HWRCC V OLD TIFFS (T20)

WED 30TH JUNE - HOME

1) Ali
2) Davies
3) Rashid
4) Raza ©
5) Jackson
6) Hirsch
7) Whinny +
8) Ewen J
9) Tong
10) Marfleet
11) TBC

17:15 -MEET

17:45 - START

BAR OPEN

WICK

fantasy cricket up to week 7

3s send an SOS to Golbourn....

East Molesey - 197 all out. (Paddy McMullen 2/26 off 9)

def.

Hampton Wick - 155 all out

Sting, former frontman for The Police, called to "send out an SOS to the world" in the classic number "Message in a bottle". On Saturday, the 3s pencilled in a message on the side of a cricket bat and posted it to Matty Golbourn, saying: "how can we stay in the middle as long as you? We need someone to bat all day. I hope that you get this message...." The call was made during another shambolic run chase by the 3s, when it was easier to stay in and bat, than to throw one's wicket away. Time and time again it keeps on happening. The 3s paid for this dearly against East Molesey.

On a dry and, dare one say, almost sub-continental track, the Wick were sent in to bowl. Conditions were sunny and warm, and this was always going to be a test against a "top of the table" side. Tommy D and Lowns opened the bowling. Lownsy looked to be back at his best, charging down the hill with agression and a ferocity which, hitherto, had been missing from his game. Their opening bats looked decent, but it wasn't long until lowns tempted their opener, who cracked a lovely cut shot to Joey Hirsh at point, taking a ripping catch. One down.

From the other end Tommy D was looking to build on his impressive tally of wickets this season. After fours overs of bowling though, it didn't look like it would happen for him, until a half tracker was skied by their number two and caught by Sam Kemp. 2 down. 40 odd on the board. The next two bats looked just as good if not better than the openers though, and it was another terrific catch that ended a potentially big innings. This time it was Adam Selves taking a blinder at cover. 3 down.

Jimmy C then replaced Tommy D coming up the hill, producing a wicket in his first over. 4 down for 60-odd. Paddy McMullen then replaced Lowns coming down the hill and ripped into the next batsmen, crashing a beautiful delivery into the number 5's stumps. At 5 for 80 off 20 overs, the Wick seemed to be in good shape, however the tail order batsmen one might expect to see didn't materialise, and only seemed to get better as the innings progressed. Combining this with sloppiness in the field, and it was soon 5 for 100 odd after 28 overs.

Eddie Charlton came into the attack with Adam Selves, and Eddie produced a wicket with his first ball: A horrible half-tracker which caused the batsman to sky one to square leg, where Lloydy took a terrific catch, even doffing his cap to the fans in the process. 6-down. The number 7 batsman then lifted the tempo for EM by smacking a quickfire 45 runs, as Selves and Charlon toiled with some short stuff. The partnership was broken after Paddy rejoined the attack, again swinging a ball into the batsman's stumps. Too good from Simon Anstell. 8-down for 138.

Unfortunately, the last two batsmen ended up getting away from the 3s. Some smart strokeplay combined with ordinary fielding saw East Molesy reach 197 all out off 44 overs. A disappointing end to the innings, yet on such a quick outfield, surely not an insurmountable task in 56 overs.

After some choice words at half time, Lloydy and Risman led out the batting chase. With Dick Ewan absent with injury, Lloydy has manfully stepped up to take the opener's role for the third time, but again couldn't hand around long enough to put on some runs - bowled early doors, neck and crop. The opening partnership of Risman and Ewan, usually helps to see out the first 10 overs, but it is clearly an area which needs improving as all too often the openers can't hang around long enough. Risman and then Hirshy soon followed suit, leaving the 3s exposed at 3/33 off 10 overs.

With Zohaak back in the side and Sam Kemp at his side, the 3s then looked more assured. Zo has had 6 weeks out the game, and still looks as lethal as ever, and not much brighter it has to be said. After sam was caught, Zo took as swing at a loose one and was caught at short 3rd man. 5 for 90, and needing 100 odd off 33 overs. Again, someone just needed to bat the other team into submission and bore the oppo into tiredness. Tommy D and Jimmy C hoped to do this, and while Tommy can smacka ball as good as any, he threw his wicket away after flailing at one on middle stump. Gone. Painful to watch from the non-strikers end.

