Saturday 5th July 2008

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Saturday 5th July 2008

1st XI vs. Osterley

Report by: Alan Barnard

After 8 games of the season, and a lot of hard graft, we found ourselves in the impressive position of topping the table of the Middlesex Championship 1st Division, and going into the 9th game against the last 4 season's winners, and second placed Osterley. Things started badly when we lost the toss, and were asked to bat, and they got even worse after we had slumped to 50-3 and 70-4, with Tim Beeden misjudging the length of a straight one, Ravi Pieris getting fantastically caught and bowled and Hussein Shabbir and Alan Barnard getting caught behind for not many. Whilst this was going on, Martin Sanjeev was looking solid at the other end, and with him at the crease, anything was possible.

A brief partnership with Danny Hare saw the score tick on, before the Rabbit was caught behind trying to force one through point, and then Adam Herron looked to move the score along, and was batting quite nicely before holing out in the deep after trying to be too positive. At this stage, it needed a calm head, and Martin was proving to be just that, rotating the strike well with his new partner Wali Khan, and ticking the score along in the process. Martin completed his first century for the club not long after this, and deserved every run of it - it was only after a mix up with Wali that Martin was run out for 122, which could easily have taken the momentum out of our innings just when we were starting to accelerate.

New man in Tony Willett had other ideas though, and set about striking the ball cleanly with Wali to push the score along at almost 12 an over from the last 8 overs to get us up to a formidable, but not unassailable 273-7. In fact, Wali ended up with a mature and patient 45 not out, including some large sixes into the 3rd XI square whilst Willett took 28 of one over, which contained one of the largest sixes I've seen into the Grocers! For the record, the ball was never found, and may well still be travelling east as we speak! Tea was taken, and very nice it was too, with some excellent pasta, and melon to boot.

It was pretty clear that Osterley would be having a go at the 274 they needed for victory, as it's very much in their nature to score quick runs and dominate an innings. We knew that whilst this was a threat, it also provided us with an opportunity to pick up wickets, and this is exactly how things played out, as the run rate was well up towards the 7 an over required for quite some time, but wickets were falling at regular intervals. Wali Khan opened from the top end, and with the wind in his favour bowled some seriously quick stuff to pick up 4 wickets, including a fantastic diving effort from Kevin Lawrence at first slip.

Wills opened from the bottom end, and bowling a more controlled line and length secured 3 wickets, the pick of which being a good caught behind from Adam Herron. The Osterley skipper was in at this stage, and played a sensible innings to consolidate his side's position, not giving many chances, and in the context of the game, it was the right thing to do. Kevin Lawrence was introduced into the attack, and picked up another wicket to make it 8, thanks to a fantastic diving catch at slip from Willett, who was never far from the limelight during this game. Despite one half chance that flashed through slip off Wali, the Osterley batsmen remained solid, and secured draw points for their side.

All in all, it was a game that we might have won; had a couple more chances gone to hand, but given that we were staring down the barrel at 70-4 and 100-5, things could have been much worse, so taking 6 more points from the game than the visitors is no mean feat. What impressed me the most is our never say die attitude with the bat, even low down in the order, where it could have all gone wrong - to get 273 from where we were shows the strength in depth we have. We also bowled and fielded well, and it took some determined batting from Osterley to see out a draw towards the end of the game. All-in-all, a very good performance - we're now half way through the season, and are top of the pile - let's hope we're saying that after 18 games, but there's a lot of cricket to be played before then.

Pieris, Beeden, Martin, Shabbir, Barnard, Hare, Herron, Khan, Willett, Loveday, Lawrence.

Saturday 26th July 2008

1st XI vs. Old Lyonians

Report by: Mark Varley

After a slight slip up with a draw at Turnham Green the previous week it was essential that we picked up maximum points this week against Old Lyonians to keep our lead at the top of the table.

