Warwickshire Bears V Northamptonshire VIXINS

Warwickshire Bears V Northamptonshire VIXINS BBS Primary Club KO Cup Preliminary Round

WARWICKSHIRE DEMOLISH VIXINS IN THE MIDLANDS GLOOM TO SET UP A QUARTER-FINAL LOCAL DERBY

Saturday 13th May 2006

Report by Alan Humphries

Saturday 13 May 2006 - a gloomy and wet day in the South Midlands saw the start of the Cup campaigns of the Bears and Vixins with Lords a distant but sought after goal.

The Vixins were fielding an under strength side due to various commitments but made the short journey up the M1 in any event and deserve credit for doing so. The most important and unimportant men in blind cricket - David Gavrilovic and Alan Humphries respectively - stepped up to do the toss with David calling incorrectly and being invited to field by Alan to both the Vixins surprise and that of the Liverpool fans in the Bear's ranks! (I'm a Blues fan, its called revenge!!)

Although the decision to bat had been taken by the Bears, the surface was not an easy one with application being needed by the batsmen to accumulate runs because of a wet and low bouncing wicket. Such application was shown by Griffiths and Paul Powers who put on an opening stand of 98 before Powers went for (44) playing a thick edge onto his stumps off Stonhill. The stage was then set for Sugg to capitalise which he did with a fine array of shots all around the wicket before perishing for (53) run out trying to speed up the run rate. In the meantime Griffiths had also perished for (62) and it was hoped that the middle and lower order would increase the run count. With the exception of Andy Powers (23) and two huge sixes, this was not to be because of the difficult conditions but the Bears cruised through to 230 for 6 off their allocated 30 overs. Would the VIXINS be able to chase this total? Sadly not - but was it the conditions, the Bears fielding and bowling display or the fact that it took them an hour to get over the sight of Alan Humphries running for a B1 at the end of the Bear's innings!! Of course I'll say it was the bowling and fieliding but my team-mates will tell you differently although I know they all love me really as much as I love them!

Simply put, Northants never recovered from losing two wickets in the first over and crumbled with only four scoring shots being played with Lee finishing on 4 for 1, Sugg 3 for 3 and Griffiths 2 for 0. Mention must also be made to the fine catching of the Bears B1s Griffiths, Lyon and Turnham (see it's not all ways Nathan!) which took WCCVI to an easy 204 run victory.

Now the road to Lords moves on to the quarter finals on 10 June with a local derby against Birmingham Sports at Marston Green, the first fixture between the two clubs which I am sure is much anticipated by both teams.

	Bears V VIXINS Scorecard
	Warwickshire Bears V Northamptonshire VIXINS BBS Primary Club KO Cup Preliminary Round WARWICKSHIRE DEMOLISH VIXINS IN THE MIDLANDS GLOOM TO SET UP A QUARTER-FINAL LOCAL DERBY Saturday 13th May 2006 Report by Alan Humphries Saturday 13 May 2006 - a gloomy and wet day in the South Midlands saw the start of the Cup campaigns of the Bears and Vixins with Lords a distant but sought after goal. The Vixins were fielding an under strength side due to various commitments but made the short journey up the M1 in any event and deserve credit for doing so. The most important and unimportant men in blind cricket - David Gavrilovic and Alan Humphries respectively - stepped up to do the toss with David calling incorrectly and being invited to field by Alan to both the Vixins surprise and that of the Liverpool fans in the Bear's ranks! (I'm a Blues fan, its called revenge!!) Although the decision to bat had been taken by the Bears, the surface was not an easy one with application being needed by the batsmen to accumulate runs because of a wet and low bouncing wicket. Such application was shown by Griffiths and Paul Powers who put on an opening stand of 98 before Powers went for (44) playing a thick edge onto his stumps off Stonhill. The stage was then set for Sugg to capitalise which he did with a fine array of shots all around the wicket before perishing for (53) run out trying to speed up the run rate. In the meantime Griffiths had also perished for (62) and it was hoped that the middle and lower order would increase the run count. With the exception of Andy Powers (23) and two huge sixes, this was not to be because of the difficult conditions but the Bears cruised through to 230 for 6 off their allocated 30 overs. Would the VIXINS be able to chase this total? Sadly not - but was it the conditions, the Bears fielding and bowling display or the fact that it took them an hour to get over the sight of Alan Humphries running for a B1 at the end of the Bear's innings!! Of course I'll say it was the bowling and fieliding but my team-mates will tell you differently although I know they all love me really as much as I love them! Simply put, Northants never recovered from losing two wickets in the first over and crumbled with only four scoring shots being played with Lee finishing on 4 for 1, Sugg 3 for 3 and Griffiths 2 for 0. Mention must also be made to the fine catching of the Bears B1s Griffiths, Lyon and Turnham (see it's not all ways Nathan!) which took WCCVI to an easy 204 run victory. Now the road to Lords moves on to the quarter finals on 10 June with a local derby against Birmingham Sports at Marston Green, the first fixture between the two clubs which I am sure is much anticipated by both teams.