Saturday 7th July 2007
Saturday 14th July 2007
Saturday 21st July 2007
Saturday 28th July 2007

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Saturday 7th July 2007

1st XI vs. Glaxo

Report by: Alan Barnard

Saturday was a strange day by all accounts. It's amazing to think that we're now up to the final game of the first round of fixtures, we're in July, but I'm sure that if you asked any of the team, they'd all say that it doesn't feel like we've even started yet. This is the price to pay for a particularly bad summer in terms of weather, leading to 3 games being rained off, and 2 games being severely rain affected. Amazingly, however, Harrow St Mary's have had 5 out of 8 games called off prior to Saturday's game, which has to be some kind of league record. Anyway, coming into this game against the relatively unknown quantity of Glaxo, we were quietly confident that we'd been playing well in the last few games, and that we should be capable of performing well with both bat and ball.

On winning the toss, Kev decided that the only course of action was to chase on another good looking Hydeside pitch. Unlike previous seasons, there's been a little bit in the pitch for the bowlers, with some sideways movement for the seamers, and some turn for the spinners, which can only be a good thing, as it means more results. We started off with the same duo as 2 weeks previous, Wali Khan coming down from the top end, and Tony Willett from the bottom. It was soon very clear that the pitch was not as quick as usual, being softer due to the amount of water the square has taken over the past month, so both bowlers settled into line and length mode, probing at the batsmen's off stump as much as possible.

It can be argued that the first wicket came as a direct result of the pressure that we were exerting on our opponents, as the non striker came looking for a single that never was, and was turned back, only to be brilliantly run out by Wali in his follow through. Glaxo's innings never really got going from here on in, as the pressure was built by some excellent seam bowling, and very sharp fielding. Wickets were falling with some frequency, whilst the run rate of the visitors never really threatened to push on, hovering somewhere around the 2 per over all innings. I'd say it was a combination of our fielding and bowling discipline in the most part, and to a much lesser extent, Glaxo's lack of concentration, which led to the visitors slipping from 44-1 to 57-9, but seeing that score on the board gave all 11 fielders a lot of satisfaction.

Some of the highlights of our time in the field were Tony Willett being turned down for an LBW appeal that he seemed absolutely convinced was going to hit middle half way up, and his subsequent disbelief. That said, he did get his decision a couple of overs later, as umpire Keith Hunte gave their number 4, Daniel, the slow death treatment for another very good looking shout. There were 3 very good catches taken by Tim Beeden at slip, Alan Barnard at backward point, and most notably Danny Hare running back, and taking a skied leading edge over his shoulder at deep cover off of Willet. Although we made the best of the situations, and bowled and fielded very well, I still think that the final total of 77 all out flattered us a little, and this was highlighted by Glaxo's last pairing of Holas and Peake being their 2nd highest partnership.

On reflection, at the break, we had been pretty clinical, with Willett finishing with 5-33 from 19.5 and Khan with 4-34 from 20. Nobody had fielded badly, and nobody had dropped the tempo for one second. Kev was keen to point out that it was only half a job done at this stage, and we still had to make sure that we got the runs and did so with minimum fuss. We went up to tea (which for the record was very nice thank you ladies) happy, and knowing that it was in our own hands, and the weather would not be playing a part like it did in similar circumstances against Harrow St Mary's a few weeks back.

Dave Rai and Dave Hinnigan opened up, and Dodge was soon on his way back after an excellent seaming delivery from former Derbyshire player Jean-Jacques had almost cut him in half, taking an edge, and being held at slip. This brought in Anil Sharma, who was playing his first game for Edmonton in almost 2 years, and from the offset it was clear that the Indian was not going to waste any time. It was enjoyable seeing him work the bowling to all parts of the ground with minimum fuss, and despite losing Rai for 22, we eased to 80 after just 19 overs, with Adeel Saeed on 6 not out, and Sharma on 45. The highlight of Anil's innings though had to be a pull shot, which went to the 3rd XI A10 boundary with so little effort from a ball which was only marginally short of a good length, as Willett put it: "I could watch this bloke bat all day".

All things considered, we deserved 30 points here; we bowled and fielded excellently, and took this clinical attitude into our batting, and won the game with minimum fuss. Glaxo will know that they underperformed, and a few of their players let us know that they would be looking to redress the balance at their place later in the season. I don't doubt that they are a good side, all of their top 7 or 8 looked like they could bat, and they had what looked to be a couple of useful seamers, but I don't think they will deny that today was our day, and we were the better side. It's so important that we carry this momentum into the next game against Old Lyonians. We're playing well in all departments at the moment, and deserve to be in the top half. Let's hope we're still saying that after next weekend.

