ABINGTON CRICKET CLUB

Hello all, put these dates in your empty diaries because winter nets are nearly upon us!

This year they're on Wednesdays

The dates are:

6:00pm - 7:30pm

February the 10th, 17th and 24th
March the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st.
April: 7th + Session out in the middle at the bowl weather permitting (to be arranged)

£2 for adults
£1 for under 16s

We have got three nets each session. Anyone wanting to hire the bowling machine to practice ducking bouncers should contact G Wagstaff.

So the story so far:

We have played three games so far, won one, drawn one and lost one. Our last game was the total destruction of Over 2nds. Fielding a side of 5 players they could only score 62 which Vic Sharma did his best to reach in the longest time possible. However we did and evntually finished the game with 116. A healthy addition to our runs average. Next time is a double header and then a well earned rest for Christmas, playing all the way up to April in the secong half of the season.

BRAP!

While clearly a disappointing result with very few points for Abington; from a very difficult position much face was restored with a purposeful fight back.

In what has become a traditionally high scoring fixture; eight successive team totals over 200; and until now the side batting second always winning, leading to an Abington decision to bat second, which seemed to backfire on a very hot afternoon. Things were not helped by the morning drop out of Stuart Duquemin (family illness) and on field injuries to two other front line bowlers: Dave Hamper and Dave Furlow.



Very enterprising batting from Ed Craigen (61 from 72 balls) got NCI away to a flyer, despite a determined effort from the Abington attack. We had no luck, but were keeping the score within bounds until Jimmy Handley (103*) and Sandeep Chauhan (36*) against a tiring attack lashed 95 from the last 12 overs, in an unbroken partnership of 136.

The early dismissal of Will Earl & David Pimblett lifted NCI, but Guy Ennew (55) and Russ Knight (51) fought back with a 102 partnership that had the Abington score ahead of NCI’s at any similar stage. But as wickets started to fall regularly Julian Small’s (29) efforts ensured maximum batting points, but not quite threatening victory as Steve Commodore took 4-34 supported by Dan Mayes (2-20) and Rob Taylor (2-53)

Having won the toss I decided to field before rather than after the tea produced by my wife.

With Kimbolton reduced to 46-6 in an hour it turned into a tactically correct decision as well.

The pitch was remarkably slow and low, as Stuart Duquemin ripped out the first four, and Nick Avery five and six in one over to leave Kimbolton reeling with memories of last years 21 all out. Worth noting two great slip catches by Russell Knight and Stuart.

However Matt Aldwinkle had had a little fortune and was beginning to play some delightful shots, and at last found a staunch ally in veteran stumper Gary Whitbread.

A little lackadaisical cricket by Abington allowed the partnership to grow to 70 before Dave Furlow gained reward for a great 11 over spell in his first 1st XI game of the campaign. Matt had scored 11 boundaries in his 73 out of 110 while he was at the wicket.

Two late wickets for Andy Argent and a great run out by James Webb keep Kimbolton below 150 and gave Abington the chance of 5 extra points for bowling Kimbolton out.

In reply Stuart Duquemin walked for a nick that neither Umpire or Keeper were sure of leaving Abington at 14-2. Senior pros Guy Ennew and David Pimblett responded with a 54 partnership that was just starting to appear to be making the game safe. But 68-2 became 95-6 as Michael Moore bowled through for 16-4-29-4.

Greg Wagstaff had played a winning innings in midweek and was setting about it again. We lost a 7th wicket at 114, but with time on our side and boundaries starting to flow regularly from not only Greg’s bat but also James Webb a 35 run 8th wicket partnership won the match in 6 overs.

A very mature innings by Greg in only his 8th 1st XI League match, with 43 not out in 52 balls with 7 fours, to put Abington in a ‘promotion’ position of second in the League table, for the first time

The day itself was sunny and the pitch looked good; Abington won the toss and batted first.

A bit of early movement with Fordham bowling good lines accounted for the top order as Abington threatened total collapse at 28-5.

A very gutsy 43 from Russell Knight, in partnership with first, Greg Wagstaff (28) and then Dave Hamper (27*), lifted the score to an almost respectable total.

In reply Fordham were rocked by a very impressive opening spell by Andy Argent (3-19) and lost three early wickets before an initially aggressive then ‘cramped’ Mark Silcock (28) and Skipper Darren Theobold (63*, 8 x4s, 2 x6s), surviving countless appeals for LBW’s took the game away from Abington. Two late strikes by Guy Ennew gain another couple of points and keep the opening batsman’s wicket tally for the season ahead of his runs!

Abington lost the toss and were kindly asked to bat. Having taken 10 overs to reach double figures Abingtons’ score mounted as Stuart Duquemin and William Earl used all their experience and skill to 'eke' a 79 partnership out of a up and down wicket, slow outfield and very steady bowling. Harry Randall’s 41 lead Abington to the highest score of the weekend in Premier Division 2.

