After a painstaking couple of weeks since the announcement of a return to cricket we finally got the chance to return to a sunny Foxfields for our first game of socially distanced cricket.
I wish to thank Simon Dadge, Sam Dadge, Mark Glover, Mike McDonnell, Simon Knibbs and Grange Park CC’s Rob Pinnington for their assistance in making sure that the fixture could finally take place. So with all preparations complete and access to Grange Park pavilion secured, (toilet facility opened and Covid prepared) we all arrived at the unearthly hour of 10:00 am to set up for an 11:00 start.
The first thing to notice was that one of the sightscreens that had been repaired less than 24 hours before had already been vandalised by the friendly locals. A big thank you to Simon Knibbs again for coming to mend it for a second time. The ground was set up, player’s zones marked out and team all set for a new way of playing all looking ready in kit (saves changing time). Thank you to the boy’s for listening intently to the Skipper and Covid representative’s boring speech about the playing regulations prior to the start. It was good to see a positive set of players on both sides prepared to get a game on in the right spirit. Thanks again to Mark for agreeing to umpire and to Mike for stepping down to be our Covid rep for the day.
So finally after what seemed like ages Kev was ready to socially distance the toss. Fletcher the opposing Skip calls tails, heads it is and Kev with a great deal of thought sticks them in to bat! Much to the rest of the team’s surprise Kev chooses James Dadge and Finn Herrington to open the bowling. Both lads bowled really well at the start, with both accuracy and pace and had the opposition in regular trouble without any luck. It took the team a little while to get used to the new regime, 6 over breaks in play and the constant temptation for Kev to lick the match ball. Bring on the “youngsters” as first change Kev Taylor and Paul Wolstenholme. 3rd ball in and Kev traps opener 1 LBW and in the next over opener 2 clean bowled 32 for 2. Paul at the other end also bagging two wickets, one fabulously caught by Finn Herrington, and the second a stumping by Ted Flynn.
Ted had so much time that he could afford to celebrate the stumping before gathering the ball and finally whipping the bails off. Kev’s and Paul’s spells of 2 for 9 setting up a good platform. A great start 43 for 4. 3rd changes brought the spin twins of Finlay Moffat and Vignesh Sudhakar in to the attack. Both lads bowling very well Finlay turning the ball sharply in his excellent spell of 2 for 19 off 7 overs and Viggy 1 for 25 off 6 overs including a caught and bowled.
Final spells by Ian Street 2 for 9 and a quick blast from James Dadge with the final over saw Cogenhoe dismissed for 129 off the full 40 overs.

Own teas and drinks taken and we were ready for our innings ( Kev pleased that he didn’t have to arrange teas as well!)
Paul Wolstenholme and Harry Knibbs opened the batting in reasonably confident manner before Harry was dismissed for 5 and Graham Harris for 2 early in proceedings 20 for 2. What followed was a quick collapse, Paul for 9 and Finlay Moffat without scoring 20 for 4. Nik Patel and Ian Street steadied the ship before Nik was out finding Deep square when looking good on 22. Viggy came and went first ball ( the fifth victim of Cogenhoe’s Chris Mason 5 for 32) and Ian continued to score steadily with able assistance from Finn Herrington scoring 11 and 12 respectively. Ted chipped in once Ian was dismissed and once Finn and Ted were out it was left to James Dadge and Kev to see if they could win the game. The final pair put on 25 between them before Cogenhoe’s skipper Fletcher Callaghan bowled James with a slow hand grenade of a delivery for 14. Horton all out for 99 off 31.1 overs.

A good competitive opening salvo which we should’ve won but at least we are finally back on the field of play after this long lay-off. Thanks to the lads for their efforts and support of all the new playing arrangements and for making it a lot easier for the skipper. On to next week where we again entertain Haddon at home with the confidence of knowing what to expect.
Result Cogenhoe 2nd’s win by 30 runs .
Points Cogenhoe - 20 points Horton House 3rd 5 bowling points.

Report by. Kev Taylor ( Horton House 3rd XI skipper).