Paddy then joined Jimmy who was bottom-handing every 10th ball for a single, and played some delightful shots on the leg side. But again, with over 20 overs left and no pressure on the batsman, decided to go for the swing and give his wicket away. Once Jimmy departed at the 150 run mark, the tail collapsed again, the 3s fell 40 runs short with 15 overs still to bat.

Again, such a frustrating performance from the 3s this season so far. Getting in to good positions and finding ways to get out when it is easier to stay in. A golby - someone who can defend, attack and, more importantly, bat the innings out, is desperately needed if the 3s are going to achieve this season. Even half a Golby would do in fact. Cricket is a numbers game and, at the moment, the side is a batsman or two short. The skipper will be looking to make additions to the squad in the coming weeks, and perhaps a few changes will bring better success. A few players in the squad have coasted and need to refind their form. It's now the halfway point of the season, and the side must turn it around quickly to have any chance of promotion.

Wickman Junior

TEAM NEWS - 26TH JUNE 2010

HWRCC 1ST XI V Wallington

1) Ali 2) Davies 3) Rashid 4) Raza © 5) Cronin 6) Mackie + 7) High 8) Whinny 9) Marfleet 10) Tong 11) Ewen J

Umpire: K. Nicholls Scorer: A. Whicher

Meet: 12:15 Start: 13:30

HWRCC 2ND XI V Stoke D'Aberbnon

1) Cole 2) Goulborn 3) Fudge © 4) Crowther 5) Jackson 6) Soppitt 7) Copeland H + 8) Goodwin 9) Breakwell 10) Unsworth

11) Webster

Umpire: S. Riley Scorer: N/A

Meet: 11:15 Start: 13:00

HWRCC 3RD XI V East Molesey

1) Risman 2) Hirsch 3) Lloyd 4) Tughral Zo 5) Kemp + 6) McMullan 7) Cameron © 8) Selves 9) Donnelly 10) Lown 11) Charlton

Umpire: N/A Scorer: N/A

Meet: 12:00 Start: 13:00

WICK

England Winning One Day Games Shock

With all this football around it had largely escaped Wickman's notice that there is a big one day series on against the Aussies.

Never has a one day series against the best team in the world been so poorly trailed and begun with such poor visibility. Perhaps it was because it didn't kick off at Lords, but who could tell from the papers that there was even cricket to think about?

Without the framing around it of an Ashes Test series, this one day malarky has slipped in under many radars. With people playing 108 game sets of tennis, our boys in South Africa scoring two magnificent free flowing goals and dismissing the mighty (hem hem) Slovenia with one of them, the back pages are thickly layered with other sports.

And the front of the papers are the same. Footballers were allowed a beer on Tuesday night, our tennis players (apart from the Scottish one) all lost (not enough beer) and all the momentum seems to be with them. And quietly England beat Australia in a fifty over game. And Eoin Morgan absolutley destroyed them. And didn't get as much recognition as this achievement deserved.

This begs questions. How much beer is Morgan drinking? And if our footballers have the momentum, is there enough left over for cricket? And have the sports editors of the nationals decided that 50 over cricket is now so unworthy of space that a vicotry against RICKY PONTING'S AUSTRALIA is not worth the work necessary to write it up? Will a century scoring English cricketer make it on to the back or front page of a National paper if it's in a fifty over match again?

Match Report 2xi vs Maori Oxshott

Tough win that. Maori Oxshott were a decent team, a couple of good players, and with a bit of luck, the result could have been very different. But we earned a valuable win in our quest for promotion, and for the second week running, we showed plenty of fight and ticker.

As ever, Fudgey lost the toss and we were stuck into bat. The wicket wasn’t favourable either way, it was a good cricket wicket, with something in it for the bowlers (especially with the new ball), but the bounce was true and it could be trusted.

Coley and Goldy opened up, but neither lasted long. Their opening bowler (Tahir) accounted for both, bowling with pace, control, and moving it both ways. He bowled a very impressive 12 over opening spell, without ever really offering any freebies. Coming in at 4, Matt Killner was also cleaned up by Tahir (11-3), so it was left to Fudgey and AJ to repair the innings.

Fudgey played a true captain’s knock, probably the best I’ve seen from him. With Tahir making life extremely difficult at one end, and Hussain bowling well at the other, it was tough going for a long time out there. The Wick managed to reach drinks at 25 overs without any further loss, reaching 60-3. The innings had been rebuilt, and now the Wick batsmen looked to push on.

