Olton travelled to Oakfield CC in Rugby for this end of season friendly. Batting first John Arnold and Bob Danter got Olton under way with a steady start but it was when 16 year old Chris Joiner came to the wicket that things really got moving.

Chris having scored 41 the previous day, wanted to go even better and really enjoyed the late September sunshine on Oakfield's pretty ground by scoring his maiden century in 126 balls with 12 fours and two sixes! Yes! Chris hitting sixes!!!! Olton's innings finished on 181-4.

Oakfield set off after the total with confidence and got to 131-3 when the spin twins Pete Suthons and Bob Danter struck. First Pete Suthons got his man caught and bowled and then came a remarkable over for Bob Danter. First a good catch by that lad Chris Joiner and then in successive balls two men bowled by his devilish off breaks for his hat-trick. 131-3 had become 131-7 and there was no way back as Olton finished them off for 161 to win by 20 runs.

What a good day!

Phil Williams - 14/09/2009

Bob Danter's Sunday team enjoyed a rare outing on the main ground at Grange Road in their return fixture with Willow CC from Coventry.

On a day when the West Warwickshire Club had an open day and there were many visitors new to the club and one or two familiar faces from the past like Nick Gross and Neil Watkins, the third eleven put on a strong performance for all to enjoy.

Captain Bob Danter, in his last game as captain, opened the batting with John Arnold and they made a steady start particularly John who enjoyed stroking the ball across the lush green outfield once more, rolling back the years. After Bob's dismissal young Tom Lilburn came to the crease and looked in total command. Tom in a rich vein of form with 92 two weeks ago went on to make a big 102, his first ever century for the club, as Olton made 212-6 after their alloted 40 overs.

Olton's young bowling attack of Joe Moore and Jon Bosworth stunted Willow's reply and although they got to 110-3 they were falling behind the runrate. In an attempt to make up the deficeit Willow began to take risks in running and then Olton's young guns soon had them in a mess with no less than five run outs, as Willow ended on 200 all out.

The Saturday 3rd XI won a low-scoring match on a difficult damp pitch at the Studley Sports and Social ground on Saturday, with Steve Wallis making an excellent comeback from his recent knee issues.

Despite the sunshine, the wicket was damp from the start due to heavy rain earlier in the week. Batting became increasingly difficult as the game progressed, with the pitch drying out and the bounce becoming ever more variable. The fact that the square was squeezed between two football pitches didn't help - it was clear from the start that batsmen would not get full value for shots along the ground.

Fielding first, Olton kept it tight throughout, and caught all their catches (including a dazzling one-handed effort in the gully by Callum Lamb), although the home side never exerted any real pressure on the fielders. All the bowlers were rewarded with wickets - Nick Thompson picking up 3 for 10, his figures "spoiled" by the day's only six - with the exception of Johnny "The Bomb" Bosworth, who was again hugely unfortunate to finish wicketless, after what sounded like a clear nick to the impressive Andy Spowage standing up behind the stumps was not detected by umpire or batsman.

Andy Rowland marshalled his bowlers well, with the result that the Entaco openers, despite their careful batting, were never able to profit from their extended stays at the crease, the home side closing on 91 all out in 45.2 overs.

Olton went out to bat confident of making the 92 required to win without undue alarm. With the score at 3 for 3, however, things were looking decidedly edgy, as the batsmen struggled to get to grips with tight bowling on a deteriorating wicket. Paver came out with the score at 9 for 4, and was promptly dropped three times (including twice before he had scored).

Wallis led the way to recovery, however, with those trademark fearless forward lunges inducing winces in his watching batting partner and team-mates (how long could those knees hold out)? With Paver contributing a painful 11 from 61 balls, a partnership of 51 was added for the fifth wicket against generally accurate bowling, before Paver was finally undone by a shooter (having previously "worn one" that jumped from a length onto his upper arm, and nearly been decapitated by a ball that reared up and cleared the keeper on its way to the boundary).

The innings was briefly enlivened by some entertainingly fiery - and occasionally talkative - fast bowling from the hedge end, which was brought to a sudden end mid-over by what appeared to be a nasty groin strain. The quickie retired to the slips.

