Today's date is

Sunday 1st July

Away v Shobrooke Park NDL Cup
Home v Erratics

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

Tuesday 3rd July

Home v Countess Wear EEL

Have you reserved your space yet?!

Thursday 5th July

Home v Heads & Tails

Anybody got a pump?

Sunday 8th July

Away v Black Torrington NDL

No play was possible at Black Torrington this weekend due to the length of the grass!
This means we have played 1 and half games of cricket out of the last 11 matches. I for one will feel as if it's the start of the season again, when and if I get to play again! PC

Monday 9th July

On a brighter note we have seen some sunshine over the weekend and the pavilion is continuing to take shape, as can be seen from the latest images.

Tuesday 10th July

Away v Thorverton EEL

Wednesday 11th July

Home v Pinhoe

Unusually for this summer, play started after a day of fine sunny summer weather. Cheriton elected to field and Colin decided to give us all two overs to dry off our mildewed actions. Pinhoe are a better batting team now than they used to be and wickets were hard to come by despite an excellant opening spell from Dave Carr and Nick Guscott. As each progressive bowler entered the fray a few wickets were bought at the cost of an ever increasing run rate. Despite Jeremy Trick's figures of 2-7 at the end which stopped Pinhoe topping 150, a winning score of 144 looked a big ask.
Given that we have lost so many matches to the weather, its no surprise that many of the Cheriton batsman played like it was their first game of the season. We looked a undercooked side and although Jeremy and Mike gave us hope and Dave Lacey pitched in with a stylish knock, wickets tumbled too frequently for too little and Mike was left high and dry, caught on the boundry on 53 as he tried to beat the inevitable.
Having said that we all got a good work out and if only the rainclouds can hold off for a little, we'll all benefit from it. Roll on summer!
P.S. Colin, you did say you'd give me a fiver if I didn't mention your bowling in this report?
AG

Thursday 12th July

New pavilion update.

The roof is on!!
It will soon be time for all of us to start working on the interior. Watch this space for details!

Saturday 14th July

Home v Old Grammarians

Mike was up at the crack of dawn and spent the entire morning working on the pitch to ensure that we had the best possible surface to play on. Given the weather we have had in the last few weeks he produced an excellent wicket, though not as hard or bouncy as you would expect for July!
When Charles arrived at the ground at quarter past one the OG's were already there and there seemed to be more than the regulation 11 players. The OG's Captain confirmed Charles' ability to count to 13 and it was agreed that all 13 OG's could play, though only 11 at any one time. Given the uncertain forecast for Sunday (severe weather warnings etc.) it was the only way some of the touring party would see any cricket.
When Gersh won the toss he looked a little uncertain as to the best option, but a after a short discussion with the senior pros he decided to bat first.
A similar committee decision was required to decide on the home wicket-keeper. Straws were drawn and Brent stepped in to the breach.
Frost and King strode to the wicket expecting to face the best and fastest of the CFCC attack, but were instead confronted by the Captain. So shocked were they by the lack or length or line in the bowling that the first over went for only one run. Carl opened from the Cadleigh End and was equally economical, though for diametrically opposed reasons.
Charles' second over saw the back of King who sportingly dragged a ball from 18 inches outside off on to his stumps. That brought Tushingham to the crease and an end to Charles' hopes of decent figures. Tushingham has only just landed from the US but showed no sign of jet lag as he set about the bowling. He lost his partner King to a slightly controversial run out. Having been sent back, King was slightly impeded (OK, rugby tackled) by DC, who then back handed the ball onto the stumps.
Boynton fell to David shortly afterwards and when Mike pulled off a wonderful catch (one handed at full stretch above his head - there are some who think he may actually have jumped too!) to dismiss the powerful Tushingham for 41 we were into the middle order.
Robbie had replaced Carl up the hill and toiled away for 9 overs without taking a wicket, but 9-2-21-0 was a good containing spell. He gave way to Henry Gavin and we had the sight of two under 16's bowling in tandem as Luke Bennett had replaced DC from the New Pavilion End a couple of overs earlier.
The pair both bowled well, but it was Luke who took the laurels with a spell of 7-2-12-2. He has obviously taken the advice we gave him, listen to everything Darren tells you about bowling, then forget it and do it properly!
With Money and R. Meyer back in the hutch thanks to Luke the task of setting a target fell to the lower middle (nos 7 to11) in the OG's slightly extended order. This they set about doing, with Hodges in particularly good form when not being hit squarely on the toe. Garrard kept him company for a while for a good looking 21 before he fell to one of Darren's doosras. Petch failed to make much impression before being bowled by Steel, returning for a spell down the hill. Wilson joined the ever improving Hodges and they pushed the score along quickly, running a number of twos and once threatening a three, though it turned out to be an empty threat.
Tricks had by now replaced Steel from the New Pavilion End and Mike was wheeling in from the Cadleigh End. Both natural "Death" bowlers they kept things tight and Tricks also took the important wicket of Wilson. The OG's Captain then stepped into the breach but went for one run too many and departed run out for a brisk 4.With Fretwell not out on 1 and Hodges still there on 23 tea was taken at 4:45 ish the OG's 157 for 10 declared.

