Marle Hill Cricket Club - Cheltenham Indoor Cricket Association 2006/07 match Reports
06-Nov - Victoria (Cup 2nd Round)
Marle Hill's cup run ended at the first time of asking with defeat to a spirited Victoria side. Marle Hill made an impressive 122-5 with Nathan Moore hitting 29* with support from Simon Smith (23), Wade Ridsdale (16) and X. Tras.
With paceman Ridsdale not firing on all cylinders and no Tom Finniken Marle Hill struggled to contain the Victoria batsmen who passed the target albeit off the last ball of the game.
Good luck to Victoria who will fancy their chances against Winchcombe in the next round.
06-Nov - Cheltenham Civil Service
Marle Hill's final league game of 2006 ended in a disappointing loss to Civy. Skipper Nathan Moore was inserted by Civy's Andy Williams and again made a solid start through Moore and Ridsdale until the latter holed-out to mid-off. A collapse ensued after Moore was run out by newcomer Chris Bradley for 23. The tail gave more of a twitch than a wag to leave Marle Hill to finish on a paltry 53 all out
Although it took Civy to the 2nd ball of the last over, they were never in trouble and reached the 54 required with no loss. Ridsdale and Bradley, did however, bowl tightly and with good pace to peg back the Civy batsmen in the latter overs.
Marle Hill have a bye in the first round of the cup and will, therefore, face the winners of Victoria v Birdlip & Brimpsfield on Thurs 30 Nov.
30-Oct - Winchcombe
Marle Hill secured their place in Division one next Winter with am empahtic 72 run win over Winchcombe last night. Asked to bat first Marle Hill started off in spectacular fashion with openers Nathan Moore and Wade Ridsdale finding the back wall regularly. Ridsdale reached his 25 in no time and Moore (27*) followed shortly after to give Marle Hill the perfect start. Things did glue up slighly in the middle order but thanks to new recruit Chris Bennett, some wayward Winchombe bowling and the return of Ridsdale to the crease Marle Hill posted an ominous 133-5. Ridsdale was no doubt the start of the show coming back to a complete and excellent half-century (51*).
After last weeks debacle against Cotswold Marle Hill were determined to start strong and that they did reducing Winchcombe to 3-2 after the first over with a dollied catch to mid-on and a suicidal run out. Winchcombe never recovered from the 'Andrew Williams show'. He took 3-15 and clung on to three remarkable catches (all the more remarkable given that if you toss the ball to Willie between deliveries on a Sunday afternoon it more often than not ends up on the deck!).
Winchcombe finished on 61-5 from their 12 overs. A much need lift for Marle Hill who will go into their final league game against Cheltenham Civil Service bristling with confidence.
16-Oct - Cotswold
Marle Hill slumped to comprehensive defeat at the hands of Cotswold last night. Losing the toss and batting first Marle Hill again made an excellent start to their innings through openers Nathan Moore and Wade Ridsdale. South African Ridsdale in particular was in ominous form and was slaming the back wall with some beautifully timed strokes. The pair compiled 40+ plus for the first wicket before Ridsdale retired for his 25. Moore fell shortly after LBW for 14 to some attacking umpiring to leave father and son Phillips to edge the Marle hill total towards three figures.
Phillips (snr) attacked the Cotswold bowling with usual aggresion whilst Phillips (jnr) stayed with him, hitting the walls and running well. Despite the tail not realy wagging, Marle Hill posted a very respectable 102 all out.
Bowl and field tightly and you've got every chance with 102 on the board. But it was to be one of those nights for Marle Hill where everything goes wrong and nothing goes right. Sloppy fielding and lose bowling lost Marle Hill this game - Ridsdale, who bowled and fielded with real gusto was the only highlight. Cotswold ran out comfortable and deserved winners having lost just the one wicket with two retirees.
Marle Hill need to beat either Cheltenham Civil Service or Winchcombe in their final two games to retain their Division One status.
09-Oct - Cheltenham
Marle Hill pulled off a stunning victory off the penultimate ball to beat high-flying Cheltenham last night in their 2nd game of the indoor league.
