Saturday 7th June 2008
Saturday 14th June 2008
Saturday 21th June 2008
Saturday 28th June 2008

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Saturday 7th June 2008

1st XI vs. Harrow St Marys

Report by: Mark Varley

It's now the 7th of June and we have gotten away with some dodgy weather during the weeks as it seems the sun is shining on us slightly so far this season, with some more rain during the week it was again going to be doubtful about the game, but we turned up and the pitch was looking great and the weather was forecast to be fine all day!

We were up against Harrow St Mary's (HSM), a formidable opposition, and a team I had yet to beat in my career as a 1st teamer. Half the team arrived early and had a decent go in the nets, with some decent chat circulating about Friday nights usual antics. The skipper took to the middle with the HSM captain Tony Wright and lost his first toss of the season. It was no surprise then that we were put into bat against a team who have a similar strategy to their game as us, stick the oppo in restrict their total with decent bowling and fielding and knock the runs off......easy!

We had other ideas, and after a rousing team talk from the skip he asked Barney for his input, and it was all about partnershipz z z z z z z z!

Fair point though as so far this season we hadn't put together a solid batting display, just scraping by was not going to cut it this afternoon against this oppo.

And so the top 5 were told their positions, with Dave and Chrissy opening up, Martin in at three, Barney four and Wali at five. Things didn't start brightly as Chris had a waft at a wide swinging delivery early doors and gave a comfortable catch to slip. Which brought in Martin with lots of overs to establish himself as our number three. A solid period of singles and the odd boundary saw the scorecard creeping along at around three an over, during some very tight bowling from HSM. Dave was looking very comfortable despatching bad balls to the leg side and hitting a sweet looking six over the bowlers head. Martin also was ticking the score along punishing any wayward deliveries with solid looking drives. The score was creeping towards the 80 mark when Sanjay HSM's overseas player and very fine left arm bowler decided to change thing up a bit, he decided to try coming around the wicket and got his reward first ball, when Martin (42) missed a delivery on the stumps not quite adjusting to the change in angles. This brought in Barney to keep things going and he did a steady job looking for singles with Dave. A change of bowling from the bottom end saw the demise of Dodge (45) as a slow bouncer was top edged to a retreating first slip as he miss timed his pull shot. Wali (3) came and went, still not able to find any form with the bat. And it was now down to Barney to hold the line-up together with new face Hussain joining him at the crease at six. A slight bit of consolidation was needed with there being plenty of overs left and Sanjay bowling well from the top end changing his pace with great guile. The need to keep precious wickets in hand for the final hurrah was crucial.

However after a dry spell and the score around 120 with around 15 overs left, Barney (30) played an expansive cover drive which he connected with superbly but picked out the safe hands of Tony at extra cover. This brought in Adam Herron and after last weeks poor show with the bat he was determined to do better. He and Hussain started steadily running hard between the wickets and taking advantage of some tiring fielders. And then all hell broke loose as Adam began to see the ball well he and Hussain began to despatch the ball to all parts of the ground with sixes coming in regular supply. Not sure exactly how Hussain (42) got out but I have a feeling he was caught in the deep. This brought Wills (8*) to the crease and after a short cameo and another six from Herron (50*) we had crept to a respectable 226! Solid first half and a total we were more than capable of defending with a strong looking bowling attack but still enough of a carrot to ensure we might get some shots from the HSM batsmen.

Tea was had. £35?????

Now then up to the bowlers to keep up their high standards this season. With the return home of the first team we were blessed with the returning Tony Willet who has been bowling well in the two's and keeping fit at the dart board with his fitness coach Dave Sans. We knew it was going to be difficult with HSM being known as a tough team to dismiss. Wali started things from the top as per and Wills took the new ball to continue his good form. Two maidens were played out and it seemed HSM weren't big fans of carrots. Then the class of Wali Khan began to shine as he beat the opener all ends up for not many which was the start of a recurring theme in the next 38 overs. Wali was quick fiery and bowling great lines. We were fielding very well. And it wasn't long before he got his second. A slight lull in aggression saw a bit of pressure released as Tony Wright came in at 4 and looked comfortable with his young opener looking slow and steady at the other end. The runs had totally dried up at this stage but there had been a stem to the flow of wickets as well. That was until Tony beat the young opener trapping his big toe LBW, the young lad was slightly aggrieved as he thought he had hit the ball with his bat however it was quite clear it made first contact with his foot. It was a well deserved wicket for Wills who bowled his usual tight lines.