Fudgey started to cut loose, pulling the short ball with aplomb, while playing straight to everything else. At the other end, AJ was happy to drop anchor and hold up an end. A change of bowling helped the scoring rate, as Wasim was dispatched for 27 runs from his three wayward overs, while Wheeler was treated with a similar disdain (35 off 6).

The skipper reached his fifty, offering only one chance, but given the quality of their opening spell, it was a fine effort, and a hundred looked a good thing. AJ started to find his form at the other end, driving and cutting with more authority as his innings progressed.

Alas, both batsmen surrendered their wickets to loose shots to Raja’s innocuous seamers, but having put on a partnership of 111, their job had been done. After that, only Del Boy (25) and Breakwell (13 not out) offered anything of substance, as Pinball, Harry and Leggsy all failed to kick on. We were eventually bowled out for 187 in 54.2 overs.

From 11-3 we had posted a competitive total, but once again, our effort was undermined by clusters of wickets falling in quick succession. We need to put a higher value on our wickets and stay more patient if we are to improve as a batting unit.

Fudgey had to dash to a & e at tea, so Webbo took the armband for the second session, with Whinney stepping up to fill the breach in numbers. Webbo bowled a brilliant opening spell, with plenty of pace, movement, bounce and accuracy, making scoring difficult. At the other end, Leggsy was struggling to find his rhythm and line of the previous week, but produced an absolute pearl to account for Wasim, allowing Coley to complete the most nonchalant of one handed catches in the slips. Webbo then cleaned up Malik, inexplicably leaving one of Webbo’s inswingers, much to the delight of the Wick mob “I SAID YOU BUY ONE YOU GET ONE FREE.”

Wheeler and Raja chanced their arm to put on 50 odd for the third wicket, lofting shots to all parts, intended or not. Killner, replacing Webbo, was bowling with plenty of hostility, broke the partnership, Raja pulling to the grateful hands of Unsworth.

Breakwell replaced Leggsy to instil some control to the attack. Having found a decent rhythm, JB then ripped through Maori’s middle order, taking the next 5 wickets to fall. It was a brilliant effort on a pitch that became more benign as the day went on, removing Khokhar with one of the balls of the season, heading to leg before coming back to hit the top of off.

Del had to go off after splitting open his finger dropping the most horrible of high balls, but returned to take a similar chance within an over of his return. It was a brilliant catch, and allowed Del to silence the heckling Wick mafia of Sisso, Mooray and Bartle-Wilson, who had berated the Cockney Sparra’ for his previous drop. EH!

The Maori lower order changed tack, from swinging from the hip, to blocking patiently. It was left to Killner to remove Baron with a well disguised slower ball. After 6 overs of stubborn resistance, Killner then accounted for Hussain, trying to release the pressure, but hitting straight to Pinball at silly mid off. A brilliant catch and a brilliant win.

This really was an excellent win, a tremendous team effort, with some fine individual performances. Fudgey’s knock was as important as for the context as it was the way he played, while Webbo, Breakwell (5-29) and Killner (3-26)were all near unplayable with the ball.

Stoke D’Ab up next on Saturday. It will be a close game, and we’ll need to be at our very best to complete a league double over them. But we can do it, if our bowlers bowl as they have all season, and our batsmen dig in, and bat with a bit more nous and patience.

Men of the match; Fudgey and Breakwell.

Guildford City v HWRCC 1xi

HWRCC 18-2, 3.2 overs. Game abandoned - pitch deemed unsafe.

Hmmm....
OK - where to start. Urm.........ah.......ooo......um....well, I may as well give you a ball by ball account. I can't remember each ball exactly, but I almost can.

The track

I've played on some bad wickets in my time. Ive been racking my brains over the years for stories but none come to mind. Probably because invariably bad wickets make for an interesting game. Also, rain often plays a factor in this, with a certain degree of acceptance by players when a greasy wet top becomes a lethal tennis ball bounce track. 130ao is chaased 132-8 off 45 overs - that type of thing. Not a sign of it here though. It may have drizzled a little Friday, but it's essentailly been a dry few weeks. The track was mossy, patchy, uneven and crumbly. It looked like my face when I was at Esher College.

Charlie's pitch inspection comprised making one of those faces that suggested it was going to be 'lively'. He always does that though. That didn't put me off. Kam however did ask me what he thought we should do. I said bowl first because they've never played on it before so they can set the standard. Kam normally tells me what he thinks and then listens to others. Here I think he was as unsure as the rest of us. Surely it wouldn't be as bad as it looked - and it would probably get worse through breaking up. GC 1XI had never used this ground before today. GC won the toss and Wick would bat.