Paver's departure brought Chris Chapman to the wicket with 32 required, and the batsmen relaxed sufficiently to begin playing some shots as the fielding side tired with the end in sight. Wally finished on an excellent 40 not out (worth a half century on any other wicket), with Chris contributing a rapid 15 - the only batsman all day to make light of the wicket.

Honourable mentions are due to Sponge for some quietly effective keeping; to the Colonel for what was surely the biggest inswinger of the season (from where I was standing it appeared to start its journey close to the point boundary in Worcestershire, before being called a leg-side wide as it passed into nearby Warwickshire); to Dave Adams for keeping it tight in the field and remaining his usual cheerful self; and to Tom Lilburn for correctly predicting our time of arrival at Olton on the return journey (these things are important, you know).

As Bill Shankly once said to my Dad, there can be no smiling in the bath after a defeat. I'm not suggesting that my Dad was ever in the bath with Shanks (not least because my Dad might be reading this) - the hard-boiled Liverpool FC boss was actually referring to local boy Phil Boersma's habit of smiling in the bath, when the club rule was no smiling until Monday after a defeat on Saturday (this is true). The point I'm trying to make is that it's harder - and often less appropriate - to raise a smile after a defeat. So I'll try to strike a careful balance.

On a more general note, it has been suggested that, in the absence of reports from other teams, this "correspondent" should obtain information about the day's games from club members in the bar, and include such nuggets in a general overview for the website. I gleaned the following from my discussions on Saturday night: Sunil Vyakaranam bowled particularly well to dismiss both openers in the first XI's victory (thanks for that, Sunil); Dave Pullin's bowling strike rate has dropped a touch; the fours suffered a heavy defeat; and the Vice-Chairman of hockey is keen for me to join my son in playing for the club's Badgers side in future. Plenty of gems there, I'm sure you'll agree. The individuals I spoke to failed to mention Dan Neale's six wickets for the 1s, and Rich Stevens' undefeated century for the 2s. Well done chaps. I think I'll leave the overviews to a higher authority (i.e. Grumble).

And so, in a spirit of not smiling in the bath, on to the 3rd XI. Playing away at pavilionless, facilities-less Elmdon Road in Selly Park, the 3s lost to an Attock side that slogged away merrily to 209 having been asked to bat. Time and again airborne shots fell wide of fielders. Munaf Mohammed and Ken Paver appeared to have taken the sting out the innings with 4 and 3 wickets respectively, but not for the first time this season Olton were unable to finish things off, the last pair belting a crucial 40 or so before Steve du Cros wrapped up the innings.

John Bosworth and du Cros were somewhat unlucky early on, as the batsmen rode their luck on a difficult wicket, and Olton battled well in the field, with Phil Russell, Tim Joiner and Chris Joiner to the fore as usual. The latter took a spectacular catch at extra cover at a vital stage of the innings, but 210 looked a tough ask on a track that became an old-fashioned gluepot when the heavens opened between innnings.

Olton's reply looked to be progressing well at one stage against tight bowling, with Tim Joiner and Munaf Mohammed at the wicket, but once they had fallen, wickets tumbled regularly, and defeat looked inevitable, despite some resistance from Phil Russell and a few late blows from Paver. The innings closed at 145 all out. Not a game to be remembered particularly fondly, in the bath or anywhere else. See what I mean about not smiling?

Honourable mentions (I'm making a real effort here) are due to Chris Joiner for his spectacular catch; Sponge for the best keeping effort I've seen from him for a while; Sponge again for his Satnav system (which we just knew would mean he got to the ground after we did, thanks to our traditional A-to-Z powered effort); and Roly for making it home and back to solve a house key-related issue in record time during the Olton innings (I don't know how he did it, but the game had barely advanced in his absence. Perhaps that says more about our batting travails on that pitch than about Roly's driving). Here's hoping for better luck (and a better pitch) next week.

Kennedy Paver - 05/07/2009

Skipper Andy Rowland enjoyed a winning return to the Saturday 3rd XI with a comfortable victory over bottom-of-the-table Sutton Coldfield at Tudor Grange.

