Castle Manor Cricket Club

League Cup Final - Castle Manor vs Hundon 1

Castle Manor got off to a bad start when E Pickerin dismissed Andy Edwards in the 1^st over but Rob Dovaston and Martin Buckner quickly got the innings back on track with Buckner the main aggressor, smashing numerous boundaries.  But just as Manor were getting on top of the bowlers a mix-up in the middle and direct hit saw Dovaston run out and shortly after Buckner fell for 29 off the bowling of Anderson (1 for 29).  The score was 54 for 3 and Manor needed a re-build with a good partnership.  Liam Savage and Jason Ketteridge provided this with a combination of big hitting and plenty of running, Liam Savage took the lead in the run scoring as anything loose was punished, the boundaries flowed and Ketteridge chipped in with some excellent shots himself.  The pair moved the score along to 101 before Ketteridge (16)  was bowled by Mark Jolland (1 for 31), shortly after Savage’s innings was ended by the returning N Poole (1 for 24) having made a brilliant 39.  Both opening bowlers returned to the attack and helped to stem the flow of runs and kept the score to 127 for 5.

Hundon’s reply started well for the batsman as both openers were dropped early on but thankfully for Manor neither Workmaster or Davis failed to capitalise as they struggled to score due to some excellent bowling and tight fielding.  With the run rate starting to climb Workmaster (9) went for a big drive but the experienced Ben Piper (2 for 19) had a lovely change of pace and the ball was skied to the safe hands of Stephen Lanceman, next ball saw R Davis fall in the same way and the score was 20 for 2.  Hundon now had their two most dangerous players in, Mark Jolland and K Poole used a terrific method of hard running and boundary hitting to move the score along at an alarming rate.  The expert running between the wickets was causing problems for the Manor fielders and the game started to shift back towards Hundon.  The introduction of Dan Webb turned out to be the crucial moment of the match.  Using all his variations of spin, pace and flight he immediately slowed the run rate, he also found the edge of Jolland’s (29) bat and the ball flew into Neil Mortimer’s hands.  He then clean bowled Poole (10) and Hundon were 71 for 4.  Manor could suddenly sense victory and the fielding picked up, Steve Fox ran out Beaumont with a direct hit and Martin Buckner stumped Palmer in lightning fashion, Webb kept the runs down and was supported by Neil Mortimer (1 for 20) who also picked up a wicket when he bowled N Poole for 16.  Hundon had slumped to 99 for 8 and the match was all but over but Webb finished the game in style taking the last two wickets in two balls and finishing with man of the match figures of 5 for 17 and Hundon finished 28 runs short.

Castle Manor v Balsham

Manor played host to Balsham in their first home game for some time looking to take another step to an unbeaten league season and succeded by 8 wickets in a match reduced to 14 overs a side.

Balsham were put in and made a steady start with Manor having little joy so skipper Andy Edwards turned to Dan Webb (2-16) early as he has done on several occasions this season and it paid immediate dividends as he removed former Manor teacher Tidswell (19) with only his third delivery. The following over a fantastic one handed catch by Alex Talbot to remove the other opener gave him his second wicket to make him the highest wicket taker ever in a season. It was soon the turn of Steve Fox and he too made an immediate impact as Liam Savage caught the dangerous Saunders following this up with another wicket to finish with a fine 2-14.

Manor knew there was plenty of rain in the air and they might not get to finish the game so the openers attacked from the start. Edwards hitting three boundaries in a quickfire 17before being run out. His partner Rob Dovaston was scoring with every ball he faced including three boundaries of his own to extend his total as leading run scorer before he fell LBW to Talbots only signal of his umpiring stint! Big hitters Martin Buckner and Liam Savage were now at the crease and tore apart the bowling as Buckner also struck three fours in his 16 not out before a huge six from Savage finished the game in just 9.1 overs. With Weston Colville 2 conceding, this game completed our league season with a 100% record.

Abington 2 v Castle Manor (CHAMPIONS!)