The oppo

GC have some good players. One opener in particular is know to be a top class seamer. He looks like Ravi Shastri with a defined pencil tache and he has a steely look in his eye that suggests he knows what hes doing. He also never says a word, and prefers to do his talking with a ball - a top performer.

The match

Over 1.
MattyD on strike.
Ball 1 - just short of a length. Leaps. Golved down to first slip.
Ball 2 - a bit fuller. Jumps a bit. Played off the splice towards cover.
Ball 3 - Genuine half tracker. In the slot. Spanked over square leg for a grand maximum.
Ball 4 - Full and on the legs. LB down the fine leg. Single
Immy on strike
Ball 5 - good ball on off stump. Regulation nick. Caught 2nd slip. Nomaan
Ball 6 - Good legth. Leaps. Shoulder of the bat, onto glove. Drops short of slip.

Interesting start
'Nommy - you're gonna get one eventually on this track so lets get after them.'. This contradicted advice from Kamaroon who felt it was a grinders track. Either way, it was going to be a lottery.

Over 2.
MattyD on strike
Largely an over of full balls - either half volleys or full tosses. One half tracker was again dispatched onto the on side by Davies, whilst one of the full tosses was driven through extra cover for four by Nommy.

'Looks like this end is a litle easier, although he didn't really use the track at all - most didnt bounce'

Over 3.
Nommy on strike.
Ball 1 - Length outside off stump. Left, but ball leaps and almost catches the underside of the gloves.
Ball 2 - Length. Leaps. Gloved down. Single.
Ball 3 - Full. Single to cover.
MattyD on strike
Ball 4 - Length ball on leg stump. Jumps a bit, single taken to midwicket.
Nommy on strike
Ball 5 - Short of a good length. Leaps . Nicked. Caught behind.
Raza on strike
Ball 6 - Just short of a length. Jags back and hits Kam in the goolies. red cherry to prove.

Over 4.
MattyD on strike.
Ball 1 - Short of a length. Leaps. MattyD pulls out of a slap to the on-side as the ball whistles past his face.
Ball 2 - Length ball. MattyD plays forward. Ball takes off. Cloncks him on the lid (misses the grill - straight for the helmut).

Kam approached Umpire and decision taken not to continue.

As I say, I can't remember every ball exactly, but of the 10 or so balls pitched in or a round a good area, over half of them misbehaved, and dangerously so. This was not a 1XI standard pitch and player safety was at risk.

Poor old Cronin. He drove around Guildford for an hour and a half trying to find the ground. Relaised it was in Burpham. Arrived a few overs in, quickly had to get his pads on, and then an over later the game was abandoned.

Poor Ali. She had managed to get away with not having to go to Guildford City's ohter ground (a pet hate), but has only managed to see 3.2 overs of cricket. I think she enjoyed the 2XI banter on the Wick balcony instead though.

Poor Nicholls. Facing the prospect of calling a game off on grounds of safety.

Poor oppo umpire. Despite personal issues, he'd had to try and make a pitch playable for his side, only to find his efforts had gone unrewarded. He did say we had a disappointing attitude - not wanting to play cricket. He was clearly annoyed - we'll let that slide. Everyone at the Wick knows if you give up your Saturday to play cricket, the last thing you want to do is not play cricket!

Poor MattyD. Seeing it like a beachball, yet game abandoned.

Iv'e got no idea what will happen now. It is clear that the pitch was not 1XI standard and with the bowlers on show was a danger to everyone. I think common sense prevailed - you never know until it's too late with these things.

Wish you were here....

Walton on Thames - all out for 96 (Tommy D - 6/59, Paddy - 2/1)

lost to

Hampton Wick - 97 for 2 (Singh 47)

It's hard to believe that almost a year has passed since the legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson dropped off the twig. The coroner - in whom we can confidently place complete trust - said the death was a result of "acute propofol intoxication". I laymans terms - the pills he was taking were a little stronger than the tic tacs he developed a penchant for. It killed him. Rest in peace Michael.

As we come to the anniversary - June 25th if it's not already in your diaries - let us take a moment to pause for reflection. "Did we ever see the best of Michael?" might be one question raised, or perhaps, "what would he think of the world today, one year on?".

