Cowley CC v Poulton CC, Sunday 12th May 2019.

After two damp false starts, Cowley CC began their 2019 season with a 40 over game against Poulton CC at the lovely Sun bathed Barnsley Ground (the Cirencester one, not the Sheffield one...) and got off to a wonderful start by winning the toss.
Having no hesitation in batting first, 10 man Cowley managed 189 for 8 from their 40 overs, with the following contributions:
Dave LBW for 2 in the third over with the score on 20.
Andy LBW for 14 after an aggressive start with 3 fours to a ball heading suspiciously legsidish.
Jonny in at 4 puts on 20 with Ed before edging one to the keeper for 12.
Phil in at 6 also puts on 20 with Ed before mistiming a shot up into the air to depart for 8.
Eric joins Ed and the runs start to flow more readily. Ed reaches his 50. They add 70 excellent runs together before Eric is caught for 20.
Ed is finally undone and bowled for a wonderfully crafted 69 including 6 fours and 2 maximums.
Aji joins Adrian at the crease at 147 for 6 but soon it is 150 for 7 as Adrian clips a ball smartly back down the ground into the bowlers hands for 4.
Mike looks lively (but not quite lively enough) and is run out for 4 (166 for 8).
Aji and Nick see out the final few overs - Aji 7 not out, Nick 13 not out (3 fours).
Cowley close on what we felt was a respectable 189 (thanks mainly to Ed's 69 and extras playing a nice cameo with 36).

After a very pleasant tea, the Cowley bowlers were rather put under the cosh. Nick was smashed out of the attack as the ball was flayed to all parts, often in the air but over the fielder and out of the ground. Aji bowled with good control and was rewarded with a wicket, bowling the no2 for 24 (the score on 56). Andy was unlucky for the second time in the match with an LBW, as well as creating a couple of half chances but the batsmen marched on. Jonny was even more unlucky - actually hitting the stumps but not dislodging the bails and generally bowled better than his figures suggest. Mike had no joy either and the other opener put us out of our misery retiring on 85. As if his 69 with the bat wasn't enough, Ed proceeded to produce the best bowling spell of the innings as he clean bowled the next two Poulton players for ducks and his spell of 4-1-10-2 along with his runs would of guaranteed him the Cowley man-of-the-match award if we had one (we don't). Phil couldn't settle into any rhythm and Eric bowled tidily but Poulton crossed the line with 10 overs to spare to win comfortably by 7 wickets.

So a comprehensive result but a very pleasant afternoon in the sun and we are up and running (well at least limping). Ed led the way, including a fantastic effort at a diving catch to go along with his batting and bowling. Don't forget this year we will be awarding a fielding cup as well...