With more cake than even Robbie could eat and Mrs. Foan's ever popular scones, tea was not to be hurried. This also gave Charles a chance to think about the batting order. Who would open, Mike, Peter, Charles himself, Darren or Jeremy? In the end he plumped for a combination of age and exuberance in Peter and Darren. but this was undone as both were quickly back in the pavilion , Peter LBW and Darren stumped by Fretwell, an very neat bit of work indeed.
Tricks and Foan were nos 3 and 4 for Cheriton and between them took the game out of reach of the OG's with a century partnership that took less than an hour to complete.
Tricks was the main destroyer, hitting 7 fours and no fewer than 10 sixes on his way to 103 not out. He did give a couple of chances, but richly deserved his maiden ton.
When Tricks retired Mike was joined by our young bowlers, Bennett and then Gavin but neither of them managed to make the same impact with the bat that they had with the ball. Charles was next in and with only a run an over needed to win the OG's only chance was to take wickets. With men crowded around the bat and the encouragement of two quick wicket the OG's did just that with Mike mis-hitting the ball to cover. Two wickets had become 3 and with 6 men down Cheriton were starting to look uncertain and we all know how the Cheriton tail can fall away...
DC was the next man in. Well, one says man, but as he walked to the wicket he had more than a lint of rabbit about him. His first few efforts to hit the ball only increased his Oryctolagian likeness. Then, out of nowhere he thumped a six and a four . Well, all over in a jiffy we thought, but no. Back down the burrow he went, nervously blocking out the next few balls.
Now the OG Captain can smell a cheap wicket, so lost no time in bringing himself on. The scores were level, but the likelihood of DC being there at the end did not seem high as he blocked the first ball of Gersh's over. Swish and a miss to the second, edge the third, block the fourth then an extraordinary hop and stab with the bat to keep out the fifth. Gersh now thought he had a maiden, if not a wicket maiden, in the bag, but David suddenly woke up again and smashed him back over his head for the winning runs.
Another very enjoyable game against the OG's, and we look forward to seeing them again next year.
Final mention must go to Jeremy who left an open tab at the bar for jugs to be bought to celebrate his maiden ton. A nomination as Club Person of the Year has already been lodged!
His was also the comment of the day. As we relaxed he asked Brent what he had put on his gloves as he needed something to use to renew his non stick pans..... CS

Jeremy sets his stall out straight away.

Sunday 15th July

Sadly the weather got the better of us again - actually for the 15th time this "summer"! What was supposed to be a celebration turned out to be a wash out! So we will be rescheduling the official opening ceremony and Peters match until sometime in August. Here is another piture to keep you going!

Tuesday 17th July

Home v Newton St Cyrs EEL

We just managed to play this match, reduced to 18 overs each, due to further heavy showers.
 
Cheriton were inserted and managed only 86 all out in 16 overs. Only Richard Foan with 38 coped with the acurate Newton bowling on this slow and low pitch.
 
Newton though, being used to a artificial pitch were not going to find this total easy and so it proved. Pratt and Adams put on 25 for the first wicket during some fine bowling from Coe and Brigden, but the overs were rolling by. Then Will Carr came on at the pavilion end, taking 3 wickets in his first over and finishing with 5 wickets for 9 runs in 4 overs.
 
Newton could muster only 73 for 7 off their 18  overs, giving Cheriton victory by 13 runs. MF

Thursday 19th July

Home v Yeoford

Always an enjoyable match against Yeoford, who were looking to even things up after their heavy defeat earlier in the season. We batted first and once again the pitch was slow and low after the wonderful ' summer weather'!
The Cheriton batsmen were too cautious early doors and need to take a more cavalier attitude in these short games; consequently after 10 overs we were only 42. Jeremy and Nick then lost their wickets trying to push the score on. Peter hit a useful 17, but our final total of 117 was about 30 runs less than we needed against useful Yeoford batters, who specialise in 20 over cricket.
Nick,Jeremy and Will all bowled well, but the result was, lost by 8 wickets!   MF

Saturday 21st July

Away v Witheridge

Match cancelled

Sunday 22nd July

Away v Victoria Park II

All 6 balls of the final over .

After an impromptu (almost) tea of cake, cake, cake, cake, cake, cake and scones, oh and cake (all delicious) and in sunshine, Cheriton began the task of bowling VP out. After the uplifting finish to Cheritons batting display everyone was up for the fight and the fielding was (mostly) excellent! Ben bowled his usual excellent spell beating the bat on numerous occasions and taking the all important first wicket to set the ball rolling. Their umpire thought long and hard, probably about how he couldn’t give their batsman out LBW, but finally came to the conclusion that there was no way it couldn’t be out and so duly raised his finger! Phil kept things tight from the Cadeleigh end despite struggling with his run up (well there’s nothing new  there then!). Jeremy and Steve dismissed the VP no.3 with more than a hint of good fortune. In the book it says stumped, but actuallt the ball rebounded off Steve’s legs onto the stumps with the batsman a good 6 inches out of his crease. Ironically it was their wickey and he left with a wry smile on his face!
Will struggled to find the form that had brought him a five for in the week and so Robbie did his usual stuff and the wickets continued to fall. A change of ends improved Wills fortunes before Ben and Phil returned to finish off the tail leaving everyone with healthy bowling figures as Cheriton bowled the opposition out for 142.
All in all an excellent afternoon’s cricket, played in good spirits – well it’s just good to actually play a game! 20 more points but with just one more game in the league left it looks as if we shall finish in mid table, and be left to wonder what might have been had we actually been able to play more of our games! PC