These questions and others got Wickman Junior thinking as the 3s took on Walton on Thames (WOT) on Saturday. Two of the side's key players were missing: Risman and Ewan. What would it be like to play without them there? What were they doing to take them away from the cricket? And would the 3s perform and win without them?

The answer was: 1) it felt like cheating 2) Rizzo was off doing something and Dick was injured, and 3) Yes - bloody oath.

On a cold overcast day, the Wick won the toss and decided to bowl on a dry and dusty track. The outfield was typical for Kingsfield: bumpy, bare in patches....but bloody beautiful all the same. WOT only had 10 players, so the 3s already had one less wicket to get. And that helped. Opening with Tommy D and lownsy, the boys got off to a good start. Runs were hard to come by for their openers as Lowns bowled with rapid pace and bouce, while tommy D had unnerving accuracy.

After 14 overs Lownsy was taken off and Paddy McMullen brought into the attack. WOT were on 30 odd for no loss, before their opener tried to hoik one across midwicket from Tommy D, where Paddy (read: Simon Anstell) took a great catch. 1/20. After Paddy's great first over down the hill, Tommy D officially ended the match as a contest. Jimmy C took a catch at cover, and TD took another three wickets - all bowled - to put WOT out of the game. Two from Paddy down the hill and they were 7/56.

In previous week's, the 3s have left promising positions like this go to waste. But not today. Despite the 8 and 9 batsmen blocking out the next 20 overs for just 20 runs, the last two wickets finally came. TD took his sixth wicket - crashing into the stumps - and David Bendall hit the timber too. WOT had basilled themselves to 96 all out off 42 overs. Thank god that was over.

The run chase, despite only having four batsmen in the team (including Sam Kemp) cruised to victory. Again, Nathan and Joe Hirsh were the standouts. Nathan battered 47 and Hirshy 28 not out, as the 3s ran down the score in just 18 overs. These two are finally showing what they are capable of and batting well together. With Zohakk coming back into the side next week, and perhaps an elusive Adam Crane, and Finbar Murray, things are looking up for the 3s now. Time to get on a winning run.

Excellent win. Comfortable and professional. Perhaps the England team could look at this a learn something?

MOM Tommy D - 6/59.

Wickman Junior

Wednesday xi vs Worcester Park

Wednesday xi vs Worcester Park

Scorecard

Who Stitched Who Up?

Kennedy, Hirsch, Norm, Kammy, Dutchy, Amooray, The Lord Culhem, Marfleet, Clarky, Il Presidente.

Those of you who enjoy the gentle rhythms of Wednesday cricket missed a special sunset yesterday.

The Lord told an amusing tale as we watched it. I’ll cut out some of the detail to save space but essentially Sisso used to run a book on The National. The Lord instructed Mrs Lord to get a tenner on a horse called Seagram. It won. But the Lord made an error. He called Sisso to enquire not how much he had won, but whether Mrs Lord had got the bet on. Sisso said she hadn’t and told him that she’d placed an each way bet on the horse in third place. Sisso produced a tenner with a flourish and the conversation was closed. A week or ten days passed. The Lord was not able to leave the subject alone and made further enquiries of the part-time bookie. Sisso told him that The Lord had seemed like a person that wanted to be stitched up, and he, Sisso, had a policy of never letting an opportunity to do so pass up. Snigger.

Not so much later Sisso, The Lord, Smudger and others were in a country pub just before Smudge’s wedding. It was April and snowing. Horizontally. The pub was a mile from the church. Sisso’s lift left without him. The Lord asked Sisso how Sisso was going to get to the church. Sisso intimated that he was rather hoping to get a lift with the Lord. The Lord replied “Ah yes. I thought so. But you looked like a person that wanted to be stitched up, and I have a policy…”

Wickman brings this up because yesterday felt like a giant stitch up and he couldn’t quite tell who was doing it to whom. Firstly the opposition skipper (who is a true character of the game) dithered over whether or not to bat. Seeing as he always bats when he wins the toss this seemed unnecessary. Sisso stitched us up shortly afterwards because he only provided us with nine players, two of the xi claiming they couldn’t make it and had never been intending to. The Lord was late. ATS.

So the game was started with eight of us in the field. Clarky began by grassing a regulation first slip chance by diving in front of Kam and flapping a glove at it off the deserving Norm first ball of the match. Norm then bowled six or so overs of fast medium away swingers without much reward. Not much else happened as the openers decided us only having six outfielders was a licence to make runs. They picked gaps and made us run a lot. Kammy bowled some respectable offspin. They hit it up in the air occasionally but into helpful gaps.

