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Following the success of the 2007 season where the 3 North league title was captured the first team returned to 2 North two seasons on from suffering relegation and looking to make amends for that poor season. With the league structure changing the initial target was to finish top 5 which would ensure 2 North cricket at the very least for the 2009 season.
The season started with a trip to a rather damp Darley Dale and the first action of the season saw Bhatt and Xander Eyre going out to bat after Sunni had lost the toss….the first scoring shot of the season was a 6 over square leg that very nearly landed in the river!! Cross went on to make 161-9 thanks to 61 from Bhatt, a sign of things to come, and then a vital 40 run seventh wicket partnership between Hartley (32) and Greaves (24). On a track that was assisting the bowlers Branson and Lemon opened up with some tight bowling. The scoring rate was slow and eventually Branson took the first wicket. From here it was the Ghadiali show as he ran through the Dale batting line up and taking the last three wickets in three balls to finish with 6-9 from 8.4 overs. Darley Dale were eventually bowled out for 58 to give the Cross a great 27 point start.
The second game of the season saw similar weather and conditions as Duffield, relegated from division one the previous season, visited Sharley Park with this time Bhatt winning the toss and electing to field. It was a typical track at the Cross but probably not as bad as Duffield made it look as they crawled to 135-9 from their 46 overs with visiting skipper Bakel making a slow 53. Again Ghadiali was the bowling star as he rolled off 14 overs to finish with 5-32. Keeper Hartley helped things along with three stumpings. Bhatt continued his good start the previous week with 85* as Cross completed an 8 wicket win with 8 overs to spare.
Following the impressive opening start a trip to fellow promoted team Quarndon was next. One encouraging thing from the 2008 season was the good opening partnership between Bhatt and young Xander Eyre. This game was a prime example of this as they put on 108 for the opening wicket before Eyre was bowled for 36. Bhatt went on from here however and registered his opening century of the season making 130 before being caught in the deep in the closing stages as Cross made 216-9. Cross were cautious knowing that this probably wasn’t a huge score on this ground but a steady bowling display helped by a calamitous run out in the opening over saw Quarndon consistently behind the scoring rate and they eventually batted out the overs to finish on 150-8. Wickets were spread around but Eyre managed to buy a couple of late wickets with his “spin” bowling in the closing overs!!
It was straight back to the Cross after this as the double header weekend saw Wirksworth visit. The visitors had not made a great start sitting towards the bottom of the table but they made a good start. A partnership of 103 for the second wicket saw them making steady progress but Greenhalgh had Webster caught by Branson at long on and that prompted a steady procession of Wirksworth batsmen as they failed to cope with Greenhalgh as he finished with career best figures of 6-38 and they were all out for 187. Another steady opening partnership prevailed as Bhatt and Eyre added 45 but this time it was Bhatt that fell first. He failed to reach 50 for the first time getting caught for 32. This brought Ghadiali to the crease on his farewell performance. Batting with Eyre they made light work of the total and the both reached 50. Eyre made 55* but it was left to Ghadiali to hit the winning runs finishing 86* and securing a 9 wicket win.
It had been a fabulous opening four games for the Cross and they sat at the top of the table as they headed to Denby the following weekend. The Cross bowling unit had been doing well but they went into this game without Ghadiali who had managed 16 wickets in his four games before heading to India. Branson continued to open the bowling with Lemon and after Lemons opening wicket it was Branson who took the next two wickets. After that Greaves was given a chance a little earlier than normal and he grasped this with both hands. An impressive display saw him bowl 12.4 overs straight through and finish with 5-37, his first Cross five wicket haul. The Denby innings closed on 115 all out thanks to a fine diving catch by Hartley to give Greaves his fifth wicket. This was the kind of total that has caused problems for the Cross in recent years and this day was to be no different!! Some poor shots left them 44-6 as Eyre tried to keep things steady at one end. Eventually he received some support from Greaves who opted to take the attack to Denby and his rapid 38 almost saw the Cross home. Needing 6 to win he went for another hit and was bowled putting things back in the balance. Branson went out to join Eyre and 9 balls later he placed one into the field to secure a nervy 3 wicket win but it was Eyre, who finished 55*, who had anchored the innings.
It was a local derby next up with a visit to arguably the best ground in the league…Queens Park, Chesterfield. Cross were inserted and a run fest followed!! Eyre and Greenhalgh got starts but it was massive 180 run third wicket partnership that did the damage. Bhatt was smacking it to all parts in his total of 146 from 101 balls and Lemon made a fine 78. Hartley failed but there was still time for a fine cameo from Kench as he made 37 from 19 including a massive six into the playground at the far end of the ground and the innings closed on 345-6. This total was always going to be to much for a young Chesterfield side and they batted out from the start. Despite much changing of the bowling, nine bowlers were used, and attacking fields wickets were hard to come by and what seemed like hours later their innings finished on 150-5. This didn’t dampen the spirits however as the lads hit the public houses of Brampton and left the grouse many hours, and skittles, later!!
Seven games in the Cross sat top and it was the next visitors, local rivals Pilsley, that sat second making it an early top of the table clash. It brought together the two in form batsman in the league with Cross skipper Bhatt already in the runs but lagging behind the run machine that is Saeed Bin Nasir who was on course to come very close to beating his season record. Lemon picked up a couple of early wickets but the breakthrough that the Cross were after came with the score on 136 when Greenhalgh was brought on and the first ball he bowled at Bin Nasir, he attempted to launch it for six but only succeeded in finding Bhatt at long off to fall for a brilliant 108. The innings finally closed on 173-9. Hopes were high of a win but yet again the frailties of the Cross batting when chasing were shown. Wickets fell steadily throughout with only Lemon (60*) showing any staying power and eventually the Cross were on the losing side of a result for the first time this season as they took the losing draw finishing 127-7.