Rai, Hinnigan, Sharma, Saeed, Fletcher, Barnard, Hare, Beeden, Khan, Willett, Lawrence.

2nd XI vs. Winchmore Hill

Report by: Martin Loveday

We made the short trip to the hill with a good side thanks to the addition of Varley and Balachandiran who had been dropped due to Willett hitting his straps and the arrival of Sharma. We warmed up pretty well and left it down to the skipper to go out and win the toss but he lost yet again and we were put into bat.

Balachandiran opened up with Smith and some tight bowling had us off to a slow start even the odd boundary from Prabs was not enough to get our run rate to above 2.5 for the first 10 overs with Smith hitting everything to a fielder. We managed to get past 50 before losing Smith who was bowled trying to get the spinner away. Herron went out at 3 and was soon back in the pavilion but was not dismissed. Herron trying to flick the spinner on the leg side managed to top edge the ball into his face leaving him unable to continue. So with one eyed Willie on his way to the hospital thanks to the help of Mr John Hazell the game continued, but our fortunes did not change much as just past his 50 Balachandiran was out and Arul soon after with the score on about 90 for 4 (effectively). Baker didn't last long and it was Hazell and Mardell who looked to rebuild and they did have a good partnership going and managed to get us to 140 before a spate of wickets including Mardell, Hazell, Gallage and Dodds. The tail managed to do some decent work getting the total up to 175 in the last 8 overs and although we were bowled out for 175 in 48.2 overs and to be honest we felt we had every chance of bowling the hill out even though the wicket was pretty flat and there was not much assistance for the seamers.

Tea was had and it was on about par with ours, nothing to write home about.

We took the field with 10 as Herron would not able to take part in the rest of the game and had been referred to Moorfield eye hospital. Dodds was given the gloves and this left Varley and Loveday to open up the bowling. Its fair to say that neither bowler got off to a good start and their opening bats we punishing absolutely everything. Loveday lasted only 3 overs before being replaced due to some poor bowling and a shoulder injury. Balachandiran replaced Varley at one end and Varley replaced Loveday but they still looked to attack. Stav replaced Varley and it was an all spin attack and this was definitely the way to go and paid dividends with the score on 50 odd off 9 or so overs when a full toss was well held by Hazell on the deep square leg boundary. Prabs continued to bowl well and no one looked comfortable. I cannot really remember the sequence of events at this point but both spinners were bowling well and keeping the pressure on. The skipper picked up a wicket when the ball was smashed straight at Varley at Mid off who took a good catch. I believe the next was their number 4 who was trapped LBW by prabs and they lost their skipper for 50 odd who was undone when he skipped down the wicket and Dodds whipped of the bails and they were now 4 down. Stav got the next when a full toss was hit straight back at him for a simple caught and bowled. Drinks were had at around this time and they were 120 - 5 and it may have been more had their number 6 walked when he got a big edge which was held well by Dodds behind the stumps but some good old fashioned Hill behaviour saw him stand his ground and even have a smile after. Drinks were had and we got straight back into it and Prabs picked up his 4th when he bowled their 6 and number 8 came to the crease to be sent back the very next ball after some great work from Varley at short leg taking the catch on the third attempt. We saw victory closing in but their number 7 and 9 played really well running hard and putting the bad balls away, they managed to see the Hill home 7 down with a couple overs to spare.

I guess if I am being completely honest the better side on the day won but there was never much in the game and on a wicket dominated by spin as all 16 wickets and an injury fell to the spin bowling. A good effort from Prabs and the boys has certainly left a tantalising final game of the season to be played at hydeside with both sides looking to go for promotion.

Team: Balachandiran, Smith, Herron, Arul, Hazell, Mardell, Baker, Gallage, Dodds, Elia, Loveday and Varley

5th XI vs.

Report by: David Sans

Saturday 14th July 2007

1st XI vs. Old Lyonians

Report by: Tim Beeden

2nd XI vs. South Hampstead

Report by: Martin Loveday

We eventually arrive at the ground after everyone in North London received a text stating that Baker needed to fill up his mashed up car.

I don't believe it the Bubble won the toss......... He decides that we will field first. I have to state at this point that our fielding drills in the warm up were a mess and we had Dodds deputising behind the stumps again after a fine display against the Hill a week previous.

