7/8 May – Round 1
After eight long months wait the competitive season finally begun for many of us this weekend, the weather being kind enough to allow all games to take place. Long may that continue. Four Saturday senior fixtures plus two Women’s Super8s & a T20 on Sunday resulted in five wins out of seven.
The 1st XI travelled to Ickleford in what looked to be a tricky match-up. After losing the toss we were put into bat on a fairly damp wicket. Early wickets fell to some pretty tight bowling and a bit of help from a lively pitch. The innings never really got going with any substantial partnerships, eventually being bowled out for 83. Although well short of the target set out by the skipper there was still hope that the bowling attack could do some damage and put their batters under some pressure. A good opening spell restricted the flow of runs early before the two left arm spinners came on and turned the screw. Nat Cunnold finishing with 2-11 and Alex Davies with 2-23 both from their full allocation of overs. Eventually the target was reached, final result was a five-wicket defeat.
Rain on Saturday morning sent the 2nd XI skipper into a mild panic as memories of last year’s first three rained off matches came flashing back. Fortunately, the weather at Castle Hill was more than kind, with the sun beating down for most of the day.
With the ten’s watching online we won the toss and batted first, no pressure. A solid opening partnership setting the innings up nicely with a half century for 2nd XI debutant Josh Brain. Decent contributions throughout the line-up on our way to a total of 239-6, including a half century of two halves from Jamie Slater… First half Boycott, second half Buttler!
With the target set the bowling unit went about their business well backed up by some excellent fielding to keep the pressure on. After a flurry of early wickets Hemel finally started to muster a decent partnership before David Terrace came up with the goods and removed their set batter. A few lusty blows from the Hemel lower order pushed them up towards the total but they eventually succumbed for 179. DT ending with figures of 3-40 & Mark Baring with 4-35 the pick of the bowlers.
Contributions all round so a great start to the campaign. Only slightly marred by looking at next week’s availability.
The 3rd XI got off to a good start to the season with a 63 run win over Old Eastcotians. 3s innings started well with a 45 run opening partnership with Jacob Lewarne going on to score 46. A bit of a stumble in the middle order left us 116-6 before Chris Wilcox and Josh Peacock got us up to 188 with some aggressive late innings hitting. The opposition number 3 was looking like winning the game on his own, getting to 51 before Mark Lewarne came on and dismissed him second ball with an acrobatic catch from Brownie at first slip. After that the Old Eastcotian batters largely swung away wildly and were out either bowled or caught in the deep. Jake Klosterman bowled well from his three wickets before Mark came back to clean up the tail, finishing with 5 for 9 from his 5 overs.
Player of the match goes to Chris Wilcox for an excellent all-round performance (including not giving the skipper out LBW).
You only need 10 players to win a game! With the late withdrawal of a player due to family illness, the 4th XI were not able to muster up a replacement in time. We headed across to Chorleywood in the opening match of the league season with 10 players. A double promotion from the previous season will mean tougher fixtures for the side.
Very simple game plan: Win the toss and bowl, then field like crazy for 40 overs and restrict runs as much as possible. Lastly, knock the score off.
The ground at Westwood park is deceiving. The outfield is sloped and bumpy (due to a winter of football), and the main square looks awful. But from previous seasons playing there against Chorleywood’s 4th XI, the wicket always plays better than it looks. Very soft and damp due to overnight rain.
Won the toss and put them in. Tick
Fielded like demons, and the bowlers stuck to the plan. Tick.
Chorleywood 3s finished with 181/9 from their 40, a decent effort to restrict them to that after it looked likely they would go beyond 200. Sam Brown with 1-32, Pete Dudley and James Clarke both returning figures of 2-32.
We chased the runs down to win in the final over, only losing four wickets in the process. Tick.
Highlights include unbeaten fifties for Steve Wale and James Clarke in their 5th wicket partnership of 114*.
Job well done.
The Women’s team continued their early season Super8s campaign with another double header on Sunday. After two home wins last weekend they travelled away to face Cublington and Ampthill.
Defeat to a strong Ampthill side in the first match, with their consistency being the major differential between the sides. Cublington in our second match were more of a developmental side, similar to ourselves, leaving us to secure a win in the matchup.
A great opportunity for all players to be included and good to see lots of youngsters coming through. These Super8 fixtures are allowing all players the chance to show what they can do with both bat and ball before the league season starts in June.
As always some fabulous fielding and batting performances across the two matches. A great debut for Daisy and strong performances from across the rest of the team with both bat and ball.
Bring on the two home fixtures v Luton next weekend.
The T20 season started against the local rivals Northchurch with a home tie for our Cup campaign. Winning the toss and electing to bat Ollie Todd started the innings off with some impressive stroke play through the legside before falling when trying to clear the rope once more. The rest of the innings was dominated by Luke Frey, scoring 91* at a strike rate of over 200. Luke capitalised on anything off line and targeted the short boundary well.
Luke was well supported throughout the innings by Mark Costin, hitting a controlled 50* to take the total to 191.
Early wickets from Mark Baring took the sting out of Northchurch’s powerplay and Lee Evans struck in his first over to peg Northchurch back further. Nate bowled with good control through the middle of the innings, Jamie Shaw also picking up three wickets to decide the match.
Berkhamsted won by 71 runs and look to continue the good start away at Redbourn next Sunday.
Next up a bumper weekend featuring three home senior sides on Saturday, including the face-off between the 3s & the 4s in the first of two league head to heads. Following the matches there will be a BBQ on the decking hosted by those two sides. Sunday sees the Women’s team hosting two fixtures in their Super8s competition as well.
Please come down and support what looks set to be a great weekends cricket in the sunshine.