'AWNIOGO': CAVERSWALL (H)**

they came from Caverswall

Sunday, July 9 
STAFFORDSHIRE CUP, QUARTER-FINAL 

Buoyant after our sensational last-gasp victory over Buxton, we approached the Staffordshire Cup quarter-final against Caverswall in the knowledge that it would take an even greater effort than the previous day’s for us to progress to the last four, particularly with a vastly under-strength bowling attack. Despite the fact that Caverswall were also missing two key players – big-hitting all-rounder Darryl Weaver and the lively, awkward inswingers of new-ball bowler Ian Worthington – they would start the game as clear favourites.

Addo won his second toss of the weekend and, after some deliberation, decided to bat. We started quite slowly against some accurate bowling, particularly from Tony Dutton, the Caverswall professional and erstwhile Staffordshire all-rounder, reaching 26 from the first 9 overs. I felt the pressure beginning to build as I struggled to pierce the ring of fielders and played the wrong shot to the wrong ball to be easily caught at mid-on. Harv joined Addo and kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely until he looked set to launch an assault on Baranowski, Dutton’s replacement at the Pavilion End. However, before he could get fully into his stride he was brilliantly stumped by Caverswall’s quinquegenerian wicket-keeper, Pete Swanwick, giving ‘Baras’ the first of his five-wicket haul to leave us at 82 for 2 from 22 overs.

Mauler’s enforced early departure (due to working a night shift) was instrumental in our decision to bat first, and he came to the wicket needing to make a score if we were to set Caverswall a searching target. He started circumspectly, but then gradually cut loose, smashing Rob Haydon’s leg-spin for three consecutive fours as we swept past 100. In the very next over he pulled a short ball straight to square-leg where Simon Davies spilled the chance. It seemed that our luck was in. Meanwhile, Addo, who, as a result of our cup success, hasn’t been doing that many Sunday markets this summer, had clearly set out his stall today. Indeed, he seemed destined for a century. However, just as the platform had been built for a score in the region of 250, two wickets fell in two overs, completely destabilising our innings. Lovejoy was bowled by a Baranowski off-cutter that kept decidedly low and then Drew was expertly caught at short third man as he cut uppishly at Haydon. At 113 for 4 from 29 overs our innings was entering its most crucial phase.

Addo: pot seller

As Mauler continued to move towards an excellent half-century he desperately needed a partner to provide some support, and a more than able one he found in Iain Can. Iain’s patchy bowling form had created a hole in our side this year but his batting had progressed immensely, to the point where he has, on occasions, been quite awesome, and it was his 43, made from 35 balls, that did as much as anything to boost our total to the final figure of double-Nelson. After Mauler and Coke fell in the same Baranowski over, Iain showed great maturity in mixing delicate placement with bludgeoning power, guiding the lower order through. He fell in the penultimate over but fully deserved the generous applause of a quite substantial crowd. 

So, would 222 prove to be enough? It was around the coveted five-an-over mark but the outfield was fast and we had a depleted attack. I felt it was about 20 runs short of a really testing total, but was, nevertheless, defendable if we bowled some tight early overs and applied enough pressure to pick up the vital wicket of Tony Dutton. 

We started horrendously: 37 runs were conceded in the first six overs, undoing much of our good work with the bat. To make matters worse John Myatt was forced to leave the ground to attend to trouble down t’pit. Addo brought himself on and bowled six tight overs, but couldn’t put us in control as runs were being freely milked at the other end. 

'Dutt' in his dotage

Eventually we got a breakthrough when Heardy somewhat contentiously trapped Anthony Bunn leg before wicket. At 96 for 1, with Dutton going quietly about his business, we had to apply some pressure at the other end. Tim Radage responded well to the challenge and scored a quick 30 to put the game out of our reach. Dutton, who had survived an extremely close run out appeal which might well have gone against him with a TV replay, moved inexorably towards his century and, with the help of Owen Price and Pete Swanwick, saw Caverswall to victory with nine balls to spare. It had been a masterly innings from a quality player.

Ultimately, when one considers that a third of our overs were shared by a part-time seamer (Drew) and a third XI change bowler (Neil MacPherson), we gave a good account of ourselves in the field to push Caverswall as hard as we did. Things might well have been different had we been able to call upon the services of Andy Hawkins, Wayne Stones or Shaun Brian. However, we couldn’t and cricket is not played hypothetically. 

Caverswall moved into the last four, and with no Birmingham League sides left in the draw they stood a realistic chance of lifting the trophy. As for ourselves, we looked forward to the following week’s Talbot Cup semi-final against Knypersley. Should we win that match the possibility remained that we might meet Caverswall in the final, this time at full-strength and desperate for revenge. As Anthony Bunn, the Caverswall skipper, left the pavilion, I told him that we would see them in the Talbot Cup final. “Why, are you coming to watch?” he fired back, cockily. 

What more motivation did we need? 

MODDERSHALL LOST BY 6 WICKETS 

MODDERSHALL 222 for 9 (45 overs) 

J Myatt 61, J Addison 58, I Carr 43, C Baranowski 5-46 

CAVERSWALL 223 for 4 (43.3 overs) 

A Dutton 108*, A Bunn 38, T Radage 30