TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: PETE BARTLETT

Tonight's rain means yet another delay to the start of the SpecialEffect Tigers season. So, while our 2014 season is yet to get underway, lets carry on and pay homage to those Tigers who joined the Ambush for the 2013 season.

Chef, poet and top man ... Pete Bartlett

Tonight we pay tribute to Tigers paceman, chef, poet and top man ... Pete Bartlett.

Pete played in three of our six West Oxfordshire Midweek League games in the 2013 season. A self-confessed, traditional tailender he didn't get to bat. But he can certainly bowl. Oh yes, he can bowl alright.

The West Oxon Midweek 20/20 limited overs format means that tight bowling is as important, if not more important, than taking wickets. So, in a season where the standard of batting amongst our opposition meant that the overall Tigers league economy rate was 7.83, Pete's return of 5.08 runs an over was priceless. 

Yes, Pete was unlucky not to take the wickets he so thoroughly deserved but we were all grateful as his consistent line, length and speed of delivery tied down our opposition batsmen and kept runs to a minimum.

Pete (far left) with Tiger team mates Hass Olympia and Mark Westaby 

With even more league games to play in the 2014 season, we're hoping to see Pete a lot more in the summer to come. Pete, I hope the coming few months brings you the same mean run rate as a starter and wickets galore for main course and dessert mate. You deserve it.

Tiger, we salute you!

Our chef Pete is thankfully more generous with his food than his bowling

    

TIGER IN THE SPOTLIGHT: STEVE DOBSON

Tiger in the Spotlight: Steve Dobson

The 2014 season is now upon us, so its going to be a rush to get the spotlight through the last few Tigers who appeared in the Ambush 3 three times or more last year. 

Tonight we pay tribute to another of our young Combe CC stars, Steve 'Dobbo' Dobson.

Steve in action behind the stumps against London Badgers

Steve, the 53rd Tiger to pull on the orange and green, made his debut in the rain-affected drawn friendly against London Badgers at the start of the 2013 season. And he made his presence well and truly felt as he crashed 3 sixes and 2 fours in an unbeaten 32.

Steve goes for the boundary as he heads to 41 against Uffington

So it came as no surprise when he joined forces with Tim Lowe to open the batting against Uffington and crashed another 41, matching his partners run total for the day exactly and helping the Tigers to a home victory against the men of the White Horse Hill.

But that wasn't Steve's only contribution to that particular victory. He also chipped in with a mean bowling spell of 8 from 2.4 overs and took a couple of wickets in the process. 

Steve's other league appearance of the 2013 season saw him knock up a quick 13 before getting caught off Swinbrook skipper Nigel White in the charge to keep up with the required run rate. Still, he grabbed a catch in that game too to prove that he's a safe pair of hands in the event of Tigers' regular wicket keeper, Huw Neyroud, being unavailable.

Tiger ... we salute you

Steve's a star off the field too. A huge fan of SpecialEffect and a tremendous support to Tigers' club captain, Baz Floyd the young man is always willing to roll his sleeves up and muck in with the administrative side of things too.

Steve's Tigers' batting record for the 2013 season 

And here's how he did with the ball and in the field

Steve, you're a great cricketer, a top bloke and yet another Tiger who we're proud to play alongside.

Tiger, we salute you.