Saturday 30th June 2001
Saturday 23rd June 2001
Saturday 16th June 2001
Saturday 9th June 2001
Saturday 2nd June 2001

Any views expressed in these reports are the views of the author, and may not necessarily reflect the views of Edmonton Cricket Club, its committee or its members. If you find anything offensive or inaccurate in the content of these reports, or if you have any queries reagrding the reports, please contact us via email, stating the report you're referring to and the date so that we can take any action deemed necessary.

Saturday 30th June 2001

1st XI vs. Sudbury Court

Report by: Alan Barnard

The ones entertained Sudbury Court on Saturday and were looking to maintain their winning run. Edmonton batted first and on a flat batting track proceeded to dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground with over a hundred stand between C Stockman and Sesiri, with Sesiri going on to score an impressive century.

Stockman was first out which brought in Venki and more runs were expected but alas on a rare occasion Venki failed and this let Ezra(new bat)Prinsloo, who having destroyed two bats netting during the was pacing the enclosure as to whether he would be able to test out his large wepon(the bat we mean). Anyway after a slow start in which he contrived to locate every fielder on the sudbury court side he finally managed to start scoring and four big sixes in one over the new bat proved its worth and were able to declare on 263 off 45overs.

Sudbury Court started their innings and were soon in trouble and with skipper T Willet taking on the mantle of J Street by bowling from the allotment end. A win began to look on the cards as wickets tumbled at regular intervals but as usual in this league the team batting second has a distinct advantage and Sudbury put the block on and even with all the Es fielders round the bat and plenty of runs in the offing Sudbury refused to take them and a boring draw was played out.Perhaps it is time a re-think of the playing conditions to enable the team batting second should be given a target if this is not reached by the end the team batting first should be awarded extra points for a winning draw.

3rd XI vs. Alexandra Park

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The 3rds batted first in the league game on saturday and with several players missing and with daz failing to turn up the threes were batsmen short, having started off well Turner and Langdell giving them a good base but this was a false dawn and after a quick 26 from J Hazell and 14 from A Porter these were the only people to reach double figures and with P Langdell the only batsmen to come to terms with an ordinaryAP bowling attack scoring a superb century and with P Ryan coming in at no.11 stuck around to put on fifty for the last wicket which took the Es to 210 allout.

On the small square this is not enough runs and AP were soon hitting the ball to all parts and with APs umpire deciding to decline an obvious run out this was an easy win for AP and put a dent in the hopes of any promotion thought the threes might have.

Sunday 1st XI vs. Southgate Adelaide

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The ones bowled first and restrcted the adelaide to 184 but again with aweakened side due to people not being contacted and not being available.But even with a weakened side 184 on our track is well within our batsmen abillities but with our usual aplomb we managed to make a complete pigs ear of the situation with no one getting there head down and producing a decent innings we were allout for just over 80 thus undoing all the effort which was put into the first game and if as a club we wish to be succesful we are only as good as our first team make us.

Sunday 2nd XI vs. Knebworth Park

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Skipper CT lost the toss on sunday and Knebworth decided to bat first and with the Es only having 10 men a long afternon in the field was envisaged and this came to fruition in the first few overs from A Mcarthur who could not find any rhythm and was despatched the boundary on several occasioms but with G Mardell bowling well at the other end some control was maintained wickets came hard to find and with some of the luck the batsmen were having it looked as though a wicket did come from A Porter who went on to take 3-50 thanks to some superb catching from J Hazell J Hinigan and L Mars and Knebworth were 227-8 off 45 overs.

The innings got off to a good start with CT and J Hazell getting the Es off to a good start CT being the first to go caught at slip batsmen cme and went but James kept the runs flowing before being out for 50 this brought G Mardell to the crease and he showed his intentions by smashing a huge six before he was run out for his first senior 50. Sam Jayarserana joined in the fun with 48no and it was left to him and C Dodds to collect the final 12 runs with Ciaran playing a responsible last man innings to see the twos to there first victory in the chess valley league.

