WEEK 10: 28-29 JUNE 2008

In a weekend which incorporated the second round of the League Cup the surprise result came at Kirkby Stephen where the home side did what all Premiership teams have failed to achieve this season and beat leaders, Penrith II. The comfortable margin of six wickets was based on an excellent bowling performance by the team, and then Kerry Hurst putting residency issues aside, with a well counted half century. In the next round they face Carlisle II, who won the closest encounter of the round against Appleby II. Chasing a formidable target of 234, they scored the winning run with only three balls remaining, with two wickets left. Shap had a wicket more in hand when they passed Penrith III’s total at exactly the same stage. Both Wigton II and III progress to the next round, the former at the expense of Cockermouth III for whom Joe Broomfield scored a century. In achieving the same at least Neil Sands was on the winning side as Nunwick I overcame a depleted Braithwaite. Carlisle also were successful in the Premiership a day previously, when the winning runs also came with just three deliveries remaining. With Scotby losing to Braithwaite it was left to Caldbeck I to consolidate second place in the Premiership with a close win at Appleby. In Division Two Great Corby finally gained their first six points of the season at Lowther; in a low scoring game their final pairing sneaked past Lowther’s two figure total. Rockcliffe continue to lead Division Three with an impressive nine wicket win against Nunwick II, and put more daylight between themselves and second placed Stainton II who lost to Penrith Wanderers by the same margin.

TEAM BATTING FIRST

SCORE

OVERS

RESULT

TEAM BAT. SECOND

SCORE

OVERS

Prem	Edenhall (a)	175/8	40	Lost	Carlisle II (h)	176/5	39.4
	Andrew Gate Craig Sutherland	47 38no			Chris Hayes Nick Whitfield	37 49
	Vijay Kopparthi Ian Hutton	10-0-39-2 10-1-38-3			Andrew Gate Jamie Armstrong	9.4-4-16-3 10-2-30-0
Prem	Scotby (a)	150	39.5	Lost	Braithwaite (h)	151/6	35.1
	Olly Driver	49			Ian Plant Harry Rigby	34 33
	Dan Pyke Gilbert Pyke Ian Dixon	4-1-15-2 10-2-28-2 4.5-0-32-5			Olly Driver Mark Vasey	10-3-42-3 7.1-4-17-1
Gilbert writes: After last weekend’s monsoon which wiped all Saturday Cricket in the County the necessity for ark building was put on temporary hold as this Saturday afternoon normality resumed as Braithwaite entertained League Champions, Scotby. An inevitable damp pitch, and what looked like good drying conditions, meant that the toss was particularly important as Braithwaite had no hesitation in inserting Scotby. Braithwaite opened their bowling attack with a pair of young Pyke’s which immediately bought about early success as the pair shared in a three wicket haul with elder brother Dan taking a brilliant caught and bowled ( so writes dad !) taking 2/15 from four overs and Jason Pyke 1/10 from 5 overs. With Pyke senior claiming the forth Scotby wicket as Harry Rigby took probably catch of the season on the boundary The key partnership was Mark Vasey and Ollie Driver, who both have inflicted significant scores against Braithwaite in the past and were certainly at the crease a lot earlier than expected. Both made watchful starts and began to readdress the early loss of wickets. Dad Pyke got the crucial break through as Andy Pepper took a sharp chance behind the stumps removing Vasey for 21 and by the half way stage Scotby we were 5/61 and Braithwaite were well on top. Ollie Driver continued to try and take the game to the opposition and with some expansive hitting began to manoeuvre Scotby into a competitive position. Pyke senior finished his 10 overs with 2/28 and with five wickets in hand Scotby were certainly going to have a go in the final few overs. The key to bowling at the death is “you miss I hit” which is exactly what Ian Dixon did, firstly Driver, frustratingly one short of an excellent  half century, followed by castling three more Scotby batsmen. The final ball of the Scotby Innings saw Phil Knight take a good catch on the boundary  as “Dixo” claimed a 5/32 from 3.2 overs for  which is the first time a Braithwaite bowler has done so in 4 years with Scotby all out for 150  and which looked about 20 to 30 runs light. It was no surprise that Scotby soon had the Braithwaite batsmen under immense pressure with the score 8/1 after 10 overs as both Driver and Vasey bowled as tightly as the proverbial ducks bottom. Even the free hitting Phil Knight was becalmed as both bowlers bowled 5 maidens on the trot. Inevitably key through this period was the loss of no more wickets for the home side as with a change in bowlers the run rate soon began to improve. Knight holed out to point as Braithwaite reached 44/2 by the half way stage of their innings. The ever watchful Ian Plant and Harry Rigby shared in an excellent partnership of 66 runs before Harry Rigby was stumped off the bowling of Eric Corrie.  Ian Plant finally holed out for an excellent 34. The game however was then nicely poised. Braithwaite had wickets in hand although the run rate was still around 5 an over and Scotby had both Driver and Vasey to bowl their second spells, with 6 overs to go it was time to unleash Ian “Dixo” Dixon his innings only last 6 balls but in the process he bludgeoned 14 runs. Trevor Kitching, likewise, blasted 12 runs in a brief but very effective cameo as Braithwaite could almost taste the victory, Next in for the home side was young Jason Pyke, Dad’s advice (and captain) “sensible head Jason, singles are good enough” two balls later the young Braithwaite batsman had scored ten !  Braithwaite closed on an excellent win as the finishing touches were applied by Dan Pyke who hit the winning boundary in the 37^th over.  An excellent game of cricket played in superb spirit between the two sides. Pick of the visitors were Mark Vasey 1/17 from 7.1 overs and Ollie Driver 3/42 from 10 overs
Prem	Penrith II (h)	190/6	40	Drew	Stainton I (a)	160/8	40
	Terence O’Neill	87no			Rick Kay	42
	Stuart Marshall Graeme Bain	10-2-36-0 10-1-36-4			Jonathan Osborne Kris McLean	10-2-35-1 10-5-16-2
Prem	Caldbeck I (a)	214/8	40	Beat	Appleby II (h)	205	39.2
	Jamie Brownrigg Steve Bell Mike Strong	51 36 51no			Taylor Philips George Moore	52 60
	Joe Natrass	10-1-24-1			Kevin Pattinson Rob Benn	10-1-37-1 9-1-30-2
Prem
Prem

TEAM BATTING FIRST

SCORE

OVERS

RESULT

TEAM BAT. SECOND

SCORE

OVERS

Div 1	Carleton (h)			Rain	Cockermouth II (a)
Ground unfit
Div 1	Shap (a)	120	38	Lost	Kirkby Stephen (h)	121/4	27.3
					Paul Thornborrow Chris Bowman Kerry Hurst	31 30 31
	Chris Scarr Andrew Wilkinson Robert Hook Kerry Hurst	9-1-17-3 10-1-26-0 10-4-10-4 9-1-49-3			Sam Wood	8-0-29-1
Div 1	Wigton II (h)