Haverhill CC first eleven hosted Copdock last weekend. Winning the toss Haverhill captain chose to Bat on a wicket that was hard and looked like a batting deck.

S Youngs (45) and M Wilkins (65) opened the innings and batted well however due to some tight bowling by the opposition where unable to get the rhythm of run scoring required to put the opposition under pressure and alleviate that which was building on the lower order. Some aggressive, somewhat uncharacteristically played shots from M Wilkins pushed the opening partnership onto 88 before S Youngs was bowled, a solid supporting innings.

N Winter (28) and A Dellar (54) didn’t have much time to build a defendable score, however with some hard-hitting and quick singles they brought the score on quickly within reach of a defendable target. A quick 7 by D Wilkins brought the innings to a close. A flurry of late scoring shots wasn’t enough on the day. A Dellars innings of 54 was a good knock with a superb advance down the track and a lofted strike into the trees was the shot of the day. His timing was superb however he hauled out in the deep when a ball hurried another attempt to hit it out of the ground.

Haverhill 4 for 213

Opening bowlers Rob Sullivan ( 9 overs – 0 for 49) and Joe Woodley (2 overs – 0 for 13) bowled waywardly and didn’t get the side off to the start they needed.

Pace was taken out of the attack and it took the off spin of D Webb (11 overs – 1 wicket for 39) to get the first breakthrough with a well flighted delivery to catch one of the openers LBW. S Youngs (11 overs 3 for 73) was introduced and bowled well with great variation. A number of missed chances and half chances frustrated the bowler however he kept his mind on the job and all though his last over was expensive he offered, along with M Wilkins (6 overs 0 for 23) at the other end the only sign of any real penetration.

Copdock 4 for 217

Personal comments:

Fielding well and taking catches may have made the difference on the weekend. When a player drops a catch the head goes down and in most cases the fielder looses some self-belief and starts thinking he doesn’t want the ball coming to him. Especially where the response from his fellow teammates isn’t encouraging. A fielder dwelling on a dropped catch or misfield is not on his own, we have all done it however you can still feel isolated when the support around you is not there. Players don’t mean to drop catches. What’s most important is the support offered when something doesn’t go to plan. Encouragement all the way, is the only way. Mental preparation when on the field telling yourself you want the catch seems to give you the extra leap, or the extra second to take the catch when it comes. You need to keep telling yourself you want the catch whatever the situation. The encouragement just helps you pick yourself up and prepare for the next one coming your way.

A frustrating day with some attitude adjustment is required. As I said last week, turning up will not be enough to ensure a successful season. I said it was going to be tougher in the second half and all though we got over Ipswich last week with a lack lustre performance we where definitely out played by Copdock this week. I feel that an early lose in the second half of the season is better than a late loss. We can make the necessary changes both in mental preparation and what occurs on the field. Changes are coming in the batting and in the bowling order.

I look forward to seeing how these changes impact our next performance; a very hard second half of the season is upon us. I am looking forward to it, as we all are.

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