Blazing the trail...the Over 40s in 2018

Here's the Blazers' review of 2018. If it's a little late that's probably due to the excessive recovery time needed after copious amounts of port and cheese throughout the season...

By Dave Atkin

The Blazers enjoyed an unbeaten 2018 league campaign in the West Division of the CCCL Over 40’s competition, winning 10 of 11 completed games and being involved in a very exciting tie away at Oxton (the other three were abandoned or cancelled due to the weather).

This was good enough to clinch the league winner’s spot for the second consecutive year. On to the quarter-final vs Davenham and having put 171 on the board (Seamus 33, Karl 31, Dil and Damo 20s), the visitors were restricted to 95-9 off their 20 overs. Waz did most of the damage with 3-20, Milky 2-21 and Dan 2-23.

Finals Day was at Warrington and we were up against Alderley Edge in the semi. The Blazers managed a modest 116 all out (Seamus 30, Jim 23, Dan 21). Atko chipped in with a wicket in the first over and then Ian Martin ruined the game by taking 6-7 off 4 overs including one maiden and three wickets in an over. An heroic 27 from AE’s number ten managed to get their total up to 61 all out. Neston beat Urmston in the other semi, meaning a West-division shoot out for the title.

Neston batted first and scored a healthy 139 (Dan, Jim, Ian and Atko with a wicket each), which was aided by several wides, mis-fields and a dropped catch. Unfortunately, our usually reliable batting didn’t manage to keep up with the rate and despite a battling 29* from Ian Martin at the end and 20s from Jim and Damo, we came up short on 132. Many thanks to Mike Cook for taking on 12th man duties, our cheerleaders Chappers and Foxy and all our friends, family and club members who came to watch. We definitely won the best-dressed team award and did CBH proud on the day.

Thank you to Alan Middleton for umpiring week in/week out, Tom and the Dougherty & Allen team for our lovely post-match food, our fines masters Robin Fisher, Jim Gillson and Steve Ogilby and to the whole squad for doing something silly enough each week to contribute to our cheese fund.

Thanks also to this year’s port sponsors: Mike Snape, Robin Fisher, Chris Baker, Karl Stedman, Damon Curtis, Ian Boothroyd and Dilruk Yahathugoda. A thoroughly enjoyable season with a lot of laughs, some decent cricket and superb etiquette throughout. Bring on 2019!

Awards

Batsman of the year: Dilruk Yahathugoda for 188 runs at 94, 6 not outs and a strike rate of 157 (also nominated: Rajiv Kumar, Karl Stedman, Jim Gillson)
Bowler of the year: Robin Fisher for 12 wickets at 9.3 with an economy rate of just 3.1 (also nominated: Ian Martin, Alex Barr, Dalat Gulzar)
Captain’s award: Karl Stedman (also nominated: Mike Cook, Mark Chapman, Ian Boothroyd)

Champagne moment: Ian Martin for his 6-7 in the semi-final (also nominated: Mark Fearnall for his 6 at Weaverham, Stephen Ogilby for 2 x 30s on one leg in the QF and SF and Dalat Gulzar for his 3-20 in the QF)

Golden cock award: Dave Atkin for a season-high 3 x DOTDs. (also nominated: everyone else)