Saturday 23rd June 2001

1st XI vs. Polytechnic

Report by: Alan Barnard

The First Eleven struggled to get 11 men to the Civil Service ground in time for the 1:30 start against Polytechnic, so it was left to Alan Barnard to take the keeping gloves for the first couple of overs as we took the field with 9. Some promising bowling from Matt Worton and John Street failed to have any effect on the openers. Polytechnichs opening batsman was perhaps the biggest Cowboy ever, producing some of the most bizarre shots I've seen in an attempt to re-write the coching manual as a comedy.

The introduction of spin paid immediate dividends as Rico Lewis and Stav Elia bowled tidily to take 5 and 3 wickets respectively. Edmonton were guilty of dropping several catches, and fielding will need to be improved if we are going to win some of the tougher games coming up. We eventually bowled them out for just over 180, a very gettable total.

Simon Roche and Ses Jayasena opened things up, and both looked comfortable on a wicket not doing alot against Polys openers. Ses was first to go, with a a silly run-out, and Simon followed shortly after, bringing Venki and Ezra Prinsloo to the crease. 130 runs later, we were in the bar. They came they batted and they eased to victory with no worries, Venki even taking the time to console their opening bowler at being smashed for another four by Ezra with a pat on the Shoulder - nice.

Special mention to the Girlies who were playing on the pitch alongside up - some of you could play, but most couldn't. Rico's piss take of you throw like a girl was interestingly enough not used today. All in all, a good day, a good victory, and a good Piss up afterwards. P.S. Where's the jug, Rico?

2nd XI vs. GWR

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The second eleven resumed the Saturday league programme after the previous Saturdays wash out against GWR. The Es won the toss and put GWR in and with some reasonable bowling from D.stevenson jnr and Daz, started to gain contol and claimed early wickets but with a failure to hold there catches the nine men of GWR came back into the game and were finally bowled out for 205

The seconds started the innings well and with good scores from C STOCKMAN and DAZ the Es were 130-2 with 26 overs left and a win seemed a certainty but with the removal of Stockman and Daz saw the usual batting collapse from the 2nd eleven and despite some lusty hitting fom D stevenson jnr at the end to secure the full batting points the ineviatable took place and the 2s were bowled for 175 thus inflickting skipper A Coopers first league defeat since assuming the mantle as second team skipper

In the absence of skipper K Fursse it was left to C Turner to lead the team against Hanwell. As usual the white fox won the toss and put Hanwell into bat the toss seeming to be a vital element when playing on the small square. The 3rd opened the bowling with A Rooban and P Ryan and quickly reduced Hanwell to 22-5.This brought to the wicket Hanwells more experienced batsmen and they proceeded to get the innings back on a steady course and got the score up to 90 odd for 5 when Turner brought on A Porter saying to the new bowler you will either go for plenty or get wickets and thankfully the latter happened.

Within 2 overs Porter had removed the most dangerous batsman who scored a lusty 59 with a superb catch in the deep from M Billson and this sounded the death knell for Hanwell and with Porter taking a further 4 wickets Hanwell were all out for 125.

Turner and Langdell opened the innings for the Es and on yet another flat track proceeded to get the Es off to another good start with Langdell being first out for 35 Turner quickly followed for 42 and it was left to J Hinigan and M Billson to knock off the 14 runs for victory with the winning runs coming from a quickly taken single and the fielder shying at the stumps gave away 4 overthrows ensuring a comprehensive victory by 8 wickets for the 3rd eleven.

Saturday 16th June 2001

Report by: Alan Barnard

Welcome to another weeks news section, in a weekend where all games were rained off on Saturday, after a near torrential downpour on Friday night and early Saturday morning, and Sunday saw the firsts and seconds play their first games in the Chess Valley league.