A strong Cheltenham side batted first and compiled a handy 92 which could have been a lot more if it wasn't for some tidy fielding including 4 calmly executed run outs (Wade Ridsdale with a superb effort following up off his own bowling and Andrew Williams with some fancy footwork from square of the wicket). Nathan Moore also took an excellent caught and bowled that was smashed back at him. Perhaps a few too many extra conceded by the Marle Hill quicks Finnikin and Ridsdale, however. Cheltenham clearly had some talented players in their side and chasing down 93 would be no easy task.
Openers Ridsdale and Moore made a superb start hitting the walls regularly and taking calculated 3's whilst refraining from the big shots. The pair put on 43 for the first wicket before Ridsdale tamely lofted to mid-on for a crucial 22. Veteran Bob Phillips joined Moore and hammered a few lusty fours but was soon back on the balcony after miss-timing to mid-on.
With a first-baller in the first game no doubt in the back of his mind young Stuart Phillips set about his task with purpose and formed a partnership with Moore that would set-up a memorable victory. Needing 10 an over from the last three overs the pair ran 3's at every opportunity and Phillips beautifully judged straight six in the penultimate over really put the ball in Marle Hill's court.
Marle Hill needed four from the last over:
11.1 - Moore plays and misses outside off stump
11.2 - Going for glory Moore is caught at forward square leg for 23
11.3 - New batsmen Finnikin plays and misses (4 need from 3 balls)
11.4 - No run (new nails please)
11.5 - Finnkin hammers the ball into the off-side wall, the pair scurry for 3, keeper fails to gather the wild
throw and the pair go for a dodgy looking fourth. Phillips looks to be short at the non-strikers end but the
bowlers breaks the wickets before he can collect the ball and Phillips completes the single.
Marle Hill secured a dramatic and thoroughly deserved victory over Cheltenham all down to some excellent ground fielding, good exploitation of the walls and calculated judgement of a run from the Marle Hill batsmen. Thats how you play indoor cricket, Cheltenham.
Cheltenham 92-5 (4 x run outs, N. Moore 1-18)
Marle Hill 93-3 (N. Moore 23, W. Ridsdale 22, S. Phillips 16*)
Marle Hill beat Cheltenham by 3 wkts.
Marle Hill: W. Ridsdale, N. Moore, R. Phillips+, S. Phillips, T. Finnikin*, A. Williams
25-Sep - Hatherley & Reddings
Marle Hill put up a brave fight against a strong Hatherley outfit in their opening league match but were ultimately a bowler short and were comfortably beaten by 18 runs.
Winning the toss skipper Simon Smith elected to bowl and openers Andy Williams and Nathan Moore made an excellent start. Both bowled tightly and gave the Hatherley batsmen little room to manoeuvre. Moore claim two wickets in two balls with a plumb LBW and had the Hatherley no. 3 superbly caught behind by Bob Phillips first ball.
However, the limited bowling options available meant skipper Smith (who had bowled his first spell of the season the day before) was forced to bowl one of the last two spells along with Andy Phillips. The Hatherley batsmen tucked in to Smiths part-time spin to finish on 79-4 in their 12 overs.
In reply Marle Hill openers Andy Phillips and Nathan Moore made a great start working the Hatherley bowlers around nicely to stay with the require rate. However, Moore was rather needlessly run-out for 12 as he drove to the back wall and was found inches short of his ground at the bowlers end. Andy Phillips continued the excellent form he has shown all season to retire on 25. Marle Hill then lost Bob Phillips cheaply (holing-out to mid on), Andy Williams run out looking for an impossible 3 and Stuart Phillips bowled first ball.
The task was too much for Marle Hill as the required rate shot up. Andy Phillips eventually departed on 31 and Smith followed soon after in identical fashion to Bob Phillips.
A respectable performance from Marle but were a bowler light and collapsed in the middle order.
Hatherley & Reddings 79-4 (N. Moore 2-14)
Marle Hill 61ao (A. Phillips 31)
Hatherley and Reddings beat Marle Hill by 18 runs.
Marle Hill: A. Phillips, N. Moore, R. Phillips+, S. Phillips, A. Williams, S. Smith*