We take to the field and Varley and Loveday open up the bowling, both started well enough with Varley looking menacing. It was however decided after 6 overs that Prabs should come on at Loveday's end. Prabs caused problems straight away mostly by drying up any sort of scoring opportunity. There was an early incident when their left handed opener played forward and the ball hit his pad and went straight to Mardell at mid off who threw down the stumps at the bowlers end, missed but then ran to the stumps and collected the throw back and took the bails off with the non facing batsman halfway down the track performing some gardening. This was given not out much to our dismay and quandary especially as their appointed umpire at square leg was adamant that the ball was not dead and should have been out... Answers on a postcard please...

Varley picked up the first wicket after a couple of overs of beating the left hander outside off stump he was rewarded with a nick that was very acrobatically caught at the second attempt by the skipper at first slip. They were finding it hard to get the ball away and resorted to trying some big shots but to no avail. Prabs picked up a wicket when he ripped the ball from outside off stump and hit their skippers off stump, now both openers were gone. Their number had been sketchy but was rewarded for some good running between the wickets. The number 4 had no such problems as his first 4 balls were all sweep slogged bringing him 3 boundaries and a 1. Loveday had come on to replace Varley one over before drinks and was bowling tidily not giving anything away and beating the bat on occasion. Varley in at short leg took a blow to the ribs when their number 4 slog swept again but the lad is double hard and laughed it off. A dropped caught and bowled chance from their number 3 completed a bad over from Loveday which went for 14 and he was replaced by the skipper, and it wasn't long before he got the breakthrough even if it was slightly fortunate as a big full toss ended up being smashed many miles into the air but straight to Loveday at mid wicket and the danger man was gone.

Number 5 to the crease and it goes without saying he rode his luck as his first 2 balls went between slip and gully, at this point he called for a new bat, must have been something wrong with the middle. Number 3 got to his 50 just as the 5 was caught on the cover boundary by Perrera off the skipper to give him his second wicket of the day. It was pretty much hit and giggle stuff now as they ran for nearly everything and a few big shots came off. Prabs managed to pick up 2 more wickets one caught and bowled and the last was bowled I think. The score at 50 overs was not deemed enough and they progressed to 52 for 222-7 and to be fair it was the right choice as it never seemed enough of a pretty flat wicket. Their number 3 battled for a hard earned 80 not out and also had an ongoing verbal assault from stand in keeper Dodds who didn't really rate him much, to be fair if your gonna sledge someone you had better make sure you don't drop him and miss a stumping opportunity off him as well.

Tea was had and it was ok. Probably one of the few that is actually worse than ours.

Prabs opened up with Mardell after a 23 over bowling stint. The boys looked good against perhaps the quickest bowler I have seen in the league so far and looked to go at anything loose. They were bowling pretty well but that did not stop us from building a good partnership of over 50 for the second week running. At this point we were probably going at about 3.5 an over with the required rate at 4 ish. Mardell was the first to go with the score on about 65 off 21 when their first slip took an excellent diving catch.... Much better than Stav's catch by the way.... Hazell unfortunately didn't last long only 3 balls which was his first real failure all season. Arul was at 4 and he and Prabs put together another good partnership and started to mount our challenge again. Young Arul (14) is really settling into senior cricket and is one of the most consistent performers of the season so far. I think the opposition were quite surprised with how well he played the pace and the spinners when they came on as what he lacks in power he makes up for in timing and having shots all over the wicket. They both put the bad balls away and soon had the scoring on about par with the run rate. Arul managed 36 and a partnership of 70 with Prabs to get us up to around 138 - 3. Prabs had reached his fifty and with plenty of batting to come we were in pole position. Spin at both ends now saw something of a collapse when Baker, Perrera, Gallage and Dodds were all dismissed for low single figure and Loveday joined Prabs at the crease with the score 160 and with only 8 overs to we needed to score at about 8 an over. The plan was to get 205 for the winning draw and then see how we were placed. Both batsmen ran hard when possible and made the most of everything. A few blows from Loveday helped ease us towards the required score and Prabs passing his 100 was a big moment as he had been bogged down in the past 10 overs when we were losing wickets. Prabs started to hit some big shots and Loveday backed him up well and we raced to the total of 223 - 7 with 4 balls to spare in a total of 47.2 overs.

We were always in control of the game but did have a wobble when we lost our middle order for not many runs. The boys can be proud of the effort but plenty to work on. The fielding warm up was poor and the batsmen in the middle order need to start firing if we are to complete our challenge to win this league.

Team in order of batting line up: Balachandiran, Mardell, Hazell, Arul, Baker, Perrera, Gallage, Dodds, Loveday, Elia, Varley

5th XI vs. Indian Gymkhana

Report by: David Sans

Erh, not much to say here apart from praising the heroic batting efforts of Alan Waters and Thomas Boxer, who at 10-5 put on a partnership of 85 for the 6th wicket.

