Penn CC Fourth XI

30th August v. Cannock & Rugeley
Having lost the toss we were invited to bat first Adil Jiva & Richard Gough putting on 45 for the first wicket. When the half way stage came we were in a healthy position with 86 scored and 9 wickets in hand this allowed us to be very positive in the remainder of the game.Richard gough went on to score 35 matched by Tom Bywater who batted really well, Sam Spencer & Liam Clamp both hit 31 which left us on 232 for 9 after our 50 overs.
After the break early wickets came our way with Benn Webb ending up with figures of 11-3-23-4 supported by Ben Nightingale 9-3-29-2 Jack Cooper 6-1-13-2 Pritpall Grewall 7-0-13-2. C&R were well behind the rate and with one wicket remaining to collect all 25 points we were able to set an unprecedented field for the 4th team with 3 slips, 2 gullies and point the bowling worked with Liam catching the last man leaving C&R on 97 all out. This was a great team effort with everyone chipping in to secure the win

23rd August v. Swindon (home)

Having lost the toss Penn were put into bat , making a steady start we lost the first wicket after 10 overs with 28 on the board . This allowed Richard Gough and Sam Spencer to forge an 84 run partnership before Rich was bowled in the first over after drinks finishing on 60.Sam Spencer went on to score 52 and there were good contributions from Scott Turner 34 Ben Webb 21& Ben Young 20 finishing on 233 for 7 off the 50 overs.

We went out to field and got off to a flyer with a great run out by Ben Webb in the first over back flicking the ball back to take off the bails. We continued to make inroads with wickets falling , by the time the 5th one had gone down it was clear that Swindon were never going to try to get the score required and blocked out from around 20 overs. When the rain came on 37 overs Swindon were on 87 for 5 we were unable to get back on to try to get the win the performance deserved.

16th August v. Highcroft (away)

After last weeks wash out it was nice to be able to take to the field, having won the toss we put the home side into bat. We took early wickets with Highcroft on 11 for 3 after 4 overs , this continued and by the drinks break they were 80 for 6. Once Jack Cooper had taken the highest scorer who was on 60 the Highcroft innings soon finished , leaving them on 126 all out.

Ben Webb 13-0-45-4

Ben Nightingale 8-3-20-2

Martin Zaki 1.4-0-4-2

Sam Spencer &Tom Bywater opened the batting, with Tom going on to score 32, Scott Turner went in to hit a fast 18 and when he got out we were on 40 for 2. Gary Slimm and Tom then put on 60 runs in 13 overs Gary Slimm out for 42 leaving Ollie Zaki & Ollie Slimm to finish the job and bring home the bacon finishing on 127 for 4.

G Slimm 42

T Bywater 32

S Turner 18

well done guys a good win 20 points

14th June v Cannock & Rugeley (home)

Having lost the toss we were invited to bat first .We did not get off to the best start losing our first wicket in the second over to a ball that pitched outside leg did not bounce and shot straight on to the stumps, but after the early set back some really mature batting by Pritpal Grewal 43 and Giles Pargeter 22 saw us reach drinks 66 for 2 .Wickets were in hand so a push for runs in the second half was on.This never really happened as C&R bowled a very tight line finishing the day with no wides or no balls and just 5 extras given away. The batting was of good order and some players were out to the situation of trying to push the score along. Penn finishing on 154 for 7 George Nock batting really well for his 43 not out.

In reply we started off tightly James Thomas & Sunil Bange keeping the openers quiet. With wickets going down on 16 then 24 after the first 12 overs who knew what could happen.When the drinks break came C&R had reached 75 for 2 they were spot on the run rate with wickets in hand.We tried to mix the bowling up to make things happen this worked with two wickets within the space of two overs but it did not change the game C&R going on to win in the 44th over the disappointing thing was that we gave them 38 extras, too many if we want to win games like this.On a positive note the C&R skipper along with the senior players were very impressed with the youngsters in the side not only for the ability in playing cricket but for the way that they played the game.

Penn 154 for 7

C&R 158 for5

7th June v. Swindon (away) Warning watching this team needs a consent form from your doctor!

Swindon away on a cloudy but warm Saturday afternoon winning the toss(again) and inviting Swindon to bat first seemed like a good idea on the artificial wicket at Kingswinford school. Again starting off well by getting an early breakthrough with two wickets in the first few overs and the Penn youngsters up for the fight.