The Lord arrived and blow this correspondent down if he didn’t first open the boot of his car and bring out two comfortable looking camping chairs as much as if to say “I’ll put one at long leg and the other at third man, and I will be fine thank you”. Having had a crafty look at numbers in the outfield he then spent a light year getting changed. At one point as he walked back to his car for the third or fourth time Wickman thinks that light may have bent round the carpark and time travel forwards may have happened as it seemed to take him a good five overs to lock his car and trundle out to the middle.

The Lord’s services were called upon soon after and he managed to supply the breakthrough pinning their No1 in front. Marfleet bowled some lovely loopy offspin (and some nasty full bungers too) and eventually cramped the other opener for room and bowled him. A South African with a very unfashionable mullet came to the wicket and hit the ball hard and ran at twice the speed of Mackie (or 2.5 Soppitts) and began to make us pay for only having nine in intense heat.

Culhem removed an excitable Number 4 bowled and Norman did the same to Mullet Boy. This brought to the wicket McFarlane who scored an unflustered 30 odd in good time before perishing to a good catch by Kennedy. There was enough time for Marfleet to catch one off his own bowling to end an impressive second spell. It also brought to the wicket an extraordinary bat who used his feet badly to every ball he faced and was lucky he had a good eye. A very decent bat, Hill, who is averaging 60 in Division II First xi of the Surrey Champ then smashed a quick 20 odd. They had amassed 242 from 45 at almost 5.4 an over.

Tea. 9. Dave had provided us with mini-hotdogs, buns and cooked onion (with that weak assed American yellow mustard that is so essential) plus most of the usual stuff. Tempted to give it more but the bread wasn’t quite there and it needed something like meringues, strawberries and cream to bring another half or full point. But certainly the finest tea Wickman has seen from Dave. He claimed it was always better on a Wednesday. Hmmmm.

So it was up to us to bat. Hirschy had turned up right at the end of their innings and now opened the batting so that he could open the bar. A typical brisk innings with some lovely shots followed before he was castled by an excitable dwarf. The same dwarf then removed Normy who snicked one after having looked like a million Pakistani Rupees (about £7,987.01 in case you ask). Kammy was caught behind too off the impressive Marshall and Kennedy in his first hit for five years was just beginning to look good before also offering a catch. It was clear at this point that we had taken over the role of stitching ourselves up from Bobby. To confirm the feeling Dutchy then waited until the ball before drinks to fire one to Mullet Boy at cover who hung on.

After drinks Amooray played increasingly brightly and reached 20some before smashing one back to the bowler. The Lord looked Lord like and biffed and cudgelled away the bowling with a look of wrinkled disdain. Marfleet used the long handle and made 17 from seven balls. With Clark and The Lord at the wicket we needed 100 of 13 overs. It was an unlikely equation which the oppo skipper had no intention of trying to get us to solve. And then we realised who was really being stitched up. It was Worcester Park, by their skipper.

This most strange individual had brought himself on with the asking rate at 11s and 12s before bowling absolute filthy filth so filthy that if it was in a porn film it would be double penetration with bondage thrown in. And it was slow filth too. He then set a field with 7 on the boundary, four of them fanned out from square leg to long on via midwicket and cow. What a waste of time. The challenge was this: you need more than 10. You need to hit boundaries. I am going to toss this stuff up because I don’t believe you can hit it over the boundary on the full. You will try though because I am bowling this terrible left arm filth. Jack perished accepting the bait. The Lord almost stranded Clarky with the old Yessssssss. Er no. Er… Clarky was not amused but the weird skippery fellow bungled collecting the fielder’s throw and allowed the original single to be taken.

The Lord and Clarky put on some together but Clark was not in fine form and was unable after his earlier keeping exertions to hit the ball the necessary distance. In fact he was finding it rather difficult to time and fully deserved to be in at 9. Eventually the Lord propped forward to one of the filthy dobbers and was stumped when he fell asleep waiting for it to arrive. There were a few scares as the President and Clarky navigated the last few overs but seeing as the skipper insisted on continuing to bowl the shite Wickman mentioned earlier the biggest threat was the ball arriving so slowly that it crept under horizontal bat shots.