The first team fielded a strong looking side against Northwood Town at Hydeside on Sunday in the first game of the Chess Valley league. Northwood Town struggled last season, failing to secure a point, and getting relegated from Division 4. Northwood Town won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat on a damp wicket.

Edmonton started brightly with Tony Willett and John Street bowling tidily to take 4 wickets between them. John 'Quality' Street showed his class on a lively wicket conceding only 4 runs in his 10 overs! Paul 'Monster' Cooke secure permission from his wife to play 20 minutes before the game, so Gavin Mardell dropped out to revise for his Physics A level the next day.

Cookie and Stavros 'Bubble' Elia bowled well, as did youngster (and our keepers namesake) Neil Jackson and slow bowler Archie McArthur, who took 3 wickets in 3.1 overs to finish off the tail., the pick of which was a sharp stumping from keeper Neil Jackson. Northwood Town finished on a disappointing 101, which, on a wicket rapidly drying out was not likely to have posed much of a threat.

Tom Glover and Paul Cooke opened the batting, Cookie losing his wicket trying to hook (nothing new there then!!). South African Ezra Prinsloo was next in, and he set about smashing the bowling around to all parts, and having a minor run in with Northwoods opening bowler. After smashing him for two successive fours, the bowler tried staring out Ez. Ezra basically told him to look at the scoreboard (we were 95-1 chasing 101), and get on with the game.

It was all over within 4 balls, as Ez hammered the wining 6 into the Grocers to seal a convincing win inside 20 overs, and finish on 71 not out. Tom Glover looked very good for his 33 not out also, and played some very composed shots. Thanks must go to Rico Lewis, who was forced to pull out of the side with a sprained ankle for umpiring. Edmonton: Barnard(c), Jackson(wk), Prinsloo, Glover, Jackson, Willett, Street, Cooke, Elia, McArthur, D. Hinnigan

After a complete Saturday wash out cricket resumed on Sunday 17th June with the second X1 traveling to Harpenden for the Es first game in the chess valley league. After several changes the Es traveled with basically a third eleven so an even game was anticipated. Skipper Colin Turner won the toss and put Harpenden into bat but unfortunately we came up against an old Es 1st teamer who with the no 4 batsmen held the Harpenden innings together enabling Harpenden to score 183 all out in 43.3 overs.

The Es bowled well in restricting the opposition to this total on a rain-affected track. The pick of the Es bowling came from Alan Porter who bowled 9.3 overs taking 6-39 including a hat-trick removing 3 members of the same family in doing so. D. Baker also bowled well taking 2-24 off his 9overs.Sadly though the batting again failed away from home and only new member Les Mars got anything like a score before being given out to a dodgy LBW by umpire Dave Baker for 27. Mr. Baker did recover from the abuse he received scoring a quick 19 but this was not enough and the Es were 135 all out in 40.3overs thus losing the game by 48 runs.

Saturday 9th June 2001

Report by: Alan Barnard

Welcome to another weeks comment section, in a week where the First XI were comprehensively beaten by a strong Acton side in the League Cup, whilst all other XI's did well. New boy Jayasena smashed 120 as the Second XI cruised to victory against Kenton, Chris 'Peanuts' Stockman chipped in with 66 not out.

The first team arrived at Actons brand new ground faced with the prospect of everyone signing in as guest members; we were taken past the heated outdoor swimming pool and various gyms to the changing rooms. Acton do have a very nice clubhouse and ground, but I do get the feeling that the cricket members are more guests than anything else.

We weren't helped early on by wicketkeeper Venki turning up late and we nearly took the field without a keeper. Actons opening batsmen started strongly, smashing everything off line to the boundary. Interestingly enough, the umpire called a wide for the ball passing the batsman about 1 foot outside off stump, when questioned about this, he claimed the batsman couldn't reach it. The only possible reason for him not being able to reach it would have been if he'd had no arms.