Following this poor batting display the lads were keen to make amends as they visited South Wingfield. This time they batted first and another steady opening partnership set the foundations before Bhatt and Greenhalgh added 139 for the second wicket, Greenhalgh making 65 and Bhatt unlucky to fall one short of a second hundred. The final total of 232-7 was competitive but not huge on this small ground. The home side made a steady start as Lemon bowled an expensive three overs but it was then the combination of Branson and Greaves who took control of the innings. Branson picked up the 3 of the first four wickets before Greaves got on the scoresheet as well. Branson eventually finished with 4-64 from 14 overs straight through, a miracle in itself, but with him finished the Cross still needed 3 wickets. Tranter and Young held out as it looked like they may hold out but Greaves struck twice in two balls to remove Tranter and Briggs and then it was left to junior Jordan Crowder to seal the win. With the first ball of his third over Young miscued a full toss straight up in the air where, eventually following a discussion with Greaves, Riggott took the catch to seal 27 points as the home side were bowled out for 169 with 11 balls left.
The following day saw a tired looking Cross outfit visit Ambergate in the cup. Batting first they made 215-9 with contributions from a few. Bhatt top scored with 51 and some “cultured hitting” from Branson saw him finish 30*. The reply got off to a great start with Branson taking a wicket with the second ball and then another wicket from Greaves. However Ambergates overseas, Rajesh Ramesh, then took to the attack. He survived a chance when in the twenties as Plant dropped a routine catch on the boundary to go on and make 72. However his dismissal by Greenhalgh left the game in the balance before and excellent half century from Beveridge saw the home side into the next round.
Six days later Ambergate were the opposition again as they visited Sharley Park for the next league game. Bhatt asked the opposition to bat and this time Branson went one better as he got the opening wicket with the first ball of the innings. More quick wickets followed as Branson picked up two more followed by one for Lemon to leave Ambergate struggling on 19-4. Holmes eventually steadied the ship making 52 as the total eventually reached 172-9. On the usual Cross track Ambergates overseas bowling Ramesh was expected to be a handful but again Bhatt and Eyre laid the foundations. They took the score to 99 before the first wicket fell with Eyre falling one short of a half century and Bhatt making 67. Lemon and Plant fell quickly to set the nerves jangling before Hartley and Greaves steadied the ship. They kept the scoring rate in check as the overs began to run down. They entered the final over needing one to win but from the opening ball of the over Greaves was stumped for 26 leaving Branson to come to the crease. He showed no sign of nerves however as the next ball was thrashed over cover to the boundary and a 5 wicket win.
The following week saw the team travel to the lofty perch of Belper Ams but shortly after what should have been the start time the game was cancelled due to the poor weather.
The final game of the opening half of the season was the always keenly contested match against Belper Meadows. The opposition had invested heavily in the playing staff and their cricket manager and arrived at the Cross full of confidence. In their bowling attack they possessed the quickest bowler in the division in Pakistani overseas Asad Ali who had already taken numerous wickets but results seemed to suggest the batting was backing up his fine bowling performances….and this day was to prove no different. Yet again Bhatt and Eyre made a fine opening stand as they made 67 for the opening wicket before Eyre was bowled for 41. Plant joined Bhatt and they added another 44 before Bhatt was adjudged LBW. Plant followed quickly after for 23. From here it was hard work as Ali was reintroduced and made short work of the lower order including an accidental full toss smashing the box of junior Jordan Burrows who was making his first team debut….a fine welcome to the team!! The innings eventually ended in the 42nd over as Gardiner was cleaned up first ball to give Ali 4-30 and the Cross 145 all out. The Cross knew they could win this but the opening overs saw some sloppy fielding leading to two dropped catches prior to the 11th over starting. The 11th over proved to be eventful, catches were dropped from the first two balls before Hartley eventually held his first chance to remove Brookes. This was the breakthrough Branson and opening partner Greaves needed and they didn’t look back. Branson and Hartley combined again shortly after to remove Jenkins before Greaves got involved and took the next three in quick succession. With the score on 50-5 it was the start the Cross lads needed and they didn’t let up. Branson joined Greaves on three wickets as he removed Whiteley to make it 50-6 and then Lemon jnr took a fine catch at deep square leg to remove Ali off the bowling of Greaves leaving Meadows in tatters at 71-7. Gardiner chipped in with a wicket to make it 74-8 and then Greaves took his fifth thanks to a fine diving catch by Crowder to make it 77-9 and the Cross were on the brink of victory. However the Meadows final pair had other ideas and they dug in to see off Greaves (5-40) and then start to accumulate runs steadily. After adding 40 runs to the score and nerves starting to show on Cross faces Bhatt returned to Branson and with his first ball he bowled Ahmed to finish the innings and another 27 points for the Cross.
It had been a fabulous first half of the season for the Cross first team. They had exceeded expectations and sat top of the table with a cushion over second place. The question was….could they continue through the second half of the season and secure first division cricket at Sharley Park for the first time in the clubs history…..
To be continued.....
Part 2
Related Links:
1st Team Review - 2008
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Author: Best Player of Pace at Cross!
Date: 24-10-08 14:46
disappointed at no mention of the best shot seen at Cross this century, where a 90mph bouncer from Asad Ali was expertly pulled all along the ground for 4!
Had Michael Vaughan ring me up for batting tips the week after that (unfortunately it looks as if he listened to me!)
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Author: jonb
Date: 24-10-08 15:46
Quote:
Author: Best Player of Pace at Cross!
Date: 24-10-08 14:46
disappointed at no mention of the best shot seen at Cross this century, where a 90mph bouncer from Asad Ali was expertly pulled all along the ground for 4!
I tried to keep it as truthful as i could!!
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