Ashdon v Castle Manor (League Cup Semi-Final)

Haverhill Jolly Boys v Castle Manor

Manor travelled to Haverhill to play the Jolly Boys bunch of current cricketers, past cricketers and the colonels finest for a hastily arranged friendly and came through a tough workout by 11 runs. Manor were put in but the openers struggled some lose deliveries and both fell cheaply as the father and son Savilles tore through the top order until Jason Ketteridge came to the crease. JK is in good form and despatched anything lose to the boundary however just as his maiden manor 50 approached he miscued and departed for 46. The end of the innings was a battle between hockey favourite Buckner and landlords favourite Piper to outdo each other and it was the latter who won the battle finishing on 26 including a straight six to Buckner's 25 in a 30 run unbroken favourite to finish 142-5. Jolly Boys batting centred round midweek legend Richard Last and he set his stall out slapping 15 off the first over, however Fox made the first breakthrough thanks to Barehams Bargain Bucket hands, though Last switched his attentions and blitzed 22 off a Fox over. Meanwhile at the other end Dan Webb was mopping up the rabbits including CARL BRADFORD BOWLED 0, as his five over spell went for just 14 and gleamed 2 scalps. Piper (1-6) took over from fox and immediately turned the game bowling Last for 49. This virtually ended the hosts hopes and golden arm Chris Thompson bamboozled  the batsmen and claimed two experienced dismissals. Manor rested their main attack and the change attack took over with plenty of rusty arms which Kieron Bailey (32*) and longtime Manor boy Neil Green (14*) taking full advantage as they ended 11 runs short in a highly competitive friendly. Manor now face two games which could shape their season, two wins and they have a cup final and league title, they won't be looking for anything less!

Babraham 2 v Castle Manor

Manor travelled to the only ground they have lost on this season for a top v bottom battle at Babraham 2 and came away with a comprehensive 59 run win. Manor made a tentative start as they found the hosts South African allrounder Shannon difficult to get away. A brief flurry from skipper Andy Edwards (16) was all they had to show for the first few overs until Martin Buckner and Liam Savage came together on 29-2. Both have been in good form lately and they soon found their range despatching anything lose to the boundary, Buckner (22) fell to Sam Pass (2-35) after a 61 partnership but Savage (52) looked superb and continued the good work before notching a thoroughly deserved half century until he became one of Liles (3-33) victims. Manor finishing 131-7 on a difficult wicket. Babraham 's experienced openers set their stall to keep wickets in the bank for a late onslaught but Manor's bowling attack has been very strong this year and it was the change bowlers who made the breakthrough with Ben Piper (2-16) immediately dismissing Shannon (15) before Dan Webb tore through the hosts top order. Only Trevor Davis (25) dropped by Jason Ketteridge provided any resistance until he too fell to Webb (4-17) who became the first Manor bowler to pass 20 wickets for several seasons. Talbot (1-18) returned to blast out the stumps and there was just time for Pass to lash Fox to the boundary before Babraham finished well short on 72 for 8. Manor now have a break before travelling to Ashdon for the league cup semi-final.

Abington 2 vs Castle Manor - League Cup QF

Abington batting first got off to a flyer when V Sharma took a liking to the opening bowlers and the score raced to 35 from 5 overs.  Manor looked up against it but swift work from skipper Andy Edwards taking off the openers and bringing on Dan Webb and Ben Piper helped to drag Manor back into the game.  Webb turned one through Wagstaff’s gate and the first wicket fell within 2 overs of the change.  The runs continued to flow at a fast rate from the blade of Sharma but Webb picked up his 2^nd wicket in the 10^th over leaving the score on 62 for 2.  The next over saw Piper swing and seam a ball through bat and pad of Sharma and bowled him for 43 leaving the door slightly open and the Manor lads took full advantage.  The fielding picked up and the runs soon dried up, another wicket fell to the safe hands of Rob Dovaston and Abington found themselves on 88 for 4 from 15 overs.  A few lusty blows from Colin Godsmark kept the rate going but after making 15 he picked out Liam Savage in the deep who just about held onto the ball.  Abington’s innings fizzled out after that as Alex Talbot returned and picked up 3 wickets leaving Abington on 101 for 8.