Well as you can see 10-5 means we didnt start well, their opening bowler took a hat-trick in the 3 over of our innings.

However the day did start even worse as we were 20 minutes late for the start.

But I did win the toss AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!, 6 out of 7 aint bad...

Edmonton got 126 all out in 45.3 overs, and Indian Gym got 128/2 in 15 overs.

But hey the 6th XI didnt lose!!!

Saturday 21st July 2007

1st XI vs. Osterley

Report by: Mark Varley

It's Saturday the 21st July and the first team have the luxury of travelling to top of the league Osterley. The weather had been indifferent to say the least all week and the forecast was not too good for the day ahead. However the drive there was quite pleasant, white fluffy clouds, sunshine and a lovely light breeze. That was until we arrived in Osterley when there was an almighty black cloud hovering above the ground, great!

I'm not too sure who won the toss but I will presume that we did as we were heading out to field, minus our wicket keeper I hasten to add as he managed to get lost, even with his sat-nav. and whatever else his spaceship of a car has on board. So it was down to Timothy Beeden to step up and replace him behind the stumps for the start of the game.

It didn't last long as we only managed to squeeze in a solitary maiden over before the heavens opened for the first time of many during the days events. The first downpour lasted an hour and five minutes which meant we had already lost half an hour of the match time. Our second trip to the outfield lasted a bit longer and Dave was back behind the stumps. With some accurate bowling, a slow/wet outfield and some very sharp fielding, the Osterley openers were finding it hard to score. The first wicket came due to some clever field placing by the skipper and the accurate bowling of Tony Willett and a sharp catch from Admin Barnard at cover point.

The wickets continued to fall as the Unit's bowlers were not in the mood to let any pressure subside. We managed another 18 overs and with the rain not far away it was decided to get the covers on before it started to tip it down. The score was a very impressive 37-4 from 19 overs but the rain had come back and come back hard.

It was decided that we take our tea break. In this time, we had eaten, and discussed in great detail the contents of the 2008 booker prize winning epic by our very own Daniel Hare. The rain on the other hand had not relented. It was another hour still before it had stopped and the very heavy covers were removed for a second time. Sawdust was distributed where necessary and the game was back underway (sort of).

After a solitary delivery from Wali we had taken another wicket and the rain had returned. We replaced the covers on the pitch but it was all in vain. The rain had beaten both teams and with the score board reading 37-5 off 19.1 overs the E-Unit were not impressed.

Osterley were outplayed and totally dominated for twenty overs by Edmonton, and were it not for the rain there is no doubt in my mind that we would have taken thirty points home. Osterley knew this and were very gracious hosts for the day. I think they realised the quality that we have in our team and they should be preparing for a tight run in for the rest of the season because if we play any where near that standard of cricket for the rest of the season then no-one will get close to us.

Unfortunately the weather has been our nemesis once more and surely that can be the only thing that gets in our way whilst we continue to climb the league. Second place Birkbeck College next, and with the memory of the defeat against them earlier this year still fresh in our minds I'm sure that all eleven players will be on top form to continue our winning run. Let's pray for sunshine and no hangover after Fridays BBQ.

Lawrence, Rai, Hinnigan, Sharma, Saeed, Khan, Barnard, Hare, Beeden, Willett, Varley

2nd XI vs.

Report by:

5th XI vs.

Report by: David Sans

Saturday 28th July 2007

1st XI vs. Birkbeck College

Report by: Mark Varley

Well it's the 28th of July and we're finally getting some decent weather. We're third in the league and our form is looking good heading into the last few games of the season, good times. It's the Saturday after the BBQ and we're all hung over, bad times. We have the pleasure of hosting second place Birkbeck College and a chance to gain a place and put some serious heat on Osterley's tail. However the day's events didn't exactly go to plan.

After half the team received fines due to late arrivals at the club we had a light training session with some comedy toe punting football from our very talented Asian contingent in the team. The toss was lost by the skipper but we were put in the field as BC felt that after our poor batting performance in the first leg of our encounter they would be able to take the full thirty from us again. At first their plans were thwarted as we had their two openers back in the pavilion early doors. Things changed for BC when the number 4 batsmen showed his intent early in his innings putting Tony into the third eleven's pitch on numerous occasions. It didn't get much better for the e-unit either as Wali was enticed into a slagging match with the two aggressive batsmen and some unsporting heckling from the boundary. This didn't help his bowling as he was trying to be too aggressive in return. He lost his lines and was punished accordingly. It was obvious that the team's concentration was lost due to a lack of discipline and it showed when we dropped three chances off number 4. It wasn't all bad though as Tony proved with one good over of pressure, and picked up our third wicket with a dubious caught behind, but it was given and at the drinks break the scoreboard read an imposing 144-3 off 25 overs.

