Welcome to the Ambush

The collective noun for a group of tigers is an ambush or a streak

Monday 30 July 2012

CHANGE OF HUNTING GROUND AND FORTUNES FOR TIGERS


Combe Cricket Club ... built by Carlsberg???


Combe on a late July, Sunday afternoon. The church stands near the boundary while a line of cottages bathe in the early afternoon sunshine. There is nothing quite so English as Combe cricket fields on a summers afternoon. But, as the clouds roll gently in from the direction of Witney, the peace is shattered as an Ambush of Tigers engage in sporting battle with a Family of Beavers.

The Stuffed Beavers
<Nigel to supply full line up>

 That's right. After the disappointment of being seen off by the Badgers last week, the Ambush gathered again yesterday afternoon to meet new foes. The Stuffed Beavers.

The Stuffed Beavers are a London based social cricket team led by Nigel Gurney. They're a truly smashing bunch of fellas and travel with equally excellent support (specially Mr Begley Senior who does a great Geoff Boycott impression and Pamela ... keeper of valuables and taker of pictures).

Shall I get on with the game then?

Baz Floyd won the toss for the Tigers and, on the WG Grace principle, decided to bat. 

Father and son combo, Iain and Robbie Nicholson, took to the crease to face the opening salvos from the Beavers and Robbie wasted little time in playing his shots. The Beavers didn't give Iain a chance to settle however and after some smart running between the stumps, he fell foul of of Neil Morton. Caught by <name needed> with five against his name.

James Harrison joined Robbie at the crease and the two quickly moved the score along at a pace. As Robbie tried to blast his way through the Beavers' bowling, James set about carving a patient innings. Looking on course for his third consecutive Tigers' half century, Robbie mistimed a big heave off Adam Barnett and was neatly picked up by Nigel Gurney.

Tigers debutant Huw Neyroud shapes up to drive as Beavers' keeper Gall looks on


Next in for the Tigers was Huw Neyroud. Young Huw, wicket keeper for Combe, was one of two Tigers debutants for a game in which the Tigers were struggling to field a full Ambush until minutes before game started. And, as the Beavers beavered away with the ball, the youngster dealt with Messrs Brookes, Beef, Barnett and Antonio for a good while on his way to 25. In the meantime James Harrison finally succumbed to a straight one from Brookes, leg before wicket for 20, to make way for the other debutant, James Grist-Perkins.

Another Tigers debut for Combe CC's James Grist-Perkins

Neil Morton finally saw off the young keeper, Neyroud, who departed with his stumps swinging in the breeze. Enter our old mate Ben McPherson. With overs running out, the two batsman were keen on getting runs on the board as quickly as possible.

Just before we get to the bit where James Grist-Perkins is bowled for 10 by Beavers' Kev Antonio, lets pay a small tribute to the bowler. Earlier this year Kev had serious knee surgery and the fact that he was able to join us in the field at all is a testament to his spirit. And, after some tight bowling, his spirit was rewarded with the wicket of the young Tiger.

No sooner had the veteran Tiger, Stu Duff, joined Ben McPherson at the wicket Ben too let one through the gate and was bowled by Beef for six. Last over of the allotted 20 and Ed Juszczak joins Stu and pushes a quick single. With one ball to go, the Tigers looked to have achieved a respectable but gettable 121. Then Stu crashed an enormous six off the last ball of the innings leaving the Tigers at 127-6. That's 6.35 an over.

Time for the Beavers to swing the bat. Opening the batting, skipper Nige Gurney and Neil Morton. In an attempt at early blood through pace, Floyd brought on Robbie Nicholson and Ben McPherson. Not much doing in the early overs as Morton cut Nicholson again and again, letting Nicholson's pace and a greasy outfield carry the ball to the boundary.

Beavers skipper Nigel Gurney eyes up the bowling as Neyroud and Nicholson wait for a nick

But McPherson, bowling up the hill, had more luck as Gurney let one through and was bowled for nine. New batsman, Beef, seeing Morton's success with the cut adopted the same tactic with some success. At the other end, McPherson finished his bowling spell by taking the other opener for 28. Morton, pulling to backward square leg was smartly caught by Tigers' Paul Fagg who seemed to pluck a well struck ball out of the air with one hand. And McPherson still wasn't done. With virtually the last ball of his spell, Ben removed Beavers' Harrison for a duck. Good spell Ben.

