Denaby’s Corey (7 For 24) Cajoled Cortonwood Out

Denaby and Cadeby 118 for 4, Cortonwood 115

“Autograph hunters chased Corey: Corey chased Cortonwood”

These might well have been the headlines for this game at Denaby, for it was Corey’s (picture) match. A dozen boys and girl, autograph books in hand, besieged him as he walked off the field at the close of the Cortonwood innings. He deserved their attention: he had just taken 7 for24. And this sterling performance he followed up with a 24 which included a six, a smashing forward drive which sent the ball among a crowd of spectators in front of the players dressing rooms.

This was an excellent match. Cortonwood got away to a slow start – three wickets gone at 23 and only for 40 runs in the first hour’s play – but once the big, opening bat, E. Hardwick, opened his powerful shoulders with R. Higgs as “have a go” partner, Denaby had plenty of leather chasing. Bullard was an expensive liability. Hardwick him with disdainful nonchalance, and Denaby, after having kept a tight hand on their opponents, began to lose grip of the game.

Hardwick and Higgs, sweeping confidently to totals of 47 and 23 respectively, put on for 57 for the fourth wicket, and it was only when Capt George Allen introduced Cory with his slow left arm deliveries and brought back H. Newton that Denaby assumed command.

Newton bold magnificently with very little to show for it. For 18 overs he toiled, patiently, keeping down the score – he only cost the side 25 runs, for which he claimed two wickets – but with the advent of Cory the combination was dynamic. Cory broke the partnership by taking Hardwick’s wicket, caught by F Roberts at mid-off (this ex-RAF man’s near half-century was his best so far) and then proceeded to capture all the rest. Cortonwood took two hours for three minutes to get their 115.

There was no early dillydallying from Denaby. A Ellis (21) K. Bacon (45) and R. Howson (19 not out) carried them smoothly to victory in under 75 minutes. Here we had resolution, and a sureness of wrist work in a variety of strokes delightful to watch. All these batsmen stepped forward to meet the bowling with confidence and only in one department Cortonwood surpass the home side: in the field. Cortonwood set their field with genius – that and never ceasing agility stemmed off debeat far longer than the high standard of batting deserved.

Cortonwood made their first bowling change at 70, when the slow deliveries of Fletcher and Thompson had some effect on the rate of scoring. Picturesque figure in his approach to the wicket was Padley, with his six hops and double catapult action. He bowled well for one for 33.