The players arrived expecting to play on the artificial wicket, difficult to distinguish at first sight from the nearby "green-top" grass track. All it took, however, was a consultation between the skippers, a quick phone call to groundsman Codders, and Nobby's return home at the last minute to retrieve his trainers (that was what really swung it), and the game was switched back to the grass.

You won't be surprised to hear that the practically emerald-hued track played far better than it looked, with little or no cutting up of the wicket ends, and hardly any variable bounce. The quicker seamers were able to get the ball up to head height, but the bounce was slow, and the batsmen were more likely to be troubled by deliveries pitching just short of a length.

Bowling first, Olton were initially relatively placid in the field - perhaps Johnners was muted by the return of Chris Chapman to the 2s? Not a bit of it - Jon Stott soon emerged as an honorary "Chuckle Brother", and the banter began to crackle. Last week's match report may have given the impression that the chat was directed at opposition players. This was not the case. The "Chuckle Brothers" talked in the general direction of anyone and everyone, and the chat never went beyond the bounds of what is acceptable on a cricket field (it frequently went beyond the bounds of what constitutes humour, but that's a different matter). Stotty's presence in the field on Saturday ensured that the banter never dropped below the standards set last week. A test of a great joke, of course, is whether it is still funny the fifth time you hear it.

Olton's opening bowlers Stott and Du Cros, with their extra pace, initially caused Sutton's young batsmen problems with the high bounce, but the away side proceeded relatively comfortably to 53-0, with Du Cros complaining of feeling hampered by the "wrong shirt". (We say: wear a different shirt, Treaders!). The advent of Andy "Streaker" Brookes turned the innings on its head, however, as he bowled a blistering spell of 15-4-25-6, supported by Paver with 11-2-20-4. On his day, Streaker still has too much class for batsmen at this level, and his impeccable line and length meant that a wicket seemed almost inevitable every time he ran in. Only a defiant last-wicket stand of 20-odd from the young Goodes held Olton up, but Streaker soon brought that to an end, all 10 wickets falling for 53 as Sutton closed on 106 from 40 overs.

Fielding highlights included a hardworking effort from Callum Lamb, another solid display from Scott Danter (who has now taken more catches already this season than in the whole of 2008), and typically calm and efficient fielding and catching from Tim and Chris Joiner (no Jon, I'm not going to mention it). Dan Johnson also exhibited a remarkable turn of pace in another excellent display in the field (how does he time those slides so perfectly?).

Olton were always comfortable in reply. Chris Joiner and Phil Budd provided a solid platform, as usual, with an opening stand of 40, before Dan Johnson came in to contribute a pleasing and largely untroubled 46 not out, with several trademark blows along the ground through the offside. Nobby, classically nudging and nurdling his way to 28, was almost lapped several times as Johnners tried to turn 2s into 3s on Tudor Grange's broad acres. Olton finally closed out the game with the loss of just two wickets, a fine winning return for Andy Rowland.

Honourable mentions are due to Roly for reminding us of a captaincy style that is low-key yet ruthlessly pragmatic (but never descends to the machiavellian); and to Streaker for manfully resisting media calls to provide a soundbite regarding his six-for - although rumour has it that he may have overcome his natural reticence in order to reluctantly discuss every wicket, possibly in great detail, in the bar on Saturday night.

Kennedy Paver - 29/06/2009

A strong Saturday 3rd XI pulled off a fine win at Tudor Grange under Phil Budd's captaincy against a Coventry & North Warwickshire team that displayed significantly more steel than the side encountered in last year's fixtures.

Despite the late arrival of the opposition due to roadworks, Nobby gallantly declined to claim the toss, and promptly lost it, Olton being put in to bat. Chris Joiner and Dave Pullin provided a typically solid platform, Drive-in unveiling the trademark "chop" through point to good effect, and Chris showing he is also comfortable tucking the ball away on the leg side.

