www.vodafone.co.uk/press - Wooten & Denton Cricket Club
Wooten & Denton CC
Match reports
June 4th 2006 - Wooten & Denton lost to Saltwood. by Tom
John Reene led Saltwood to an improbable seven wicket win over Wooten and Denton with a career best 152 not out. Reene’s innings believed by many Wood historians to be the highest ever by a Saltwood batsman, ensured that Saltwood got their league season off to a winning start as the Wood chased down 233.
The game had started positively for the Wood as Duckboy picked up a wicket with the third ball of the match, thanks to a well judged tumbling catch by Tristan Alder (is Paula the only specialist mid-on in World Cricket?). However, the Wood’s bowling performance peaked at this point and on a slow pitch, the Wood’s lack of variety really counted against them. Alder was comfortably the pick of the bowling, going for only 31 in his nine overs, but despite some good overs from Tractor, Winston and Leeds-Tumber, the Wood struggled to contain the opposition batsmen for long. Encouragingly the Wood made very few mistakes in the field and banter levels remained high throughout.
The Wood went into tea in surprisingly good spirits. Winston disappeared to apologise to a few of their batsmen (I forget why, although he did run out one of their players who was backing up too far and seemed a bit annoyed with Cookie’s suggestion that perhaps that should ‘be a warning’.) The Reene and Rice opening partnership was positive from the start and got the Wood up with the run rate early on. When Duckboy missed a straight one, Macca came in and continued his good early season form. One straight six was particularly memorable, but with the score on 90, he too forgot to hit a straight ball and was on his way back to the pavilion. Enter Winston, with his new Gambo bat in hand.
Reene, sporting his Mike Brearley beard, took the upper hand in the partnership, crashing boundaries to all parts of the ground. His was a virtually chanceless innings, an exhibition in placement and timing and while he remained at the crease a Wood victory always seemed likely. Crumbie’s role was no less vital (well actually it was- he didn’t get 152) as he rotated the strike and ensured that the Wood always stayed up with the rate. Whether driving through the covers or flicking through mid-wicket, the skipper looked back to his very best. Even the near run-out wasn’t his fault. After receiving a loud call of ‘Yes’ from his partner, Winston soon heard the less encouraging call of ‘sorry mate, I’ve f***ed you over.’ A mad scramble got him back home. For the most part progress was comfortable, as the Wooten and Denton bowlers began to struggle with a wet ball. The opposition evidently recognised that the game was slipping away as comments got more desperate and encouragement more high-pitched. However, they kept going and when Crumbie fell with the finishing line in sight there was still a chance for a collapse. Oliver Ash ensured there were no more dramas, allowing Reene to finish the match in spectacular style with a succession of boundaries. It was a phenomenal innings.
Reene will quite rightly take the plaudits, but there were other valuable performances, which highlighted the strength within the club. Jeff Reene stepped into play after receiving the call at 1.30 (actually Billy spoke to Jeff’s wife who he somehow mistook for Jeff on the phone- ‘Is that Jeff? … oh right sorry about that.’) Jeff made some excellent diving stops, bowled a tidy late spell and as always kept spirits high. He also did the scoring in Barbara’s absence which was a bonus. Cookie also deserves huge thanks. Having spent the entire morning helping out at the boot fair, he then spent 80 overs umpiring at both ends, which was a tremendous effort.
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