The Club Cricket Conference Yearbook 2020

CCC Cricket Report 2019 In extraordinary times such as these, with society in lockdown and no prospect of social distancing being relaxed in the foreseeable future, it has been an enjoyable task to glance back on the 2019 season and reflect upon the Conference’s fixtures last summer. Most importantly, I was able to do so in the knowledge that Stan Nicholson, so important to our organisation in many ways, had recovered from serious illness and was ready - pads on and bat oiled - to stand side by side as we planned for another busy schedule. CCC representative cricket was once again to the fore in 2019. The usual and most welcome gamut of County fixtures, covering all formats of the game, touring sides and development matches at Under 25 level, all contributed to an enjoyable and pretty successful summer for the Conference. The season kicked off in mid-May against Hampshire 2 after a false start as a scheduled match against Hertfordshire was cancelled due to a lack of a venue. As a season opener then, the Hampshire game - played at Cranleigh CC on the lovely town green - proved to be a great fillip for our programme. A 50 over match, coloured clothing, white ball and a strong Hants side greeted a talented and young Conference team housing three debutants, all of whom played significant roles as the game unravelled. Hants won the toss on a sunny morning and elected to bat. An outstanding bowling and fielding performance by the Conference ensued as they kept the lid firmly on the Hants batters, never allowing a significant acceleration in the run rate and always finding a wicket at the right moment. Hants were indebted to three batsmen for the bulk of their runs: L. McManus, 64 B Taylor, 55 and H Carne, 42 all batted well against a demanding and varied bowling attack which took all 10 Hants wickets by the 48th over, with 232 on the board. Debutant Nathan Smith (Radlett CC) led the attack well, alongside David Burton (Richmond CC) and Ed Wharton (Reed CC), with a plethora of spinners in skipper Jamies Southgate (Welwyn Garden City CC), Jasdev Basan (Hornchurch CC), Euan Munday (Teddington CC) and Darren Ironside (Billericay CC) all providing control and wickets, which were shared, as they pulled Hants up perhaps a little shy of a par score on a slightly slow wicket. In reply, the CCC got off to a confident start, always up with the run rate and batting in a manner that exuded a calm air of control, mirroring the bowling performance of earlier in the day. There was however, a bit of a wobble as the Conference found itself three down with 100 on the board, despite all batters getting a start. We were then provided with a match winning stand between two players making their debuts, Sahan Arachchige (East Molesey CC) and - 22 - I think he is out ?