1st XI's Heroic Defeat at Milton

In 480 BC, the ancient Greeks, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta, fought to heroic defeat against the invading Persians at The Battle of Thermopylae. Some 2,500 years later, CPCC's own Spartan warriors fought with bare chested vim and vigour but ultimately fell to heroic defeat also, in an incredible duel at Milton.

We bowled first in pretty horrific conditions for cricket - cold with a biting 30mph northerly wind. Joy. We didn't have loads of luck and Milton batted well to be fair, but all our young seamers bowled fantastically well in the trying conditions. Jasper Dennison (9 overs, 3-52) deserves a special mention for bowling into the wind with the new ball and an extra special mention for Darren Spooner (10 overs, 1-45) who reeled off 10 straight overs into the wind. A brilliant effort! Hayden Cox (10 overs, 1-45) was excellent and Zak Berridge bowled well too despite being wicketless. Ed Foulds also chipped in with 1-31 off 6 overs. At about 190, we had Milton in a decent place but we missed 3/4 chances in a 15 minute spell which could've kept them to about 230. Sadly, both batsmen made us pay and they closed on 280! A big score but, other than a short period of raggedy fielding, we did ok without much fortune.

We tried to warm up at tea and said we'd aim to bat out the full 50 overs and see where it took us. And blimey, did it take us close... Partnerships, partnerships, partnerships... Chris Mather (19) and Ed Foulds put on 30 for the opening stand, then Dave Beard (29) and Ed put on 70. After Dave fell, we had a thrilling hour where Ed and James Davies took Milton to the cleaners in a scintillating stand of 108, where both passed 50 and James in particular played some eyebrow raising shots! At this stage, we were cruising and both of them were playing like two cricketing versions of Gerard Butler in 300, but then disaster struck with the score 208-2! Ed, who had been in absolutely magnificent form once again, was bowled for a brilliant 86 and the very next ball Jimmy holed out in the deep for a superb 64 off 49 balls. We lost another quick wicket before Mark Dean (10) and Darren Spooner rebuilt a bit putting on 36. Jasper Dennison (12) added another precious 25 runs with Darren to keep us in it and the final over arrived with us needing 8 to win. Then, more disaster struck as Darren fell for 30 at the start of the over. Mike Cox came in and heroically defied logic to sprint two incredible 2s following lovely shots from Zak Berridge. Mike sadly succumbed to a run out at the end of the second 2, as he stunt rolled his way past the stumps as the bowler fumbled the ball but ridiculously deflected it onto the stumps! "Come on ye Gods, give us some luck!!!"
5 required off 2 balls... A single followed leaving Hayden to try and score a boundary off the final ball to win. It wasn't to be but what a bloody great effort.

Obviously we're all gutted but what a show of character to come so close to chasing down such a massive total. Be disappointed lads but don't be downhearted. Let's keep learning, battling and growing as a team.

- Mark Dean, 1st XI Captain