GOUGH CENTURY IN VAIN FOR BLUESThe Marlborough Blues fell just short in their run chase against the Radley Rangers despite a superb century from Cricketer Cup skipper Andy Gough. Batting first in hot conditions at Radley the Home side got off to a promising start although were pegged back by some economical bowling from Ali Wade (10-1-31-1) restricting them to 250 for 5 off their allotted 50 overs when a larger total had looked likely. Despite losing 3 wickets in a slow start to the Blues reply, Tom Stewart-Liberty (41) helped steady the ship and when joined by the mercurial Gough in full flow a Blues win looked on the cards. However wickets fell too regularly and the away side lost the previous week’s batting hero Tim Marcon (16) to a run out and the big hitting Jim Gordon (22) in their bid for victory. Gough was eventually out for 100 and the Blues finished 12 runs short of their victory target.
Despite the glorious weather and the stunning Wiltshire setting, the Blues went down in disappointing fashion in their final Cricketer Cup warm up match against a well organised St Edward’s Martyrs side at Marlborough. Having lost an important toss the home side responded positively with a superb spell of new ball bowling from Tom Burne (10-2-27-3) restricting the Martyrs innings to a slow start. Off spinner Alex Armstrong (10-4-29-1) produced a very tidy spell to leave the Blues in a strong position at lunch after 31 overs. However some wayward bowling and indifferent bowling managed to let the Martyrs off the hook as they racked up 262 for 7 off their 50 overs. Frustrated by the slowness of the pitch the Blues stuttered in their reply and only Mike Bush (22) reached double figures as the top six were dismissed leaving Marlborough at 65 for 6. However a late rally from new boy Nick Orssich (46) with support from Tom Burne (18) before he was run out and then in a 71 eighth wicket partnership with James Caldwell (37) earned some respectability, but it was not enough to prevent a 60 run defeat as Marlborough were bowled out for 202.
The Blues kicked off the 2008 season in promising fashion with a convincing 138 run victory away at Winchester. Having been put in to bat on a slow wicket the Blues posted a competitive total of 218 for 9 off their 50 overs thanks largely to a fourth wicket partnership of 104 between Tim Marcon (78) and Archie Montagu-Pollock (43). The Blues took advantage of the overcast conditions with a splendid bowling and fielding display to ensure Winchester were never in the hunt. James Caldwell (3/9) and Tom Montagu-Pollock (2/28) did the damage early on and there were wickets a piece for Will Caldwell and Alec Cunningham. Tom Burne (2/4) rapped things up ruthlessly as the Old Wykehamists were bowled out for 80.
Marlborough Blues 141-8: Wilson 3-26Marlborough College 142-6 (19.3 overs) Malovany 51no