The Tigers weren't finished with the pace. Cam Newton-Grain, mean against the Badgers last week but with no wicket against his name, wasn't going home empty handed this week. Beef became Newton-Grain's first victim, bowled for 13. As Duff stemmed runs at the other end, Newton-Grain continued to remove Beavers from the crease. Brookes lbw for 7 then Popat, bowled for one.

A change of bowling up the hill, Stu Duff giving way to James Harrison, the Tigers found more success as Kev Antonio lofted straight. A grateful Baz 'Bucket Hands' Floyd was there to pick up his fourth catch in three matches. Kev departing without troubling the scorer.

As Newton-Grain finished his spell, Stu Duff returned to the bowling and immediately got some success by joining forces with Huw Neyroud. Ford, stumped Neyroud bowled Duff for 3.

James Grist-Perkins took over from James Harrison at the Pavilion End returning 2-0-12-0 as the Beavers tail enders made a last assault on the Tigers bowling.

With overs running out and just two wickets remaining, the Tigers 127 looked some way off for the Beavers. And if wasn't for a smart run out, it might have been possible. Big-hitting Gall failed to make it to safety as Robbie Nicholson angled a throw from the covers straight into the hands of Neyroud. Gall gone for 6 leaving Begley and Barnett to see out the final over from Duff. It didn't last long. Begley went for the big-heave and a straight ball from our Stu found its way past bat to take middle and off. Stu had ended the Tigers' innings with a six and the bowling with a wicket as Iain Nicholson later pointed out to me. A Tigers stat for the future.


Tigers Batting/Beavers Bowling

Beavers Batting/Tigers Bowling


The main game over and the first Tigers win since 2010. The Tigers were elated and the Beavers didn't look too unhappy either. It was a great game after all.

Winners at last. The victorious Tigers.
Back row (l-r) Paul Fagg, Stu Duff, Ed Juszczak, Iain Nicholson, Baz Floyd, Ben McPherson, James Harrison Front row (l-r) Cam Newton-Grain, Huw Neyroud, James Grist-Perkins, Robbie Nicholson

Because of the breaks for rain earlier in the day, the second game was limited to ten overs a piece. Another Tigers win but with a retire at 15 rule in place and one over per bowler nobody was going to make too much of a name for themselves in this one. Tigers' openers Baz Floyd and Cam Newton- Grain retired on 19 and 17 respectively. Next man in, Paul Fagg, followed suit with a smart 17 before retiring too. Tigers finished their innings on 84-4 to give the Beavers a big 8.4 an over to aim at. 

'Keep smiling and say nothing Nige'. There's a Tiger behind you'
Beavers' Neil Morton and Nigel Gurney

It didn't happen but worthy of mention is the aforesaid big-hitting Gall who smashed his way to 22 before retiring. And possibly the unluckiest batsman of the innings was Brookes who, without studs, had his back foot slip back on the greasy surface to hit his wicket for a duck. Judging by his performance in the first game, he could have threatened the Tigers total had he stayed a the crease.

So, a long-awaited Tigers win and a very happy Ambush.

A few huge thank you's to say to finish off the report.

Thanks to the Stuffed Beavers for being such an excellent bunch of blokes. And thank too for the wonderful donation of £121 to SpecialEffect. The proceeds of fines from the previous night of Aunt Sally and Sunday's cricket. 

Thanks too to Donna Floyd for supplying all the cakes for tea and to Julie Floyd who spent half her Sunday running round Sainsbury's in Witney (where else, considering SpecialEffect are their Charity of the Year?) and making sandwiches. Oh, and thank to Julie too for washing all our smelly shirts!


 







   

SpecialEffect Weekly Update for wc 23 July 2012

It's just not cricket ... SpecialEffect beat Sainsbury's, Witney in footie final

Sorry, sorry, sorry. Organising and playing cricket for the Tigers this weekend has meant I'm guilty of tardiness when it comes to getting the SpecialEffect weekly update on the blog.

While you're waiting for me to post the match report, scorecards and photos of yesterday's game against Stuffed Beavers, why not take a few minutes to see what the wonderful people of SpecialEffect got up to last week?


Everything from yesterday's cricket will be up on the blog tonight. 

Wednesday 25 July 2012

TOP TIGERS STATS FOR 2012 SO FAR ...

In a rain affected season, we've only managed to get 3 games in so far.

However, we're over half way through the summer so its about time we had a round up of who has been doing what for the Tigers in the 2012 season.