A LBW was upheld against danger man Stuart Brown for Stuart Duquemin to strike with the very first ball of Abingtons’ season (in the field!). Two further scalps for Stuart, as well as a debut wicket for Andy Argent, was backed up by all three change seamers, Webb, Ennew and Hamper who between them took 6-29 in 19 overs. A decisive difference between the teams was the catching. Yaxley spilled six catches, Abington caught everything, including a blinder at slip by Stuart Duquemin.

Next weeks outing against Fordham at the bowl is eagerly awaited by all Abington players and supporters....so be there or be....pink.

Fantastic news from the closed, underground world of Indoor Cricket....Abington CC didn't come 1st but came 2ND in the league!!!

Having finally got together some half decent, reliable cricketers Jimmy Lawrence (skipper) was able to steer the team for division 1.

First game of the season we lost to other power houses Fulbourn 2nds. After that however, we enjoyed a period of 5 straight victories and league domination. Again the winning streak was ended by the return game against Fulbourn 2nds. They still hadn't managed to knock us off the Top spot. A lost fixture against Mill Green finally allowed Fulbourn to take the lead. The last two games against Maypole and Over saw Vicrant Sharma scoring 56 in 15 balls and Goose dropping the funniest caught and bowled i HAVE EVER SEEN!

But truthfully, a big thanks to all the lads who played, Vic Sharma and Ben Richards only missed one game each, while Dave Hamper had to be controlled in the usual way. Goose, Greg, Bouds, Jimmy K and Miggy all came along and gave a hand (and possibly more) thanks to my mum, dad and cat. I think i'm gonna cry.........

Finally the Indoor league did see the debut of Matthew Potts. A meat and two vedge kind of guy who has a love and admiration for Cage fighters. He played the last two games for us and did alright....although we havn't thought up a nickname yet.

BIG LOVE!

Abbo Indoor completed another 'clinical' win against Shape Data this Sunday.

The roode boiz were helped by Vic when in practise he struck the ball sweetly into the crotch of Shape Data's best bowler. A few minutes later (with their bowler in A+E) Vic was on his way to a quick fire 25 (about 8 balls)

Goose, Jimmy, Greg and Hamper all made solid contributions with Abington reaching about 160 for no loss of a wicket.

Shape Data never really came out to bat. Heads already held low (and possibly wearing double crotch protection) they only made about 40 in their 10 overs for one.

This means Abington Indoor have played 6 and won 5 and are at the top of the league!

Abington U15s held their nerve to score a famous victory over Cambridge NCI on Parker's Piece. NCI won the toss and decided to bat first on a gloomy evening. Harry Franklin made the first breakthrough for Abington in his second over with Josh Jones holding onto a fine catch to dismiss Chester Bates. Some economical bowling from the early bowlers kept the pressure on NCI and when Matt Sellers took 2 for 8 off his 4 overs including another catch by Josh Jones and Adam Smith took 2 for 19, aided by a fine Max Taylor catch to dismiss the opener Shevlane for 19, NCI seemed to panic. Will Carter took full advantage, managing to claim 3 run outs including an impressive direct hit from quite a distance. NCI finished on 97 for 9. Abington then set about chasing down the target in first light drizzle and then some heavier rain! Kieren Parfey carried his bat in scoring 22 not out despite the ball stopping sawdust and Adam Smith scored a fine 24 before being given out LBW. It was left to Harry Franklin and Kieren Parfey to finish it off in the 17th over, leaving Abington on 98 for 4 off 16.2 overs. A great performance all round! Another highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the indians who asked if they could join in 'just for a little bat!'.

The U13s finally got their season underway on 8th May with an impressive victory against a useful Camden side. On a glorious evening, both sides played some great cricket with Abington holding their nerve to take a well deserved victory. Camden won the toss and batted first with the openers putting on a stand of 63 before Freeman was caught in the 15th over by David Lowe off the bowling of Andy Macdonald for 22. Batley scored an unbeaten 43 including 8 boundaries helping Camden to a total of 88 for 1. Abington bowled sensibly and considering that they gave everyone a go, using 9 bowlers, the bowling figures were pleasing.
Kieren Parfey, in his first game for Abington, led Abington's run chase finishing on 37 not out, having scored 6 boundaries including a fine 6. After Will Kenzie was out caught by Freeman in the 3rd over, Andy Macdonald came to the crease contributing an impressive 29 runs including 5 boundaries to a partnership of 49. When Macdonald was bowled by Fowles in the 12th over, the captain, Harry Franklin, came to the crease helping Parfey to increase the run rate to 36 runs off 4.4overs. The match was settled in the 16th over, with Abington finishing on 89 for 2 off 15.5 overs. The Camden umpire, newly arrived from St Kitts & Nevis, was very complimentary about the Abington players, both about their cricketing skills and their conduct so well done boys!