Church Eaton 1st’s set about the short away trip to Little Stoke for week 2 of the 2025 season hoping to capitalise on the opening day victory against Kidsgrove.
White won the toss (to equal his tossing record of the entire 2024 season of 2 wins) and invited Little Stoke to bat on an overcast and somewhat freezing early afternoon.

Given the optimistic weather forecast there was a scramble for base layers in the CE changing room, with rumour having it that CE opening bowler Rob Hogarth managed to wear 17 layers, including the 2011 Stone League representative jersey that he managed to remove from the frame above the Hogarth mantle piece for one last outing.

Opening the bowling for CE was Abdullah and Hogarth (once the cobwebs had been blown from the top), with Abdullah finding a consistent line and length whilst Rob hit all the lengths in an effort to confuse the LS batters. Rob struck early with a massive in swinging yorker that did literally nothing to dismiss opener Hussain before a rank long hop dismissed Ahmed with possibly the worst shot a No3 will play at any level of cricket this year.

CE hot on the heels of the greatest fielding performance of all time the previous week managed to keep the run rate low with skipper White and now full time bowler and occasional batsman Dan Smith bowling tight lines for the next 16 overs taking 2-21 and 1-28 respectively from their 8 overs a piece. Smith unlucky not to have another wicket had White decided to take a slip catch to his left rather than inexplicably diving to his right and fumbling.

Part timers Talbot and Burslem were next to bowl with CE missing their 5th bowler, Burslem particularly frustrated when Sam Pedley refused to break Usain Bolt’s 100M world record to take a catch at point that landed an agonising 435 yards in front of him.

Talbot took the key wicket of James “the Mountain” for a very well played 62 during his break from filming Game of Thrones, before Hogarth and Abdullah returned to close out CE’s bowling effort with LS finishing on 175-9 from their allotted overs.

Credit must be given for LS’s playing umpires, who called the game fairly and with no dispute over any decision; exactly how the game should be played.

As the sun came out and the temperature soured to 15 degrees, CE started their response. Burslem having not noticed the change in weather conditions came out to bat wearing 4 jumpers, 7 t-shirts and a
Cagoule was quick to set about the LS attack, showing them who was boss with a fluid 7 from 22 balls before nicking off to Ahmed (keen to make up for the worst shot of all time earlier), to a fairly decent delivery outside off stump.

Loz Sidwell at the other end was also looking fluid scoring a swashbuckling 6 off 45 balls to really put the home attack’s back against the wall as skipper White’s instructions to “dig in” reverberated through the team.
Smith in at 3 and struggling for a little form, was desperate to not drive on the up and get caught. Cunningly to avoid this he decided to leave one on off stump before walking back to the pavilion for his cold shower - a smart move to avoid a catch in the outfield.

Harvey Sidwell in next, and credit where credit’s due, looked a complete first team player - elegantly working his way through his innings like a child prodigy of David Gower for a very impressive 22 batting with Jordan Talbot who saw a return to form with 29 to give CE a slither of hope of victory.

Abdullah, Hogarth and White in next. Hogarth borrowing Smiths barely used 9 lb bat looked good until he hauled out to the 9’5” Hussain at mid on, with White skipping down the track to Murphy and being stumped at the 48th attempt by LS skipper Harvey.

Abdullah and Pedley senior showed some late resistance 29* and 17* respectively, but CE came up just short finishing on 159–9 from their allotted overs (missing out on 1 extra point for run rate by 1 run as pointed out by Will “check your dishwasher” Ross as soon as the game finished).

All in all a disappointing result, however CE never gave up and kept the game alive until the last couple of overs.

Whilst the 1st’s drowned their sorrows news came in that the 2nds had won at the home of cricket, a fantastic effort to somewhat lighten the blow of defeat, great effort!
Onto Stafford next week for the televised game. Get your feet up in front of YouTube if you fancy watching a great game of cricket, hopefully played with the same level of integrity and honesty as today.