As the pressure grew to raise the run rate, however, Olton began to lose wickets, and the middle order failed to fire, despite the returning Dan Johnson managing to get a start. Wickets fell in rapid succession, leading to the hurried departure of the spectating Phil Williams (being of a non-superstitious bent, I am resisting attributing the collapse to his arrival, despite the precise coincidence of the two events). Munaf Mohammed was well caught at long on, Paver played all round a straight one, and Andy Brookes was unfortunate to be forced to retire hurt, having been hit a nasty blow on the hand by a ball that leapt from a length. Suddenly, having been 89 for 1, Olton had lost seven wickets for 50 runs, and it was left to Scott Danter and returning student Steve Du Cros to force the innings beyond the 150 mark with some cheerful hitting and quick running, illustrating the value of batting all the way to the end of the innings and making every ball count. Olton closed on 166 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Coventry's reply got off to a rapid, seven-an-over start, despite the sheer volume of noise emanating from Olton's fielders. An intended insult earlier in the game ("it's like playing cricket with the Chuckle Brothers") was taken as a compliment by the absurdly loquacious Dan Johnson and Chris Chapman, who proceeded to chatter their way through the entire match without appearing to let up for a moment (I had always assumed Johnners was a nice quiet chap).

In any case, Chris Chapman appeared to have fired himself up with all the talk, since it was his introduction to the attack, along with Sultan Afsar, that precipitated a remarkable turnaround in the match. Catches suddenly began to stick, Paver clinging on to a rapid head-high chance at first slip, and Munaf and Johnners taking good low catches in the infield. Chris Joiner chipped in with a vital runout, and Scott Danter also took two catches to cap a solid 'keeping display (with no byes!) as Chris and Sultan blasted their way through the Cov batting to finish with four wickets each. Both showed excellent pace at times, with all the batsmen being troubled by rising deliveries outside off stump.

A limpet-like last wicket partnership was broken by the inevitable Munaf Mohammed, and it was all over, with Coventry bowled out for 122 in 36 overs, all 10 wickets falling for 72 after a first-wicket partnership of precisely 50 in just over 7 overs. Honourable mentions are due to Andy Brookes for soldiering on in the bowling attack and in the field despite an obviously damaged left hand; to Phil Budd for his "cheeky iron fist in several layers of velvet glove" style of captaincy; and, somewhat reluctantly, to the "Chuckle Brothers" for the sheer vim and unstoppability of their chat. To paraphase the Duke of Wellington (no comparison being too odious for these reports), I don't know how they affected the opposition, but they sure scared the hell out of me.

Kennedy Paver - 21/06/2009

Olton's 3rd XI went to Walsall and won convincingly with Jon Stott returning best ever bowling figures of 14.2.38.7 (This beats his previous best of 6-46 v Kenilworth in Aug 2005 as recorded on the website) With Sultan Afsar cleaning up at the other end Walsall were dismissed for 106.

Olton didnt hang around and knocked them off in 26 overs with Andy Spowage unbeaten on 33.

Phil Williams - 14/06/2009

Olton Saturday 3rd XI were comfortably beaten by table-topping Moseley 3s at Tudor Grange on Saturday.

In the scorching May sunshine, the Tudor grange pitch looked - and played - better than ever, with even pace, very little in the way of uneven bounce, and a nice hard surface that bodes well for later in the season.

Batting first, with few specialist batsmen, and against an opening pair with more pace than most seen at this level, Olton had to battle to recover from the loss of 3 wickets with the score on 34 (the in-form Dan Ceillam having got off the mark with a six before pulling a short ball to long leg). Kit flew in all directions in a frantic changing room, before Ken Paver and Phil Budd put on an at times painfully slow - but unfortunately necessary - partnership of 60 for the fourth wicket. Nobby was out for a typically nuggety 23, and Paver was eventually caught off a skier for 60 - his maiden half century for Olton (Joe and Scott drank the jug, by the way).

New boys Sultan Afsar and Mark Hadden then smote lustily to take Olton to the relative respectability of 201 for 8 from 50 overs.

Moseley's reply got off to a sticky start, with Mark Hadden comprehensively bowling Lee Gorton. The exchanges between batsmen and fielders briefly became a tad grumpy, although by no means excessive, before batsman Bellfield allowed his bat to do the talking, riding his luck and hitting strongly through the leg side to post a maiden century. He was dropped at least three times, Olton learning a hard lesson in the process, before Andy Brookes showed the other fielders how it was done.