Highest batting average: Robbie Nicholson 66.5

Robbie tops the Tigers batting averages with 66.5

Highest score in 2012 season: Robbie Nicholson 70 v London Badgers

Best bowling average: Ed Juszczak 5.67

 Ed Juszczak on target with a bowling average of 5.67

Best economy rate: Robbie Nicholson 2.00

Most wickets in 2012 season: John Grain 5

John Grain leads the Tigers wicket takers with 5 wickets in 3 games

Best bowling performance in 2012 season: Robbie Nicholson 8-0-17-4 v London Badgers
Our Robbie is having a great season for club side Combe and the Tigers
 
Most catches in 2012 season: Baz Floyd 3

Baz Floyd - A safe pair of hands with three catches in as many games

Well done Tigers!

Tuesday 24 July 2012

JOIN THE AMBUSH FOR 29th JULY AGAINST THE BEAVERS





That's right. The Ambush is gathering again for a Sunday afternoon showdown against new opposition. The Stuffed Beavers.


The game starts at 1pm at Combe Cricket Club and is a 2 x 20 over format. That means you'll clock up two games in one afternoon for your end of season averages.

We've already got seven so you'll need to get your skates on and let me know if you want to join the Ambush for this one. 

Cheers Tiger!

Monday 23 July 2012

BADGERS LAST STAND SEES OFF THE AMBUSH

Standing (l-r): Rob Webb, Serge Eaton, Paul Fagg, Chris Grain, John Grain, Baz Floyd, Ed Bradbury
Front row (l-r): Robbie Nicholson, Cam Newton-Grain, Stu Duff, Iain Nicholson


If there’s a better way to spend a hot July afternoon than out in the cricket field I’m yet to find it. And if that cricket field is at the beautiful Charlbury Cricket Club and the opponents are our old mates London Badgers, so much the better.

Mazza to supply names in order, please

After the disappointment of last year’s cancellation of this fixture, the Tigers and Badgers met for the third time. At the start of the day, the honours were even – a Tigers win in 2009, Badgers in 2010.

Badgers won the toss and elected to bat first. Badgers captain Mazza Hayes might have been regretting that decision early on as Tiger Robbie Nicholson tore through the upper batting order. Opener Ewels was despatched for a duck and when Joel Voysey and Michael Ludlow followed him for scores of single figures the Brocks were on the back foot. And when Martin Hayes was bowled by Stuart Duff for just seven, it looked as if the Tigers were on course to win their first game of the season.

But the Tigers hadn’t reckoned on the Badgers’ young middle order star, Ash Hubbart. As Rob Webb and Ian Nicholson paired up to get rid of the the remaining Badgers opener, Rich, for 21, Hubbart started his onslaught on the Tigers’ bowling.

A quick fire 50 by Hubbart saw the ‘retire at 50, come back at the end’ come into play. At that point, the Tigers might have been better off containing the Badgers lower order without sending them back to the pavilion. But, that’s not the Tigers’ way. After Wilding was bowled by Webb for six, Zuber was caught by Robbie Nicholson off Webb for a golden duck and Wilkey was eventually bowled by our Robbie for a stoic 13, Hubbart was warming up again. He didn’t have long to wait.

When Norris skied a straight drive off John Grain, Floyd was there to take the catch at mid-off to send the tail ender back.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that Badgers had about 160 on the board. The two Badgers now at the crease, James Hayes and Ash Hubbart would change the course of the game in the most dramatic fashion. As Hayes quietly but surely batted his way to an unbeaten 21, Hubbart tore into the Tigers bowling with six after huge six.

By the time the last ball of the innings was bowled, the young wicket keeper had blasted his way to 148 not out. Between them, he and Hayes had taken the Badgers from staring defeat in the face to placing them in a commanding position.


The Badgers Last Stand - James Hayes (21 no) and Ash Hubbart (148 no)





The Tigers opened with father/son combo, Robbie and Ian Nicholson. Robbie has had an excellent season for his club side Combe and the Tigers with bat and ball, so the Ambush still had high hopes for a positive result.

The two started positively with Ian Nicholson (Dad) knocking up a quick 11 before being sent walking by Norris with his off stump swinging in the mid-afternoon breeze.

Chase that Mazza - Robbie Nicholson (70) sends Badgers' Mazza Hayes running to the boundary


As Robbie plundered runs, Tigers debutant Ed Bradbury kept his head and stayed at the crease without troubling the scorer too often. And when Robbie left the crease on 50 on the ‘retire at 50, come back later’ rule, Ed was joined by Tigers stalwart, Baz Floyd. The middle order Floyd, lasted three balls before another appalling choice of shot saw him bowled by Wilkey after attempting a … well … attempting something. Another duck for Floyd.

