Sodbury Through To Third Round Of Knock-Out Cup
Article Date: 9th June 2004
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Another wet evening at The Ridings
Chipping Sodbury pulled off another good win as they progressed through to the third round of the Bristol and District Knock-Out Cup. After playing host to a reduced 20 over-a-side match against Claverham 2 weeks earlier, Sodbury again played in a rain affected match, this time against Stapleton Cricket Club.
With only 16 overs for Stapleton to set a challenging target, they lost opener S. Fitzgerald to the 2nd ball of the match as Sodbury pace bowler Jon Toghill bowled a short pitched ball and saw it fly into fine leg's hands. Fellow Stapleton opener J. Nutt then proceeded to hit a devastating 18 runs off the final 4 balls of the opening over.
The word is Destroy!
Stapleton then continued along the same vein and attempted to destroy the Sodbury attack, but good bowling from Toghill and 16 year old Jamie Wakefield saw Stapleton reduced to 44-4 from 8 overs. An impressive final 3 overs of Toghill's spell saw him come away with 4 overs, 23 runs for 3 wickets.
With a good display of batting from number 4 M. Leonard (51*), Stapleton reached 100 for 7 from their allotted 16 overs. Simon Wilcox (1-28) and Richard Wood (2-27) gave Stapleton a total which looked a good one to chase. Stapleton 100-7 from 16 overs.
A good start
Sodbury opening batsmen Jeremy Swatton and Craig Scully made a very good start after taking 40 from the first 5 overs. Scully was needlessly run out in the next over, but new batsmen Ian Hobbs continued the onslaught. But when his wicket fell with the score on 84 in 10th over, the infamous Sodbury shuffle began to take hold.
Tight bowling from Stapleton
Some very tight bowling from M. Chidgey (2-16) and B. Hopes (2-15) saw slow progress as Sodbury were reduced to 95-4 from 14 overs. However, with the last ball of the penultimate over the winning runs were eventually hit, leaving Sodbury opener Jeremy Swatton on 41*. A intelligent innings which saw Chipping Sodbury through to the next round of the cup.
Sodbury's fine performances against Claverham and Stapleton, both who play two leagues above them on Saturdays, bodes well for the next round as they look to continue their current form.