At the other end, Mockler played a much more sedate innings, with some excellent shots on the up on both sides of the wicket, before he was caught spectacularly on the long-on boundary by Hadden. Despite the late wobble, Moseley cruised home by seven wickets with 12 overs to spare.

Hadden and the unlucky Afsar bowled particularly well, with good support from Phil Russell and the occasional jaffa from Joe Moore. Ultimately, however, Olton had no answer to the power of Moseley's batting on an easy-paced wicket.

Honourable mentions are due to Denise for the teas (as ever), to Ben for scoring, to Codders for the pitch, and to Nobby for his remarkable stoicism in the face of all the thankless tasks he has to undertake (and for shaking off a blow in the box that would have felled a lesser man).

Kennedy Paver - 24/05/2009

Field day for the Ceillam family

Dan Ceillam scored a spectacular 148 off 70-odd balls at Lode Heath School on Saturday to secure a comfortable win over Old Eds for the Saturday 3rd XI. It was a great day for the Ceillams, with Mike racking up an undefeated 139 for the first XI, Phil picking up 4 for 38 for the 3rds, and Matt demonstrating that the family's expertise ticks all the boxes by producing an excellent fielding display at a vital time in the 3rd XI game.

Following a late start at Lode Heath (which looked worse than last year - I must have blotted it out), as a result of which skipper Phil Budd claimed the toss, Olton fielded first in the shadow of the rugby posts. Phil Ceillam, clearly the classiest bowler on show on either side, produced a blistering opening spell of 3 for 3 from 7 overs. Thereafter, Old Eds settled down, building a long partnership of about 140 during which both batsmen slogged away to good effect, with no little luck. The advent of Phil Russell and Ken Paver slowed up the run rate somewhat, before Phil Ceillam returned to break the partnership.

Phil Ceillam finished with 4 for 38 and Paver with 4 for 45, from 14 overs each, as Old Eds declared on 250 for 8 off 49 overs.

Andy "Sponge" Spowage and Dan Maycock opened Olton's reply. Cocky was unfortunate to receive the ball of the innings, which rose sharply from the ridge just short of a length and caught the shoulder of the bat, before ballooning gently to gully. Sponge was, well, Sponge (a more detailed description is available for anybody who has never seen Sponge bat).

Dan Ceillam, coming in at number three, soon upped the run rate with a series of boundaries, all from proper cricket shots. Confident drives were interspersed with crunching cuts and pulls (this was the kind of wicket which tempts the bowler to bang it in short, usually to predictable effect). Phil Russell played the supporting role to perfection before being undone by the only shooter of the day.

Dan maintained his momentum impressively as the light faded, eventually being joined by cousin Phil, who unveiled his familiar array of lofted shots to help usher Olton to victory. Seasoned observers will note with satisfaction that Dan was annoyed to be out on 148 - caught somewhat surprisingly at mid-off from a spectacular skier. Mum Denise, watching from the boundary, was justly proud (sufficiently proud, it is alleged, to provide financial support for Dan's purchase of a most welcome jug in the bar afterwards).

Thanks to perseverance in the field, not to mention the usual deft captaincy from Phil Budd, Olton had fought back from a potentially damaging partnership that had set the scoreboard spinning (except that there wasn't a scoreboard), before Dan's amazing innings enabled them to win the game comfortably by knocking off the required 251 in just 30 overs (that's just over 8 an over)!

Honourable mentions are due to Scott Danter for his nifty glovework behind the stumps (and for managing to persuade the Old Eds umpire to give a stumping despite having wound him up by whipping off the bails every other ball for the previous 10 overs); to Andy Rowland for some fearlessly unbiased umpiring; to Ben Brookes for scoring the entire match accurately despite the chatter going on around him; and to the younger members of the side for not killing each other playing rugby in the tea interval. But the biggest mention, of course, must go to Dan Ceillam: well done, Dan; let's hope there's lots more to come!