ST Michael's CC v Bold Dragoon CC

St Michael's Cricket Club

Opponent	:	Bold Dragoon
Date	:	26 April 2002
Venue	:	Northampton Saints CC
Result	:	Abandoned due to rain

Innings of: St Michael's

1	W Kingston	ct	Hurst	15	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	V Cross		Retired	42	J Kavanagh	6	0	18	0
3	M Collier	ct Harrison	Retired	30	M Billingham	6	1	14	0
4	M Swann		Not out	16	R Hurst	4	0	20	1
5	B Ahearn		Not out	29	G Welsh	5	0	23	0
					R Sparling	4	1	27	0
					N Page	3	0	20	0
					M Tew	2	0	23	0
	Overs	30	Extras	5
	Wickets	1	Total	136

Innings of: Bold Dragoon

1	R Sparling		Not out	21	Bowling	O	M	R	W
2	N Page		Not out	3	M Baker	3	0	15	0
					I Geddes	3.3	0	11	0


	Overs	5.3	Extras	2
	Wickets	0	Total	24

Match report

The rain came to the rescue of Bold Dragoon on Sunday as St Michael's were set for a famous victory in the traditional curtain raiser to the new season.

The game started in cold, blustery conditions at Birchfield Road East. St Michael's openers Bill Kingston and Vince Cross certainly had crease occupation at the forefront of their minds and the score rattled to 12 runs after 9 overs. However the game had to be stopped at this point when Bold's Jon 'Bunty' Billingham broke a collar bone whilst diving for an outside edge at second slip. The game was stopped as an ambulance was called and Bunty was whisked off to hospital.

Kingston soon saw the light and gave his wicket away, allowing Matt Collier to come in and continue the fine form he showed at the end of last season, striking a brisk 30 before retiring. Vince Cross also showed his class, comfortably stroking the ball around the ground. When he retired, Brian Ahearn came in, and like a table full of cakes, helped himself so some fine buffet as he spanked the ball to all parts of the ground. Veteran Malc Swann also helped himself as St Michael's piled on 10 an over in the second half of their innings to end up on 136 for 1 off 30 overs.

In reply, St Michael's opening attack of Martin Baker and Ian Geddes had the Bold openers of Nick Page and Rob Sparling in all sorts of trouble. Just when the breakthrough seemed likely, the heavens opened and all concerned returned to the club house, where to everyone's delight the Green king IPA was spot on.

A useful run out for both teams as the league season starts, Bold Dragoon away to Abington in Section 1 and St Michael's at home to Obelisk B in Section 2.