Coddington & Winthorpe’s match against Poplars proved an absolute thriller on Saturday, with the game being fiercely contested right down until the penultimate ball of the match, writes Joshua Mee.
Poplars elected to bat on a good track with favourable overhead conditions, but it was the home side, Coddington & Winthorpe, who took the initiative in the South Notts League Division H.
After an even start, Coddington & Winthorpe found a breakthrough with their spin bowlers taking three wickets for only five runs, including an exceptional bit of fielding from captain Ewan Butterfield.
With Poplars on 74-4 at drinks, it looked as if the away side were in trouble, however, an impressive 86-run sixth wicket partnership, combined with some poor fielding, swung the game back into Poplars’ favour.
A run-a-ball 64 from number six Ajay Gopu in tandem with a 30-run contribution from Poplars’ captain Srikanth Gubili, meant the game was nearly taken away from Coddington & Winthorpe.
A slight rally at the end gave the home team something to take into their batting innings, but with a score of over 200 to chase, it was always a daunting task.
Coddington & Winthorpe began the chase slowly, and it seemed to be going well until both the openers fell to soft dismissals, leaving the side 57-2.
However, an impressive return to form from Ewan Butterfield with 43, before he was bowled by one that stayed low, gave the home team hope.
A rapid knock of 42 off 27 from Dom Modd looked to have won it for the home side, but no player managed to push on, with the Coddington & Winthorpe middle order all falling in soft ways, looking to score big runs.
The equation was 30 runs off three overs, and the lower order gave it their best shot. A Jake Warrener cameo of 29 from 15 balls, including one of the biggest sixes Holme Lane has ever seen, took Coddington & Winthorpe to within eight runs off four balls.
However, Poplars managed to hold their nerve, claiming consistent wickets whilst keeping things tight in the field, eventually coming away with all 20 points from what might be both sides’ game of the season.
Vice-captain Dominik Modd said after the game ‘it was a great game that we just fell short in. I’m very proud of the effort every player put in with the bat, taking us past 200 for the first time this season. Fielding is definitely something we’re going to be working on in the coming weeks, but we’re not far off rediscovering our winning ways.’
Coddington & Winthorpe 2nds fell to a 23-run defeat to Wymeswold.
The 1sts are at home again on Saturday, taking on local rivals Claypole.