It wasn't looking promising, but after a bollocking from the skipper to get our act together and get our minds back on the job at hand, we set about restricting the runs and rebuilding some pressure. Tony was replaced by Varley and I began bowling tight lines which paid off with a wicket first over after a sharp catch by Wali in the gully. Wali continued his spell for a short while but was replaced by Anil at the top end to take a bit of pace off the ball. The two changes brought a dip in the run rate and made it hard for the two batsmen to get the ball away. Number 4 reached his hundred with the score on around 170, it has to be said that if you drop a number 4 batsmen three times at our level he will probably score a ton, so nobody to blame but ourselves for losing our cool. Not to worry though as Varley proceeded in bowling a rank full toss on leg stump which he tried to flick into the A10 but missed and was rightly given out LBW.

If we had started in this fashion there would have been no trouble but with a solid platform and wickets in hand BC continued to pick up the runs after Varley was brought off due to a slow over rate and with a solid half century from the number six or seven batsmen BC mounted an impressive 288 runs in 54.5 overs.

Well tea was had and it was quite a treat with some lovely hot dogs, which we had plenty of due to the fact that our oppo do not eat the bloody things. It was a bit embarrassing really as it seems most of our oppositions are getting a raw deal every week paying £35 for some cheese/egg sandwiches and a few cakes. It's not too hard to look at a fixture book and ask a captain which teams eat meat or not.

Anyway back to cricket, and our batting line-up which had been revised slightly as Wali was sent in to smash the ball around and give us a good start at our run chase which looked to be around 7 runs per over. A great start was had as we reached a score of around thirty off our first three overs but unfortunately we had lost the wicket of Dave Rai. This sent in our superstar Anil Sharma at 3 but today was not going to be his day as he got a peach of a delivery that seamed in quite a bit and took his inside edge onto his middle stump. This gave BC a lot of confidence as they knew they had a huge wicket. Heads were not going to drop though as we still had the talent in our line up to get the job done, and with Wali continuing in fine fashion at one end, it was only going to take one more batsmen to find his feet at the other and the total would soon look average. Unfortunately nobody could get going apart from a small glimmer of old from Dodgy where he looked in good touch until he miss timed one and top edged to point.

Wali did a great job in silencing his tormentors from earlier and produced one of the knocks of the season at Hydeside with a superb century in double quick time, but as has been the pattern this season partnerships have been few and far between and with the task looking too much, his great knock came to an end, holing out on 108. It was then down to our useful tail to see out the remaining 13 overs and with the 175 passed, the pressure was on to gain the five draw points. Things again were looking bleak when Barnard was adjudged LBW when it appeared the ball was clearly going down the leg side, and with the skipper gone soon after in similar fashion but looking in a bit more trouble, it was down to Tim "Assistant Administrator" Beeden and Mark "I'll Do It" Varley left to see out the last three overs. It was never in doubt that the draw was in the bag.

I believe the game was in our hands at the beginning when we were put in the field but after a lapse in concentration and discipline we let it slip. But it's not all doom and gloom as BC looked a much better side this week than at their place and to avoid losing against a team we are in contention with is not a bad result. We also have another chance next week against Indian Gym to put some air between us and the rest of the field but with the way the season has turned out with the weather and such, our league table is very tight and so there is no room for error.

Lawrence, Rai, Khan, Sharma, Saeed, Willett, Hinnigan, Barnard, Mardell, Beeden, Varley

Sunday 3rd XI vs. Norsemen

Report by: David Simpson

Just a few words about our inter club match on Sunday.

A very successful afternoon game of cricket against Edmonton, where Norsemen achieved a moral victory by keeping Edmonton below 200 in their allotted overs [40]. Unfortunately Norsemen's batting was a little lacking, they where all out 85 runs short of Edmonton's total [195]. Within our allotted over's Norsemen did managed to capture 6 wickets, the celebrations of which have never be seen at Lords let alone Edmonton before, where more in line with goal scoring celebrations, Norsemen have been known to score the odd goal or two. Edmonton where not able to match Norsemen for their celebration, when securing a wicket, this being due to the Zimmer frames getting in the way. Edmonton did show they where a lot quicker between the stumps and how to connect bat with ball.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players from Edmonton and Norsemen for making this inter club match a very enjoyable game to watch and be part of.