Chester-le-Street Cricket Club
Second Team
CCC Second X1 2013
Chester –le-Street 2nd X1v Hetton Lyons
The CCC Second X1 2013 season started with an emphatic win over Hetton Lyons cricket club for the second eleven. Due to the development of the pitch at Ropery Lane the fixture took place at Brandon CC.
With the sun shining and the pitch looking in excellent condition Chester-le-Street captain Chris Metcalfe won the toss and chose to bat. A strong partnership of 94 between George Harrison (52 off 59 balls) and the evergreen Tony Birbeck (52 off 72 balls) saw CCC into a strong position of 100-1. This was to be continued by Adam Nairn (39 runs) and Craig Stephenson (32 not out) in a partnership of 68. Craig’s 32 included the only 6 of the innings which he scored against his older brother Martin. The declaration then came from Chester-Le-Street after the 50th over with the score at 227 for 6.
A fine spell of bowling from Jack Harrison, who finished with figures of 6 for 25, ensured the Lyons batsmen failed to get going. The highlight of the day went to a brilliant piece of fielding by Josh Wilson. With the ball edged high into the air Josh set off at pace, with everybody thinking the chance had gone Josh dived full length to catch the ball with one hand. A superb effort to set a very high standard for the season. A flurry of runs towards the end of the innings saw Hetton Lyons reach 131 all out.
A strong first performance of the season for the second eleven and our thanks must go to Brandon CC for looking after us on the day.
Second Team 2012
2012 Season
After the league and 20/20 success in 2011 the arrival of the 2012 season was much anticipated. The departure of James Waller, a season long injury to Darren Redfearn and the elevation to the first team of Chris Martin meant that more home grown youth talent were able to have opportunities at the senior level. The loss of Chris Martin also meant a new wicket keeper – a young chap called Anthony Birbeck.
The season started on a rather cold day at Gateshead Fell and all the optimism and pre-season build up became reality when the team was dismissed for under a hundred (thanks to a maiden fifty from Josh Wilson), only to bowl them out for less than fifty (including a first five wicket haul for Richard Cantwell). Two juniors won us that game and that set the standard for the season
The first half of the season was very much curtailed because of the weather; however the cricket the second team played this year was excellent. We were unbeaten in the league throughout the season, with the worst result being a winning draw. Still Chester-le-Street 2nd XI only finished second in the league to an experienced Sunderland team. Chester-Le-Street will always endeavour to develop young cricketers at the club and it is the young cricketers who have shone this year.
The play cricket website will give you all types of statistics with regards to runs scored, wickets taken etc. However I much prefer to talk about match winning performances -
|
|
Innings |
Runs |
Top Score |
Average |
|
George Harrison |
14 |
558 |
89 |
46.5 |
|
Alan Mustard |
11 |
435 |
78 |
43.5 |
|
Josh Wilson |
17 |
434 |
133* |
39.4 |
|
Jack Harrison |
17 |
344 |
100 |
38.2 |
A couple of players worthy of note and were indeed short listed for the Chester-Le-Street 2nd XI player of the year
1. Josh Wilson (16yrs) - in his first start Josh showed his potential and scored a 50 at Gateshead when the team were bowled out for under a hundred. The innings was a match winning effort as we dismissed the Fell for 40. Josh later in the season scored his maiden century - 133no and in total scored nearly 450 runs together with taking 26 wickets = not a bad start to senior cricket.
2. George William Harrison (18yrs) - a young opening batsman that has knocked on the first team door all season. A lad who scores 89 in a 20/20 final and ends up on the losing side has to count himself unlucky. A total of 558 runs at an average of 46 in all forms of the game.
3. Conner Pattison (17yrs) – a young lad who worked hard on his fitness pre-season – and his hard work put him in much better shape for a much improved season with the ball. Conner in all forms of the game took 32 wickets at an average of 12, including a magnificent performance of 6/9 against Stockton.
4. Jack Harrison (20yrs) - if he fails with bat or ball he produces something in the outfield. A maiden hundred against Sunderland and in total scoring 350 runs at an average of nearly 40. He took 17 wickets with the ball, 14 catches and two run outs. Jack is whole hearted cricketer who deservedly won the player of the year trophy for 2012.
Throughout the season the introduction of young players into senior cricket has been the focus at Chester-Le-Street - under 18‘s, 15‘s and even 13‘s - this in turn shows the strength of the club and the excellent development work done by all our junior coaches. At every level and in every game Chester-Le-Street are expected to win - those expectations can often be difficult whilst implementing youth to senior cricket.
Final League Standings 2012
|
P |
W |
L |
wd |
ld |
a |
t |
BP |
Pen |
NRR |
Pts |
|
|
20 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
167 |
0 |
1.18 |
384 |
|
|
20 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
140 |
0 |
1.46 |
330 |
|
|
20 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
110 |
0 |
0.74 |
270 |
|
|
20 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
108 |
0 |
0.64 |
265 |
|
|
20 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
104 |
0 |
-0.25 |
239 |
The season itself started as a damp squid, but ended with the BANKS BOWL TROPHY, runners up in the league and the Co-op 20/20 trophy. The BANKS BOWL final at Newcastle was probably the best all round team performance that I have seen for a number of years - with every member of the team performing in some way. Batting first at Jesmond, Chester-Le-Street scored 262 for the loss of 9 wickets in 45 overs (Josh Wilson 36, Adam Nairn 50, Tony Birbeck 46 and Andy Summers 48*). In reply Newcastle were dismissed for 138 (Stephen Cantwell 3-24 being the pick of the bowlers). Indeed a hard decision for man of the match that was given to another young cricketer - Stephen Cantwell.
Having won the 20/20 competition in 2011 the team were eager to replicate their performance. Wins in the group stages over Stockton and South Northumberland paved the way for finals day at Chester-Le-Street (finals day split into two because of further weather issues). A narrow win against the league winners (Sunderland) in the semi-final meant that we played Blaydon in this year’s final. Batting first Chester-Le-Street amassed 148 from our allotted 20 overs, thanks mainly to a magnificent 89 from George Harrison. Sadly it was not to be our day and Blaydon chased down the score easily sending the 2nd team Keets to their only defeat of the season.
As we approached the final game at Stockton it was time to take stock of the season and build for the future. Indeed on that day I was the only player in the Chester-Le-Street side that was over the age of 22 as the youth policy continued to look at new players for the 2013 campaign. A resounding victory by 187 runs is proof that the club is in safe hands of the next generation of cricketers. For the record if anyone wants to hear more about that game then I am more than happy to complete a lap of Ropery Lane during 2013 to fill you in on the details.
With a blink of an eye the season was over once more. Congratulations to Sunderland (league) and Blaydon (20/20) for winning the other competitions. A special mention to Alan Mustard who has decided to move on to a new challenge for 2013, his assistance and attitude whilst playing with the team has been much appreciated. So we look forward to 2013, an exciting time for the premier league with a new second division, when once more we shall challenge for the three trophies whilst continuing to develop the young talent in the club.
Chris Metcalfe
Second Eleven Captain