Manors reply got off to a slow start with J Webb and V Sharma keeping it tight and the young fielders chasing everything down.  Manor lost an early wicket but Martin Buckner and Rob Dovaston steadied the ship and began to increase the run rate, surprisingly Webb was brought out of the attack after bowling 1 for 7 from 3 overs and the pressure seemed to ease slightly.  A few big hits from Buckner and lots of running quickly saw the score to 45 before two quick wickets fell, Buckner had made 19 before being caught brilliantly by Wagstaff off Brookman’s (1 for 32) bowling.  Sharma (1 for 28) picked up a wicket in his last over and the score was 48 for 3 at the halfway stage.  An excellent stand of 48 between Dovaston (23) and Liam Savage took manor to within 9 runs of winning with 5 overs to go but there was still another twist as Dovaston was caught behind and Savage’s aggressive knock of 28 was ended in an LBW.  With nerves growing it was the pair of Chris Thompson (6*) and Stephen Lanceman (4*) who saw Manor home with 6 balls to spare.

Castle Manor vs Wratting Lions

Castle Manor faced Wratting Lions in the league cup this week and came away with an emphatic victory.  Batting first Manor lost an early wicket but Rob Dovaston and Martin Buckner took the attack to the Lions bowlers and the scored moved along at over 6 an over, the power hitting came from the blade of Martin Buckner (34) with Dovaston (24) happy to give the strike away.  The Opening bowlers had no answers and after 10 overs the score was 64 for 1.  The change of bowlers proved a success for the Lions as J Cooper picked up two wickets in his first over leaving Manor on 78 for 3.  Although the bowlers were bowling well to one of the batsmen, they seemed content to try to bounce young Liam Savage who gratefully accepted the bowling smashing the ball for numerous boundaries.  Savage made 24 before falling to Cooper but this brought Neil Mortimer (18*) to the crease joining Chris Thompson (12*) and the pair battered 37 from the last 3 overs to see Manor to 150 for 6.

Lions reply never got going as Steve Fox and Ben Piper ripped through the top order, great catching and sharp fielding left Lions on 36 for 6 from 10 overs, Fox returned excellent figures of 4 for 13 and Piper 2 for 22.  The game was all over now and only K Ewens managed to show any fight as he held up the manor charge by scoring 10 runs and it took a spectacular catch by Neil Mortimer to dismiss him.  Andy Edwards and Dan Webb wrapped up the game after 15.3 overs with Edwards taking 2 for 8 and Webb 2 for 2 Lions had slumped to 49 all out

Balsham vs Castle Manor

Castle Manor travelled to Balsham intent on keeping their great start to the season going and came away with a comfortable victory.  Although it did not look good when Manor found themselves 31 for 3 from 7 overs.  J Squire (2 for 15) was the main bowler but Martin Buckner and Jason Ketteridge began the fight back, slowly at first but the pace soon picked up.  After 10 overs the score was 43 for 3 and Balsham looked on top, but almost like flicking a switch the batsmen switched gears and started to up the rate.  Boundaries soon followed and the run rate was 10 an over taking the score to 92 from 15 overs.  Ketteridge was run out in the 15^th over having made 37, Stephen Lanceman joined Buckner and they looked to hit everything they could, Buckner smashed his way to 50 and Lanceman chipped in with some bit shots himself.  The score continued at 10 an over and Buckner’s innings finally ended on 59 when he was caught off the bowling of Farrow (1 for 9).  The innings closed on 144 for 5 with Lanceman finishing on 22 not out.

Balsham’s reply started slowly as Steve Fox and Ben Piper started to turn the screw from the first ball,  the batsmen hit just one boundary in the 1^st 6 overs before Housden picked out Stephen Lanceman in the deep and Balsham we 20 for 1 from 5 overs.  More tight bowling and excellent fielder left the Balsham batsman only able to score singles.  Steve Fox finished his spell with no wickets but only conceding 16 from his 5 overs.  Piper ended on 2 for 23 having bowled Stanley for 23 and the score was 41 for 2 from 10 overs.  With the run rate climbing every over Balsham’s batsman took more and more risks but very rarely scored a boundary,  All the fielders hunted down the ball and when Jason Ketteridge caught out Daniels for 20 the game seemed all over at 82 for 4 from 15 overs.  Some excellent keeping from Martin Buckner picking up 2 stumpings and a catch helped to bury the game and it was Dan Webb who benefited from this as he returned figures of 4 for 27, the score got up to 115 for 8 after two lusty blows from Abbey (21 Not out) at the end of the last over.