We continued to field at our peak with nothing getting through and singles being restricted. It wasn't until a slight variation of about two yards from Hussain at backward square to roughly dead square which brought a run out. A close call with some not being sure, but it was given and Tony Wright was gone. With four down and the team looking hungry for 30 points Wali got two more wickets in quick succession. He was beginning to tire though and with his pace deteriorating and the two new batsmen looking comfortable the skip decided to give him a well deserved rest. This saw the strength of the first teams bowling shine through as we had plenty to choose from trying to get a break through and even the skipper having an over. Wills was rested from the bottom end also which began the rotation of Martin, Varley and Hussain, who all bowled tightly but with no luck. Any ways Wali was rested and looking to come back on. So the ball was chucked to him and he didn't disappoint with a wicket first ball back thanks to a decent catch from Herron behind the stumps after being wrong footed but still managing to get the webbing of the glove to the ball. Another five-for from Wali at this stage and with Martin bowling from the bottom and looking equally dangerous three wickets seemed inevitable with around 20 overs remaining. HSM then looked to settle down and some frustration crept in to the side as we looked for the final push for victory. But Wali was having none of it another stump took a tumble after the number 9 lost his head a bit and played an attacking shot to a good ball and threw his wicket away very un HSM like.

The smell of victory was now wafting strongly around the ground as the second team had returned victorious from there trip to Hornsey to cheer us on in the final stages. Wali by this time on 6 wickets was one away from his best ever figures and what figures they ended up being after he cleaned out the tail with little fuss. 15.4overs 24runs for 8 wickets!!!!!!

Unbelievable!!!!!! 30 points!!!!!!

Commmmmeeeeoooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnn!!!!!! Different gravy today boys keep it up next week!!!!!

Team: Arul, Hinnigan, Martin, Barnard, Khan, Shabbir, Herron, Willett, Loveday, Varley, Lawrence

Saturday 14th June 2008

1st XI vs. MTSSC

Report by: Tim Beeden

Report to follow...

Saturday 21st June 2008

1st XI vs. Indian Gymkhana

Report by: Alan Barnard

After such a good start to the season, and still top of the table, many people were wondering if we could keep this form going against an Indian Gymkhana side, who have proven on numerous occasions that they are a very hard team to beat. With some wet weather on the morning before the game, the covered pitch looked excellent, if a little green, but the outfield was very wet, and would make things hard for the team fielding first. The skipper tossed up, and promptly lost, so any thoughts as to whether to bat or field first were banished, as we were asked to take the field.

Things did not start well, with the ball flying to the boundary on a number of occasions, and the scoreboard ticking along nicely for the visitors. The ball, which I think most people in our side are generally not too happy with, was wet, and most of the varnish had come off, making it almost unusable after about 5 overs. It was decided that changing it was the best option, and the little break that was had when Barney ran to the changing rooms to get a new ball seemed to focus us on the task in hand. 3 fairly quick wickets (1 from Wali and 2 from Martin) gave us a sniff, and another one or two fairly quickly after that could have easily led to the visitor's lower order being exposed prematurely, but it was not to be.

The IG captain rode his luck initially, but was rewarded with a century which got progressively more fluent as it went on, whilst at the other end, he was ably supported by their overseas player, who nudged the ball around, and put away anything off line and length. It was not our day in terms of luck, but as anyone will tell you, a good side makes their own luck, and we were a little bit below par on this front in the field. The visitors finished their inning declaring on 250-6, after Danny Hare and Martin Sanjeev had bowled in tandem for about 35 overs, without much reward. Martin did however underline his bowling credentials with 3-92 from 20, and Danny bowled as tidily as ever.

Tea was taken, and the run chase started with us looking to be positive, but realistic about our chances of winning against a team with a very miserly bowling line up. Dave Hinnigan looked in the mood though, and hit out over the top against the openers, and raced to a quick fire 33 when he went for one big hit too many, and lost his wicket. Martin Sanjeev was batting well at this stage, and when Hussein Shabbir was dismissed for 0, it was consolidation time, first with Barney, and then Ravi making sure that we got the maximum batting points. After Martin fell for a well made 51, a brief cameo from Danny Hare ensured that we made 175, and picked up full batting points.

All in all, a little disappointing, but after 7 games, we're unbeaten, and top of the table, so there's no shame in that. We lost the corresponding fixture the season before, and if we'd had a little more luck this game, things may have been a lot different, but credit to IG, who batted well, and bowled tidily - they will be near the top of the table at the end of the season, I'm sure. So, onwards, and upwards, away to Calthorpe next weekend, where an improved performance with the ball, and in the field will be much welcomed.

Team: Hinnigan, Arul, Martin, Shabbir, Barnard, Pieris, Hare, Khan, Beeden, Willett, Lawrence

Saturday 28th June 2008

1st XI vs. Calthorpe

Report by: Adam Herron

Report to follow...