Scorecard

Hertingfordbury II v Berkhamsted Cricket Club 3rd XI on Sat 22 Aug 2009 at 1:30
Match was Drawn

Match report A long drive to a pleasant village ground again popular with the local rabbits and irresponsible dog owners. Otherwise a lovely spot but not in the league of the massive Susan (Boyle) on Goughie’s elbow. A lot of discussion about whether to put them in and go for a win to win the league versus batting first and getting points to ensure we go up. Hertingfordbury lying 6th really needed a win to get in the top 4 and not been bowled out at home. Charlie, who was going to Cornwall, won the toss and put them in. Both teams now committed to winning you’d think.

They got off to a good start 26 of the first five overs. The ball looked to be coming through slow and sitting up if bowled short. Ian Sudbery bowled one opener in the 7th. Ben Beard had some chances when he pitched up. Goughie came on and a lobby catch dropped at short extra cover that Tim managed to run forward and get a hand on. The two spinners got some control, built some pressure and slowed the run rate. Sudders had the number three caught at slip with a fine catch from Ian Putman. He had the number four caught by Aaron at extra extra cover. What at first looked like a bit of sloppy fielding had the number 5 well run out in the end by Ollie Hopkins. Suds then had the number 6 well caught by keeper Jack Graham. 122 for 5 off 36 looked like we could be getting into them. First ball with the number 7 bobbled up to slip to be dropped off Goughie.

The Keane opener had his fifty and started opening up riding a bit of good fortune being dropped a couple more times. Ian and Goughie took some tonk in the last ten overs going for 78. Both will feel let down by the mediocre fielding, even if all were half chances mathematically Goughie could have had 3. Having 41 overs of leg spin is far too one dimensional especially with catches going down, stumpings being missed and a guy on a ton. The game slipped away a bit. The colts have the best arms but they need to take catches in the deep, wickets would have slowed the run rate more than the few extra runs on the old timers bowling it in from the boundary. The other benefit of taking catches obviously is that they win matches. To be fair the reality is Hertfordbury batted too long if they wanted to bowl us out chasing a target. They used all 47 overs to post 200 for 5. With 10 batting points at 170 they had a much better chance to get more points giving us more overs.

A very good tea although the pavilion lacks space for everyone to sit down together. With 200 to chase and 43 overs it was 5 an over but we have done this before. 24 off the first 10 overs before Mark Burgess was bowled trying to pull a straight one for 7. 66 for 2 off 23 overs when Tim Buckley was bowled trying to up the pace for 33. 115 for 3 off 34 overs when Ian was caught for 28 including a beautiful straight six. 123 for 4 when Jack was caught in 37th for 28. Technically competent batting but >80% strike rate aptitude needed on the day.

Goughie suggested the slow run rate was more of a pain in the butt than his festering elbow. Others wondered if all that anatomy and surgery training was in vain as the guy clearly didn’t know the difference between his arse and elbow. Charlie was out slashing in the 43rd for 19 and we finished on 158 for 5 off 43. Game ended in a draw with 15 points to Hertfordbury which still leaves them sixth in the league and 3 points to Berko dropping them to second 54 points ahead of the third team.

A frustrating game with neither team trying to dictate their destiny. We were never in touch with the required run rate. Having never been offered a toffee for my batting I have to accept the batsmen’s’ view Hertfordbury bowled the anglers’ favourites (tight lines) stopping the run chase. From the start half the team wanted to bowl and go for the win the rest wanted to play safe. The choice was made – go for the win by chasing down their total as we have done all season. We have achieved far too much this season to fall out over it, we will just put it behind us as some carbuncle cricket but maybe we should put the batsmen who wanted to bowl first higher up the order. The sweet slogger, speedster Usain Toddmeister and toffee loving Sudders are both big hitters and were not involved. The other batsmen could play out the draw if it looked a bit Pete Tong after 20 overs. It was unlikely Hertfordbury would go up and not us if we slogged ourselves out but we have probably now missed our chance of winning the division. Never easy for captains to win and play everyone. At least we won the Ashes.

Hertingfordbury II Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
200 (0.0 overs)		     
A Melley b  Sudbery 12
Keane Not Out  125
Harley ct  Putman b Sudbery 29
Preston ct  Todd b Sudbery 6
Smith Run out  3
Stone ct  Graham b Sudbery 6
Blencowe Not Out  14
   
   
   
   

Berkhamsted Cricket Club 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ben Beard6.002300.003.83
Ian Sudbery23.0086421.503.74
Martin Gough18.038200.004.56

Berkhamsted Cricket Club 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
158		        
Mark Burgess b  Blencowe 7
Jack Graham ct  b Stone 28 1
Tim Buckley b  Stone 33
Ian Putman ct  b Keane 28 1
Oliver Hopkins Not Out  20
Charlie Hussey ct  Murphy 19
Aaron Todd Not Out  2 1
Tom Baker  
Ben Beard  
Ian Sudbery  
Martin Gough  

Hertingfordbury II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.