Bradbury’s fellow debutant, Paul Fagg, joined him at the crease and the two nurdled three apiece before Bradbury was bowled by Wilkey and Fagg was stumped by Hubbart off James Hayes.

Another family affair at the crease for the Tigers, the ever reliable Grain brothers, saw the run rate pick up again. Skipper, Chris Grain, helped himself to six fours before falling leg before wicket to Ewels for 30. Meanwhile older brother John played a solid innings, seeing Stu Duff leave the crease for a duck, trapped leg before by Michael Ludlow.

Another father/son combination for the Tigers as John was joined by young Cameron Newton-Grain. After a very economical bowling performance, Cam was in confident mood (not to mention belligerent) and immediately made dad aware that he wasn’t just going to play a cameo.

John eventually left the crease, caught Wilkey bowled Voysey for 33. The chances of a Tigers victory were remote but still possible.

Tigers' John Grain smashes a four on his way to 33

But the Badgers bowlers were up to the challenge and as Rob Webb entered the fray, they turned the pressure up by stemming the Tigers flow of runs. Webb eventually left the crease, bowled by Zuber for two followed by Cam Newton-Grain who was stumped by Hubbart off the same bowler for an excellent 19. Nice work off a quick bowler, Ash.

Which brought back Robbie Nicholson to join Tigers keeper Serge Eaton for the last over. The run rate impossible, young Robbie swung for fun, leathering Zuber for two sixes in the last over before being bowled for 70 off the very last ball of the innings.

The Badgers last stand deservedly won the day and the London lads went back to the city winners by 43 run in the latest annual instalment of the fixture.

A brilliant game with some superb performances all round.

Thanks to Mazza, Mike, Joel and all the Badgers for one of the best games we’ve had. And thanks too to every single Tiger who joined the Ambush. Every one of you can hold your head up and be proud of your performance.

The Ambush will be here and waiting for you in West Oxfordshire again next year Badgers. Lets hope for another game like this one … except with us winning, eh?



Thursday 12 July 2012

SpecialEffect Tigers v Oxfam is OFF

Sunday's game v Oxfam CC is off because of waterlogged pitch

Sorry Tigers (and Oxfam-ites) but I've heard from Combe Cricket Club tonight that Sunday's game between SpecialEffect Tigers v Oxfam CC is off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Yes, it's a bit of a nightmare but this really has been an appalling summer weather-wise.

Still, we have games on 22nd July against our old mates London Badgers (at Charlbury CC) and on 29th July against new opponents The Stuffed Beavers (at Combe CC).

If you want to play in either of the two games above, please let me know asap. You know the email address!

Sunday 8 July 2012

Robbie Nicholson's been at it again ...



No, its not the introduction to a Carry on Film. I'm referring, of course, to Robbie's excellent run of form with the bat.

Our Robbie was in action on both days of last weekend and once again he was doing some damage with the bat.

On Saturday, in a league match for Combe CC, he scored 55 in a total of 222 against Witney Swifts. Sadly, he didn't get a chance to bowl as the game was abandoned because of the weather.
 
On Sunday, he took to the field again and scored exactly 50 in a total of 184 against Cairns Fudge. He then took 3-39 off 8.4 overs. All in vain on this occasion as Cairns Fudge scored the runs with 5 wickets to spare.

So, in Robbie's last three innings he's hit 205 runs and averaged 68.33.

Good effort sunshine!

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Join the Ambush on 15th July v Oxfam CC



Combe Cricket Club

After missing out on playing Audley Ducks because of the rain, you must be ready for a game of cricket, eh?

Well, this is a call out for Tigers to join the Ambush for the game against Oxfam CC on 15th July at the gorgeous Combe Cricket Club ground.

We've got a busy couple of weeks ahead so please let me know your availability for this game as soon as you possibly can.

Monday 2 July 2012

SpecialEffect Update

Sorry, sorry, sorry! I was sent the update on Friday but completely forgot to get it on the blog until today. Apologies to our mate Mark Saville who works hard to get the updates together each week.



Anyway, this week's SpecialEffect update leads with football mad Reece. This brave young man has cerebral palsy but, thanks to adaptations made to his controls by our Bill and Gavin, he is able to enjoy a game of FIFA with his dad.

Follow the link or copy and paste it into your browser to find out more. 

Oh! And just one more thing about Reece and his dad that makes them truly brilliant fellas ... they're both ardent Baggies fans. Boing Boing lads!