This early optimism was soon put to bed as the number 5 bat got hold of the Penn bowlers a young lad hitting his first ton. I bet it will not be his last. Heads started to drop and spirits needed lifting also backsides needed kicking after a number of chances had gone by to get rid of the Swindon onslaught and finally it was over Swindon finishing on 284 for 5.

Sunil Bange 16-1-49-4 the only bright spot on a poor bowling display.

Things did not start well in the batting dept. losing three wickets in the first 8 overs with just 28 on the board it looked like an early trip home. When drinks arrived on 25 overs Penn stood at 75 for 4 with the 5th and 6th wicket fell by the time the31st over had been bowled I was beginning to which I had took up bowls but my faith was reignited by some top drawer batting by the youngsters that make up this team Adil Jiva 22 George Nock 22 Sunil Bange 20 Mitchell Jeffery 22 and Eddie Slimm 56 not out and with Tim Howard protecting his wicket to see us home for a losing draw, this was not on the cards at one point. Be warned if you do come to watch Penn 4ths get permission off your doctor first, things get really tense.

Swindon 284 for5

Penn 193 for 9 losing draw

May 31st v. Highcroft & Great Barr Unity (home)

Having won the toss bowling first was the order of the day Eddie Slimm & Ben Nightingale opened up and kept things nice and tight with two wickets falling early on Highcroft soon found out that they were not just playing a bunch of kids. The bowlers kept plugging away even when the big hitting AJ Mal was putting the ball to all areas of the ground. Mal finally fell to Ben Webb on 76 the rest of Highcroft team failing to equal Mals heights were finally bowled out for 145.

Eddie Slimm 9-3-20-4

Ben Webb 14-1-44-4

M Jeffery 5-1-21-2

Penn had 61 overs to bat so time was never going to be an issue ,starting off well Adil Jiva was well caught while on 14 . the score was moving along well but wickets kept falling . When Gary Slimm was out for 42 things were still in the balance and the game could have gone either way but as wickets kept falling Penn still needed 21 runs to secure victory or bat out 30 overs for the losing draw. Dave Potts must have thought we were going for the draw keeping his wicket intact for 9 overs it was just what the skipper wanted this left Ben Webb to pick off the bad ball to bring us home .

Gary Slimm 42

Ben Webb 28 not out

Highcroft 145 for 10

Penn149 for 9

May 24th v. Aldridge (away)
After last weeks game being called off Penn needed to get points on the board.Having won the toss Penn decided to bowl Sunil Bange & Eddie Slimm opening up . Two wickets fell in the second over with Eddie Slimm on a hat-trick pressure was building on the home team the batsman survived the over Penn had made a perfect start. Aldrige made a come back finishing on 166 for 5 off 50 overs Pick of the bowling was Eddie Slimm 10-5-17-3 but all the bowlers deserve credit for sticking at it and keeping the total down to a reasonable target. With the run rate set at 3.3 an over there was no need rush Ten overs in the score was 31 for 1 a solid start was being made .as the game moved forward the run rate moved up and Penn were scoring at a healthy rate twenty overs had gone when the third wicket fell with the score on 75 bringing Tom Bywater to the crease to join Gary Slimm .Runs were flowing with Tom playing some really nice looking shots the result was now a formality with Aldridge not having an answer to the Penn reply. When Gary Slimm was out for 87 Penn did not lose another wicket finishing the game in the 34th over Tom Bywater finishing on 40 not out. Standards have been set by players and the captain does not want to see them drop Great team effort Aldridge 166 for 5 Penn 167 for 4

May 10th v. Wombourne
Having lost the toss Penn were surprised when Wombourne elected to bat.
Ben Webb & Ben Nightingale opened the bowling and kept things tight with great support off the rest of the team. Things were looking good but as drinks had come and gone things started to get a little slack, two or three dropped catches, misfields here and there and some players looking to see how many overs were left as the heat got to them, letting Wombourne post a score of 185 , this I feel was 30 to 40 runs more than they should have got.
In reply Penn started off ok scoring at 4 an over but as with previous games a domino effect went through the team George Nock 25, Benn Webb 38 and Ben Nightingale 38 not out were the bright spots in what turned out to be a close finish Penn ending up all out for 176.

May 3rd - v Hawkins (away)
Two late drop outs adding to the already very young side did not help matters as Penn headed for Cheslyn Hay to play Hawkins 1st team.