Castle Manor vs Abington 2

Castle Manor’s first game at their new home of Horseheath ended in an emphatic victory, Manor batted first and skipper Andy Edwards took the lead in the run scoring by blasting the ball around the ground, he wasn’t phased by the loss of an early wicket and Rob Dovaston (27) joined him in the run making as the pair moved the score onto 68 for 1 from 10 overs.  A huge score was on the cards but Andy Edwards began to tire and was bowled by Burdette for 43, this sparked a little collapse as Burdett took 3 more quick wickets and being backed up by Ketteridge Manor were reduced to 112 for 6 after 17 overs, with some good tight bowling and excellent fielder Manor limped to 126 for 8, Burdette finished on 4 for 35.

Abington’s start was explosive as Wagstaff and Lawrence smashed 21 from the 1^st two overs and it looked like a great game was on offer.  But once again the bowlers took charge, Ben Piper (2 for 19) had Wagstaff caught by Rob Dovaston in the third over and Neil Mortimer ripped through the rest of the top order taker 4 wicket for 29 runs.  Ben Piper chipped in with another wicket and Abington found themselves on 53 for 6 at the 10 over mark.  The game was all but over but the lower order batsmen kept going, keeping the bowlers out for as long as they could.  Manor’s fielding was sharp and made sure the runs did not flow at any pace, the top fielding display was shown when Martin Buckner picked up two lightning stumpings.  Steven Fox (2 for 9) and Dan Webb (2 for 10) were benefiting from this display and it was Webb who wrapped up the game by taking the last wicket with Abington on 72.

Babraham 1 vc Castle - AH Cup Round 2

Castle Manor travelled to play Babraham 1^sts in the Adams Harrison Cup Round 2 looking to cause a big upset and very nearly did just that.  Batting first A Edwards and M Buckner got Manor off to good start but Buckner fell in the 4^th over and Edwards aggressive 18 came to an end in the 6^th over with the score on 32.  Another wicket fell shortly after as Morgan returned impressive figures of 3 for 19, and it was left to R Dovaston and S Lanceman to repair the damage and build a good total.  After ten overs the score was 51 for 3 and the pair started to up the rate, some good running and the odd boundary helped the score to move on and a decent rate, the pair put on 53 before Dovaston having made 27 was bowled by Palmer (1 for 15).  Lanceman was joined by J Ketteridge (12*) making his debut for Manor and the pair looked to push the score on as best they could.  But Babraham brought on the experienced Woodgate and Ennuw who gave the batsman no room to swing the bat and the boundaries dried up, they did manage to get the score up to 119 with Lanceman finishing on 38*

Manor needed a great start and would have had it had Woodgate not survived a huge LBW shout in the 1^st over, unfortunately it was turned down and he tucked into the bowling with McNulty also smashing the ball around.  The score raced to 40 in 4 overs before McNulty (15) was caught brilliantly by Fox in the deep, Woodgate (29) fell in the next over as L Savage plucked the ball out of the air deep on the square leg boundary.  Suddenly Manor had their tails up, Babraham looked shell shocked and some great bowling from D Webb and B Piper (1 for 22) slowed the rate right up.  Being backed up by terrific fielding, another wicket fell and left Babraham 66 for 3 from 10 overs and it was game on.  Webb (3 for 37) picked up his third wicket a couple of overs later and N Mortimer (2 for 22) also picked up a wicket by clean bowling Grint for 13 and the score was now 81 for 5 from 13 overs.  It was a battle of nerves from this point on Ennuw and Archer took the score to 100 before Archer was caught out by C Thompson but this was the last success for Manor.  Ennuw (18*) and Palmer (21*) guided Babraham home although it took them to the last over to secure a tight victory.