We were asked to field by the OL skipper with the wicket looking in top nick, and a few new faces in their team. We were surprised by the decision slightly as in recent years we have limited the OL batsmen to low scores.

Things weren't as we would have liked at the start as Wali was running late on the bus. So it was down to Willett and Varley to open up until he arrived. With the two bowlers bowling tight lines, the runs were slow for OL at the start. Varley was changed after 7 fruitless overs and Wali brought some extra pace to the fore, and with the batsmen looking to be aggressive against Willett at the other end a sharp stumping was taken by Herron to pick up the first wicket. Number three came to the crease and looked a tidy batsmen punishing bad balls with ease with only the odd delivery from Wali beating him for pace. A steady partnership was beginning to build, the batsmen's confidence grew and the runs began to flow. Wills stuck to his task though and bowled the number three bat when he missed a straight one. Number four came in and looked to build on the platform left by number three. With the wicket giving no help to the bowlers he was free to play some risky shots, meanwhile his partner and opening batsmen picked out a hobbling Hinnigan at cover with a lofted drive which was held off Willett's bowling after making a steady 64. The number four was then supported well by the new coming batsmen, and the two of them began to increase the run rate. Kev decided that a change of bowling was needed, mainly due to the fact we were behind the over rate, and so he brought himself on for Wali. This brought a wicket straight away as the number four attempted a cut shot only to pick out Beeden's thighs at backward point, for 54. Some big shots followed for a couple of overs but the Unit's fielders and bowlers stayed focused and didn't let the runs get out of hand. A sporting declaration came after 51 overs with the score on 263.

It was going to be tough without Martin or Anils batting but no-one doubted that we could chase the score with our lineup. Dave and Chris got us of to a flying start going at the needed six runs per over from the start and continuing until Dave's bad knee cost him his wicket, as he found it painful to swivel on his back foot he miss timed a pull shot and holed out for a quickfire 27. Chris was then joined by Ravi at three who wasted no time in continuing where Dave left off. It was noted that OL's openers were new players that we didn't recognize and bowled OK lines but too many bad balls cost them. This brought two spinners into the attack, presumably to take the pace off and try to pick up valuable wickets. Ravi was taking advantage of some wayward looseners and kept the run rate going with some boundaries. He played one shot too many however and got the thinnest of edges behind for a valuable 39. All the while Chrissy was looking very composed and in no danger. Hussain was next in but he didn't last long as he chipped one of the spinners to midwicket, without scoring. In came Barnard to support Chris but after making only 12 he chipped one back to the bowler. With roughly 100 runs needed Chris reached his half century after been joined by Wali. We began to re-assert some authority after our shaky period when we lost Ravi, Huss and Alan in relatively quick succession. Wali and Chris were going strong and punishing bad balls with regularity and stealing singles to keep the strike rotated. With 50 needed Chris began to tire in the heat and holed out to the long on boundary after an excellent and mature knock of 82. In came Willett and after the day before where he smashed a quick 65 in the presidents game, his form and class showed again as the ball was soon heading to he rope again. In one last try of desperation the OL skipper brought back his opening bowler, running the risk of the extra pace helping our batsmen knock off the last 20 runs. It was a fruitful move though as Wills nicked one behind for 30. But it was in vain as Herron came in and saw off the remainder with Wali who finished with a composed 40*.

In the end we had chased 263 in 45.4 overs in what seemed like a more comfortable win than the scorebook would suggest. Our batsmen were the difference this week. With huge credit to Chris Arul who showed real class, and to Ravi, Willett and Wali who all played major parts in chasing a big score. Our batting clicked today which when it does can compete with anyone in our league, with a little more consistency till the end of the season there will be no stopping us. Credit to the whole team also in the field on a hot humid day who stayed switched on till the last ball, even if it was a nonchalant one handed catch by Wali on the boundary!

Pieris, Beeden, Martin, Shabbir, Barnard, Hare, Herron, Khan, Willett, Loveday, Lawrence.