John 'Quality' Street, excellent as ever produced rising deliveries and a nagging line and length to get rid of the dangerous opening batsmen. 3 and 4 for Acton were not the best players that I have seen, and they rode their luck and played some horrible looking shots to rack up a partnership of some substance. Mention must go to Paul Cooke, who bowled very tidily, and Spinners Rico 'Sledging' Lewis and Stavros 'Bubble' Elia who both chipped in with wickets.

Special mention has to go to Matt 'Road Rage' Worton, who produced one of the most bizarre moments of fielding ever seen in his first game of the season. Matt chased another streaky nick down to fine leg, and decided to slide for the ball Jonty Rhodes style, when he got up and tried to throw it in, he fell flat on his face, throwing the ball backwards, and causing fielders, batsmen and umpires to roll about laughing - it didn't however stop the batsmen from running three.

When their innings closed on 214, we fancied our chances of chasing, on a wicket that was not doing a lot. Things started to go wrong from this point onwards… at tea, the table we were sitting on nearly collapsed, sending coffee over skipper Tony Willett, and more importantly it started to rain quite heavily. The umpires, in their infinite wisdom decided that the covers should be taken off even though it was still raining (would this happen in a test match?) and the wicket had 15 minutes of rain. Without taking anything away from Actons bowlers, the wicket started playing up, and we were about 25-6.

Tony Willett and Stavros Elia show a little resistance to take the score up to a slightly more respectable 80, but this just wasn't nearly good enough. The only consolation that we can take from this is that we weren't especially fussed about winning as we would have struggled to get a team out for the next rounds midweek game - but it would have been nice if we had given them a game. It would have been interesting to see what then scores would have been had we batted first.

The Third XI, away to Kenton were served up with another flat batting track. Skipper Furrse lost the toss and Kenton put Edmonton into bat, and an inspiring opening stand of over one hundred by Furrse and Turner put Edmonton in a strong position with Turner scoring 66. Some further big hitting from Langdell enabled Edmonton to declare on 240-2.

Kenton opened there innings and Dave Baker claimed the the first wicket with the score on 5 and a win seemed on the cards but some indifferent bowling from the seamers who sent down aseries of short pitched deliveries and full tosses enabled Kenton to re-group and continue scoring at a steady rate and 2 dropped slip catches did not help the cause. Kenton moved into a position to possibly win the game, but as they pushed for victory they began to lose wickets the pick of these being a direct hit run out from Gavin Mardell but this was not enough and they batted out for the draw finishing on 220-7

Saturday, provided a rest from league games for the 2XI, as the 1XI were in the cup and therefore there was only friendly against Kenton. Although a friendly, the 2XI wanted to continue there unbeaten run on Saturdays.

Edmonton won the toss and chose to bat on what looked to be another good wicket (credit has to go the Brent and Dave, especially after the awful winter and Spring that we had.) Andrew "lazyboy" Cooper had decided to use the game as a trial for new members and included a number of colts, and this turned out to be somewhat of a good choice. New member Sesiri Jayasena opened the batting with "lazyboy" who started reasonably well, before chasing a wide one and getting out for 11.

There followed a stand of over 100 between Sesiri and Chris Stockman and following Chris's dismissal for 66 another good partnership between Sesiri and another new member, wicketkeeper Neil Jackson. The 2XI eventually ending up on 269-4. Sesiri eventually the last wicket out for a cracking 127. Definitely one to watch out over the season. It was good to see the 2XI, scoring a good total, and hopefully is just the start of a good run for our batsmen.

Kenton got off to a reasonable start, getting 30-40 quite quickly, however, once the breakthrough was made, there batting just didn't appear to be able to stand up to it and they were eventually all out for 143. Credit has to go to John Jackson who got two wickets in an 8 over spell and new colt Blessing who ended up with 3-9 in 5 overs. Well back to the league next week with a trip to Southall for the 2XI's and again hopefully a continuance of the unbeaten start.

Saturday 2nd June 2001

Report by: Alan Barnard

Welcome to another weeks comments section in a week where the first team couldn't quite seal a win against a weak Phoenicians side, the second team struggled at home to second placed Pinner and the Thirds travelled half way around London to lose to Twickenham. Just a short section this week as time is pressing.