Castle Manor vs Babraham 2 - League Division 3b - 6/5/09

Castle Manor entertained Babraham 2nds in the Adams Harrison this week and came away with a comfortable win, Manor batted first and moved along at 5 an over with Edwards and Buckner hitting numerous boundaries, but the experienced D Ince for Babraham was keeping the runs down and made the breakthrough in the 5 over.  Edwards (19) in the next over found himself caught in the deep and Manor were 30 for 2 from 6.  Lanceman joined Savage and the pair steadied the ship before Savage launched an attack on P Lilles hitting him for 18 in one over including a massive six into the school. After 10 overs the score was 50 for 2 with Ince finishing on 1 for 15.  Savage fell a couple of overs later after making 28 bringing which brought Dovaston to the crease, he immediately tucked into the bowling and the boundaries were flowing, Lanceman chipped in with the odd boundary but was content to hand the strike to the devastating Dovaston.  Having made 30 in less than 4 overs his entertaining innings came to a close after a 49 run partnership.  With only 4 overs to go and the score on 117 it was hit everything time, and the runs flowed.  Lanceman was dismissed by M Liles (2 for 9) having made 27, Willett, Thompson all added to the score before S Fox rounded the innings off by hitting the last ball for six to leave Manor on 150 for 9.

The Babraham openers were in no mood to give the game away and started off well but couldn’t get the ball away.  Talbot (1 for 12) made the breakthrough in the 5^th over bowling Mellings.  But that was the only wicket in the first 10 overs as Sharman and M Liles kept the manor bowlers at bay although the run rate was nothing special.  At the 10 over stage it was 38 for 1.  The change bowlers soon capitalised on the pressure that had built up as Sharman (25) edged to Edwards who caught the ball in his Wicky pads.  Next over saw D Webb take two wickets  and suddenly it was 47 for 4.  M Liles continued to score runs hitting numerous boundaries but he had no support as the wickets kept tumbling.  Fox picked up two more wickets in an over and just missed out on a hat-trick but the game was all but over.  Liles had time to smash a lot more boundaries and brought up a well deserved 50 in the last over getting Babraham to a respectable 104 for 7, Webb finished on 2 for 34 and Fox 4 for 27.

Castle Manor vs Weston Colville 2 - AH Cup Round 1 - 29/4/09

The Castle Manor new boys shone on the first game of the season, playing Weston Colville 2nds Manor batted first and got off to a terrific start as R Dovaston and M Buckner on Debut plundered plenty of runs.  Buckner was leading the charge as the score raced to 46 from 5 overs, Dovaston was adding to the total but was happy to give the strike away.  The pair took the score to 84 in ten overs before Buckner was bowled for 39 by S Till.  Dovaston (28) fell the next over to Thompson and Manor suffered a little collapse to 113 for 6 as Till picked up 3 wickets for 37 runs.  S Lanceman returning to Manor this season got the innings back on track and smashed a rapid 34, ably supported by C Thompson who expertly guided the ball around to give Lanceman the strike .  The pair moved the score along at a fair rate and 150 was closing in, Lanceman fell in the last over, B Piper joined Thompson (12*) and ensured Manor passed 150, the innings finished on 153 for 7.

Manor wanted a good start and B Piper also returning to Manor gave them just the start and along with the impressive S Fox the pair turned the screw on Colville from ball one.  The fielding was tidy and full of enthusiasm which added to the pressure from the bowlers and they both picked up 2 wickets each and left Colville on 32 for 4 from ten overs, Piper returning figures of 5-3-5-2 and Fox 2-25, only C Thompson made double figures with 14.  A couple of tight overs from Lanceman (1 for 5) and Webb (2 for 16) all but finished the game, and allowed C Thompson to show what he could do with the ball as he bamboozled the Colville players with his spin and picked up 2 wickets for 8 runs.  His 2^nd wicket was the end of the game as Colville were all out for 67.

Wednesday 7th May AH Division 3B away to Babraham 2