their ‘stars’!  Unity have some young players and it’s fair to say they are playing at too high a level, and are having a torrid season. At drinks they were 43-3, and looked in with a chance of a draw, but a collapse followed and they were soon done for 76. Steve Gardner finished with the ridiculous figures of 12-9-9-5. That leaves us seventh of 12 in the league, not out of the wood yet since it’s likely more than one Warwickshire team will come down, but definitely better than this morning. The full card is on the Play Cricket site.

I’m told that Jonny Brown made 128 for the thirds this afternoon. Congratulations on this from all at the club. More news would be welcome!

The seconds winning run came to an end at Stockton. They made 155, which was nowhere near enough. Still a chance though, especially as the Masseys – Castle Bromwich game fell victim to the weather.

npower Viiage Cup Quarter Final

Fillongley 201-9, Quatt 180 all out

 After a dramatic match in which the advantage swung back and forth between the two teams, we are through to the semi finals of the npower Village Cup. We meet Sessay, the winners of the North Yorkshire (North) group in a fortnights time, and will have home advantage.

Against Quatt, the Shropshire champions, we won the toss and chose to bat, though I am told they would have put us in. Andy Carty was caught at point in the second over then Chris Moore and Tom Nightingale saw off the opening bowlers first spell and took the score to 40 in 11 overs. First change Craig Jones looked a more friendly prospect from where I was sitting but Reg slapped his first ball down the throat of mid on then next over Azza snicked one behind. Two for 4 off his first two overs, so what do I know? We were struggling at 57-3 in 17 overs, but Tom and Waqar then went on the attack, taking 17 off one over and adding 63 for the 4^th wicket. Just as we were getting on top, Gary Jones came on for his second spell and immediately dismissed Tom and Ben Fleming. Tom made 63, continuing his great form in the competition (274 runs at an average over 90). Shortly afterwards Waqar followed for 34, reverse sweeping a fill in bowler to the keeper. 140-6 in 31 overs and the balance had shifted marginally to Quatt again. Sixty runs off the last 9 overs was a great effort. In form Tom Barber made 25, batting sensibly but still at a run a ball. Daud added 20 and Shaun 12 so from looking like we might be bowled out short of 40 overs we ended at a respectable 201-9 – about par for the day.

Junior opened and with his second ball had danger man Adam Evans caught behind off an inside edge, a big wicket which set our opponents back in their chase. The other opener followed with the score at 25, bringing together Harris and Street, who were the big hitters in the side. Bad balls started to go a long way and the scoring rate picked up. Harris hit 23 off the last two overs of Juniors fist spell and Street, after playing himself in, started to find the boundary regularly. Waqar then came on second change and had Harris caught behind first ball. Next over Street followed and the game was again on a knife edge. Drinks were taken with the score at 92-4. Afterwards some tight bowling from Shawn and Junior in his second spell started to edge up the required rate. Six, seven then eight an over with seven overs left. Big shots were needed and inevitably wickets fell. Daud finished it off, but Waqar deservedly took man of the match with 4-21 to add to his runs.

A memorable day. There wasn’t much between the sides and it was a privilege to host the players, officials and supporters of such a super club. Quatt usually win their group so if we can do the same in future years the draw could pitch us together again. I for one hope that happens. And a final word from me for Howard, the Quatt scorer. As passionate in his support for his team as I am but a real cricket man and great company for the day. Hope we meet again one day.

The second teams stunning run of form continued and we have now won 7 in a row to put us within striking distance of second place Stockton who we play next week. We won the toss and decided after looking at recent results to bowl. Things started slowly for Streetley but no wickets were lost and predictably the run rate crept up as the openers settled in. The openers were still there at drinks and worryingly the score had crept up to around 130-0 . After 33 overs a dodgy single left Dan Smith to run the ball into the stumps and we had a breakthrough, opener O’Connor ran out for a well played 49. Rose then casually plucked no.3 above his head off cashy before Colks had a couple of LBW’s, a catch on the boundary and a catch behind to end with 4 wickets to his name. Somehow with 10 wickets in hand Streetley only added 100 after drinks, a great fightback from the 2′s whose heads never dropped in the field.

We started the quest for 229 positively and Colks followed up the 4fer with some fine shots all round the ground. Gales got a good ball and was gone for 21 and then we had a wobble with JC and D Smith gone early. Colks brought up his 50 in all 4′s and 1′s in good time and at drinks we were sat nicely up with the rate 3 down. Kyle was given orders to settle things down after the loss of 2 wickets and duely smashed his first ball over cover and also tried to smash his second ball to milton keynes before getting his head down, unfortunately his head then went and he was ran out for 13. JK then was told to block the opening bowlers last over, 2 were defended, one went out the park and one went straight up and JK departed. Colks continued cruising and opening his arms up and went to his debut ton with a 4 through point, he continued to 128 before falling to O Connor. We had a nervous last 30 to get but Senior and Binga saw us home with 2 overs to spare! Well played Colks a great debut and match winning performance!

The rampage up the league continues, Stockton are next up!

Firsts lost. 5 wickets for Junior and another 4 for Azza, who also top scored with 43. Barbs looked very good with 34 not out but ran out of partners.

With Bedworth needing nothing less than a win to tie the league ,rain intervened halfway through the game against Griff. The umpires were forced to call the game off, leaving Fillongley CC U16 as clear league champions.

A huge congratulation should go too all the players Matt Smith, Will Vines, Kyle Taylor, Jonny Brown, Mitch Lennon, Ryan Kent, Ashley Jones, Charlie Mulhall, Sam Brady, Luke Duggins, Ben Cooper, Mason Kerr, Harry Tregonning, Piers Binks.

Well done boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!