Starting with the first team, we turned up at Phoenicians Greenford ground, which without wanting to be too controversial was a dump. The only redeeming features were the changing rooms, which were quality, apart from the showers which seemed to be designed with Furssey in mind.

The game started with Adam Bilimoria and Simon Roche smashing boundaries, but Adam got a shocker of a delivery, which he would have needed a spade to dig out from the unpredictable track, then Rochie got a poor LBW decision and Ezra Prinsloo followed shortly to leave us reeling. Once again, Venki dug us out a bit of a hole, and his partnership with skipper Tony Willett took us past 120.

Venki was the first of the two to fall, trying to pull a delivery that stopped completely on him, but Wills batted well to take his score onto 50, and help the team to a half respectable 168 all out, which on that wicket, was worth more like 268. We started brightly in reply with Alan Barnard in an unfamiliar opening bowling role and John Street taking 3 wickets between them.

Rico Lewis and in particular Stav Elia bowled excellently, and took the wicket tally up to 8 with some excellent slip fielding from Ezra and some controversial umpiring too. When the second but last wicket partnership came to the wicket, spirits were high, and we expected to wrap things up quickly, with some 18 overs to spare. Credit to the Phoenicians pair, who survived some hostile bowling and numerous appeals to see their team through to a scantly deserved draw.

The second team went in expectantly hoping to extend their unbeaten run to the start of the season and to improve on their performance the week before. Although early in the season this was a first vs second in the league and therefore wishing to consolidate their position. It was also good to see (& hear) Mr Dave Smith back, but more about him later Edmonton fielded first on what looked like a good batting track and however Edmonton again got off to a good start reducing Pinner to 60-5, Pat Carr again bowling aggressively. This position could have been better if a couple of run out chances had been taken. There were a few what can only be described as 'very close' LBW decisions for Pat Carr going in the favour of the opposition. This resulted in a few words being exchanged (all in the best possible taste of course).

This however seemed to be the turning point for Pinner for then accelerated away. This was partially achieved by what can only be described as some comedy batting from Pinner's No. 8, who decided that he could score runs by actually hitting the ball over his own head and that of Jonathan Squires. This brought about the usual comment from Smithy who asked when the circus had come to town. Once 'Coco the clown' was dismissed Pinner then for some unknown reason started to treat the game as a test match and block near enough everything (however Rhino's certain that this had something to do with his immaculate line and length bowling). Pinner were eventually bowled out for 230 all out at about 5pm with Pat Carr taking 5 wickets yet again.

With such little time to get the 231 required to win and with Kevin Lawrence batting down the order due to illness, it was unlikely that the Edo's would get the total. I do not want to talk too much about what can only be described as another poor batting display, but again Nick Hubbard batted well again for a good 15 or so batting for a long time just when required. Edmonton eventually ended their innings on 80-7. A special mention must go out to Dave Smith who on his comeback game started where he finished last year - with a big juicy duck. As per usual Smithy's only comment was "I'm shit'.

Although not the best performance again the 2nd XI remained unbeaten, and following discussions of the senior players, it's felt that if we can play this badly and not lose someone's in for a pounding when the batting line up actually get it right. Luckily a break from the league next week, with a friendly game and an ideal opportunity to try out a few of the new members.

It was another away day blues for the thirds, falling to another defeat away from home. After a slow start by the openers, wickets started to tumble at regular intervals and with 4 batsmen failing to reach double figures it is no wonder we are failing to reach completive run targets. With a steady 26 from skipper K Fursse and some lusty blows from Archie Macarthur who made 32 the 3s were all out for 126.

Twickenham opened their innings slowly and the Es captured a couple of early wickets but another big partnership put paid to any thoughts of victory. Although capturing two late wickets this only delayed the victory charge and Twickenham won by 6 wickets.