Illingworth at home - Game 4

Date Saturday 13th May 2006

After a week of glorius sunshine, the ICC team were looking forward to a double-header of cricket.
Typically, the rain fell overnight and Saturday was a damp, cold and miserable day. AWOL for Saturday's match was Cocky who was having a kickabout with Michael Owen. Youngster Richard Rhodes came in after knocking some substantial runs in the two's.
With both teams riding high at the right end of the table Captain Quaife stated it would be Ilkley's first real test of the season.
Again losing the toss, Ilkley were put in and Bails and Simon got the innings off to a good start before Bails fell to a dubious lbw. Santy was number three this week and with his first ball of the innings played a tremendous shot throgh the legside.
Simon at the other end was his usual attacking self and started to get stuck into the Illingworth Aussie, including clubbing a beautiful 6 into Denton Road. Another four followed the next ball and with 14 already off the over it seemed the Illingworth skipper would take the foul-mouthed bowler off... alas with his final delivery he pitched one on a length and the unfortunate Simon was bowled by one that kept low.

'Russell the Hustler and Bustler' Dover joined Sant and promptly decided to run his colleague out, the unfortunate Sant stranded halfway down the wicket. With the score on 86-3 and with 30 overs left Wheels walked out and tried to steady the ICC nerves. The Hustler and Wheels batted well together, hitting the bad ball when necessary but otherwise trying to run the overs down and protect the middle and lower order from a decent Illingworth attack. Just as Wheels started to look comfortable and was seeing the ball well he too fell the same way as Simon and got a straight one that rolled, bowled for 15.

Making his debut with the bat for the first and coming in at number six, much to the delight of his proud brother was Richie Rhodes. With 19 overs left and the Illingworth bowlers seemingly on top it was no easy time but the young left-hander took it all in his giant stride and played some quite majestic shots all around the wicket. Paul was battling hard at the other end and was doing a great impersonation of the absent Cockcroft, grinding one's and two and generally proving a nuisance to the Illingworth bowlers.
With 13 overs left both batsmen now sensed it was time to take the attack to the opposition and boundaries were coming at regular intervals, especially from the bat of Dover who had now advanced to 48. And when he hit a wonderful cut through point to notch a well deserved maiden 50 for the ICC - good work The Hustler.


At the other end youngster Rhodes got a shocker from the umps, given out lbw despite almost shaking hands with the Illingworth spinner such was the distance he was down the wicket. But he deservdly received a rich round of applause from the shivering spectators after scoring a well crafted 24... well done Rhodes Junior.

Andy 'Tourettes' Rhodes came in at 7 but he was soon back in the pavilion getting caught at cover. The poor boundary marker outside the changing room had drawn this weeks short straw, Andy Lad smashing it across the outfield in frustration.

Captain Quaife hurried to the crease and scurried soon back, out caught behind.

The ICC were in danger of collapsing here and when Paul was caught for an excellent 72 the remaining Ilkley batsmen came and went for very few, eventually Jayes getting caught for none with still an over left. How costly this late collapse would prove only time would tell.

At tea, Paul was somewhat disappointed much to the bemusement of his teamates who had just witnessed his best innings for the ICC - then they saw the telly, Liverpool 2 - 3 West Ham (unlucky Paul, there's always next season said the sympathetic Guppy!).

Rhodes Senior and Dick opened the ICC bowling and the impressive Rhodes in particular was bowling quite superbly - genuine pace and movement from the young quickie.

After 7 overs and only 12 runs on the board the ICC lads were anticipating the early pressure would show and that a breakthrough was imminent. Then the Illingworth opener hit one straight to mid-wicket where Richy Rhodes was patrolling a went for a suicidal single, the youngster picked the ball up cleanly and threw the ball like a missile at the stumps... unfortunatley he missed his target but got second prize and felled the batsmen after smashing the ball straight into his ankle! And so a new nickname was born... Richy 'Sniper' Rhodes! Good shot lad!

Guppy brought himself on at Rhodesy end where he had bowled his limit. The skipper played a blinder and finished an excellent first over with a wicket bowling the opener all ends up.

This was to be the only breakthrough for too long, Sledger of Illingworth and Number 3 proved to be stubborn resistance, calmly accumulating runs at a steady rate.

Dover tried in vain, Guppy also but credit to both batsmen they gave little away apart from a spilled chance from Bails with 14 overs to go. The ICC boys kept their heads up however, Captain Quaife, Rich, Wheels and Paul all rallying the troops.

In a last throw of the dice Skip brought back on Andy Rhodes and he soon got back in the groove bowling some magnificent deliveries, beating the edge time and again. But when Sledger mis-timed a drive in the air to no-one it was too much for the frustrated youngster and he let fly with a few choice expletives for the opening batsmen. The umpire was not impressed and requested Guppy calm his fiery bowler down. Like all good captains, he managed to get the best from Rhodesy Lad and two balls later the youngster had the last laugh catching Sledger off his own bowling! Rhodesy produced a great imitation of Brett Lee, punching his fists in delight.
And the very next ball he bowled a jaffa and off-stump was cart-wheeling out of the ground before Number 4 had played his attempted drive! Hat-trick on but it wasn't meant to be.

With 6 overs left and 18 runs to chase it was game on!

Dick was trying to keep runs down and after Andy Rhodes had again finished his quota Captain Quaife threw the ball to Junior Rhodes to try and inspire Ilkley to victory with 2 overs left. Alas, despite some fine deliveries the Illingworth batsmen knocked the winning runs off and in fairness it was probably a deserved victory.

Captain Quaife was not too disheartened by the defeat and hoped it would serve as a kick up the backside for his men who may have thought Division C would be a breeze. Words were said about the collapse of the lower order and it is to be hoped this was taken on board and that lessons will be learnt.

Paul The Hustler was a happy man though… Liverpool triumphed on penalties winning the FA Cup!


Not that he could celebrate in the bar for too long though as the lads would be back in the morning for the rearranged cup match against Division A front runners Follifoot.

Up The ICC!