Date Search

64 records found

Friday 26 June 2009

Match Report

Celebrity Cricket

Cholmondeley Castle

England XI won by 6 wickets.

To view the match scorecard please click here.

Although the fixture took place a few weeks ago, the Celebrity Cricket match at Cholmondeley Castle in aid of The Lord's Taverners remains fresh in the mind, and not just because of the record turnout in the current economic climate.

Nick Hancock had once again worked closely with Mark Fearnall to raise two teams, and it was great to see Lord Francis Stafford back to captain one of the teams after being unable to play last year; and it was LS who got an early call to the crease after Warren Hegg had hit a quickfire 10 including a massive 6 onto the Pavilion roof.

Adam Partridge was next to fall leaving Gordon Kennedy, on release from Sherwood Forest, with two early wickets. The bowling of Nick Hancock's side was commendably tight, and two Premier League footballers (from Stoke City, where else?) also got in on the act with some hostile and impressive salvos. Rory Delap (he of the long throw) was proving an athletic fielder as well with continual whipped throws to Don Goodman keeping wicket. And likewise, little got passed Ryan Shawcross in the field.

Mike Watkinson (20) and Mark Browes (22) were the only batsman to reach the agreed 20 and retirement. Howard Lee (12) began promisingly but was done by a blinding catch from ECB coach Cookie Patel off the bowling of Ainsley Harriot. Fraser Hines had a hoik in an attempt to up the run rate, but was caught by ex-England Lady, Rosalie Birch. The ever green Gary Talbot hit a brave 3, and Justin Walker, 13, but the bowling proved too tight for Kevin Day who faced 17 deliveries for his unbeaten 0. At lunch the total of 117 off the 30 over allocation seemed light.

Charlie Dale had not donned the gloves to bat, so kept wicket. Nick Hancock opened the batting with Chris England and their partnership gave a more than solid foundation as both players retired on 21 and 23 respectively. And this trend continued as Don Goodman (20) and Alan Duncan (20), a Scotland Cricket International, also retired. Sadly Rory Delap and Ryan Shawcross did not bother the scorers, but by this time the match looked over as contest.

Adam Partridge proved himself a genuine all rounder; (batsman, bowler, fielder, and conducted the live auction during the lunch break), when he removed Adam Johnson for 8, this time a catch by Cookie Patel to rival Kennedy's in the first innings; but it was Gordon who led the merry men home with Rosalie and not Marian. Anticipated knocks from Ainsley Harriot and Neal Radford were thus not required, and Nick Hancock picked up the Trophy again this year; and Gordon Kennedy, a well deserved Man of the Match.

We believe that the event raised in the region of £30,000, and thanks are due to Chris Cowdrey who acted as MC for the day and brought his excellent "Silent Auction" team with him. Thanks also to Nick and Shari Hancock for their selfless efforts as ever, and a big shout to our Sponsors: Baker Tilly, Cazenove Capital Management and DTM Legal.

Mark Fearnall

...Back