|
|
|
|
|
2001 Season Review As told by Craig Hall It was a season of up‘s and down’s, unfortunately mostly down’s. With high hopes for 2001, following a very successful season last year, our youngsters a year older and hopefully wiser, there was great anticipation as the first game came along. And, as usual, it was a wash out, the great British weather won again. This would not be the last game to be cancelled due to the weather plus a coupled to the unbelievable attitude of some of our fellow cricketers who cannot be bothered to try to make a match possible after rain. Frankly they should pack up and sod off if they would prefer to have a drink down the boozer at 4.30 rather than play a game of cricket. ‘Right, I have got that of my chest on with the review’(ed) We started off well, won 3 lost1 postponed 3 and the cup still to play for. The weekend of the 9-10th June summed up our season, B.G.S.O.B were our opponents on both days. On the Saturday at home we got slaughtered, Burnley posting 200+ runs with their opener scoring an unbeaten ton. Although it was a big total we were positive that with one or two good parsnips sorry partnerships we could overhaul the total, but alas wickets fell too often and we were dismissed for a lowly score. All this was to change on the Sunday in the cup. We were inserted on a typical Burnley pitch, damp, grassy and uneven ‘nothing new there then’(ed). With ‘Rainy’ drafted into the team the opening partnership with Jason was, as to be expected, explosive. After these two it was just left to the rest of us to add our bits, setting B.G.S.O.B 180 ish. Now with ‘Rainys’ tail up he opened the bowling, dismissing the previous days nemesis out caught behind in the first over for a duck. From then on in it was Ribb all the way dismissing our opponents for less than 100. This is the way we could play batting and bowling as a team; sadly not to be repeated too often during the season. This was not through the lack of hard work from the team, but with a changed side for every match this season, stability was non existent. In the league we lost four out of the next six games, which effectively put us out of the championship, but still had hopes of a top four spot. Unfortunately with three losses out of the last four games our mid table obscurity was sealed. The cup was a different matter. We had a couple of excellent victories to put us through to the semis against Salesbury who at the time were riding high on top of the league. They decided to bat. We bowled and fielded well until D.Moss came into bat. He batted excellently without any big hitting he very quickly amassed 70+ before perishing on the boundary. This proved to be the deciding innings in the game, with Salesbury posting 220+. With our weakened side because of holiday commitments, we went out with our typical determination and belief. Before Craig was given out caught behind off his foot, ‘yet another ridiculous decision’(ed). With a couple more wickets falling early on, it was left to our youngsters and an old first eleven skipper to try and finish off the game. With the run rate increasing and men left in the tent decreasing, some amazing shots were being played. One a one handed sweep for four off P.Blackman will stick in my memory. In the end it was to no avail as Salesbury went on to the final. It was a disappointing season in the end but there were a few highlights. The top for me was skipper Ian ‘Mr Angry’ Britcliffe’s bowling which will now be always known as the ‘Tripathi’ ball. Against Padiham at home a certain junior Tripathi was putting us all to the sword, batting very well, hooking and pulling. It did not matter where the ball was bowled it was being dispatched, until the skipper came back into the attack. In his second over back he bowled a full paced Yorker, that found the spot. Trips‘ left foot to be exact, at which he fell to the floor with a muffled groan of pain. An excellent delivery, not long now we thought, a wicket to be sure. But no Trip was made of sterner stuff. He gets back up and managed to bat well for another couple of overs, keeping away from Britters. However the time came when he had to face the skipper. Egged on by the vice-captain, screaming get his foot, the skipper did it again with an excellent Yorker right on target. Yep left foot, this time a crack of leather on bone, the thump of body on dirt and the hyena scream of poor Trip, who was promptly put on ‘Rainys’ shoulder and carried off. The Tripathi Ball. Other positives from this season were the junior cricketers who were promoted to the first XI and played excellently. First has to be Ryan Gladwin at only 15 showing us all the undoubted talent he has by stepping into the first and despatching all comers to the boundary. An excellent prospect that will be invaluable to the club in the future if not playing for the County. Others that had a taste of first XI cricket this year were John Braithwaite, Matt Stafford, Martin Peel and Gareth McGuire. It just goes to show that the excellent junior section of the club is paying dividends by producing players like these. Keep up the good work. Finally all that has to be said is a big thank you and a pat on the back to Ian Britcliffe. He has put everything into the captaincy of the seconds for the last four years and deserved the league title that just eluded the team on a couple of occasions. So well done Ian, and good luck to next years captain, it is a big pair of spikes to step into and lets look forward to a more successful summer.
|