The President declared himself not bothered by the result after having been adjudged not out to a ball that would have hit middle and delegated the decision to Clarky to decide whether we lost or not. But with Filthy McNasty on Clarky could not bring himself to be out and milked a few runs as the balls ticked away. With no sign of the openers returning to break the partnership the game fizzled out into a draw as the Worcester Park fielders too became less and less interested in the spectacle and the antics of their skipper in not mopping us up.

Those assembled retired to the balcony to discuss other games with more positive outcomes, to drink beer and to assess bruising and muscular aches and pains. Another fine day in Wick Wednesday cricket. Unfortunately 8 in the field is a not a great recipe for winning cricket and nor is it advisable to lose all your best bats before you have made 70. But what a tea…

1xi Match Report by Matty D

vs Oxted and Limpsfield

Saturday was an interesting sporting day, was it not? Everything seemed to be going so well, and then, almost with the flick of a switch, everything changed. Doubts creep in, the opposition have a sniff, and they pounce. Im not talking England football, Im talking Wick cricket - a team similarly bedevilled by sporting dramas. Although by the end we resembled an episode of Eldorado, rather than the season climax of 24. Incidentally Ive not seen an episode of either, but Im confident in my assumptions.

Saturday - hot day. Lurvely.

Wick batted first on a belter. Flat like my bike tyre at the moment. Rashid and Davies started confidently, finding the middle of the bat with ease. No swing, no seam. Innocuous (what a great word that is. Just trying to spell it is a tongue twister). At 32-0 off 8 overs we were laughing. But then disaster struck. The ball started to do a little bit - just enough. The oppo found their areas and things became very difficult all of a sudden. Rashid caugt slip. Ali, caught at point. Davies caught at slip. Raza caught at slip. 36-4 off 18 overs. Ive known some collapses in my time, but even this one was a classic. Cronin and Kilner looked to repair some damage by not letting the 4 become 5. There was alsmot no action, rather than leaves and a few misses for 45 minutes. The 1 brings 2. 60-6. High hit some straight ones, but he didnt last. Tong and Ewen played a lovely little cameo with expert running and a few hits to move the score along to 141 all out off 51 overs.

Quite how we managed to find ourselves in this position can be laregly attributed to the opening bowlers of Oxted. From the 8t over onwards they found an immaculate spot on which they rarely deviated from. The ridge played havoc one end, whist the low bounce the other meant as soon as the shine has gone most things were hard to get away. The catching was very good from Oxted and whilst the banter was tedious at times - 141 all out is a fair reflection of what happened out in the middle.

Teas - standard.

We were surprisingly buoyant at half time. The pitch seemed to be doing things if we could find the right areas. In reality the pitch did little and the areas we found were not sufficient. Joey has an off day, Ali didn't find the zip he needs and Tongy, whilst the best of the 3 strike bowlers was unable to repeat the heroics of 8-32 (see Chobham 2009). Raza bowled well, although the gane was up at this point. James Milner, I mean Val Kilner, I mean Matt Kilner bowled one over and got one wicket lbw. Theres a lesson if Ive ever heard one...

In reality we were taught a lesson on Saturday. We were made to look decidedly average by a team who whilst clearly were no mugs, were hardly a bunch of superheroes as the stats would suggest. As last week Im left wondering if its not going to be our season, or if we'll get that break to set us on our way. We're still only 30 points off the top, so if we can get on a run we are back in the hunt. However if we're not quick the hunt may have already killed the fox by the time we join in....

WORLD CUP @ THE WICK

WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN STYLE @ HWRCC

The WICK is the only place to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup as we present themed nights with authentic food, drinks promotions, live music, fancy dress and much, much more!

WORLD CUP – ALGERIAN NIGHT

On Fri 18th June, cheer on the three lions as we provide the perfect Friday Night!!

Bar Open: 17:30

Kick Off: 20:30

Entry: FREE

Food: The Football will be followed by a trip to our Sponsor, The Hampton Wick Tandoori – for a team Curry!!

Support your club,

WICK

TEAM NEWS - SAT 19TH JUNE

HWRCC 1ST XI V Guildford City

1) Ali
2) Davies
3) Rashid
4) Raza ©
5) Cronin
6) Mackie +
7) High
8) Whinny
9) Tughral Zam
10) Tong
11) Ewen J

Umpire: K. Nicholls
Scorer: A. Whicher

Meet: 11:15
Start: 13:30

HWRCC 2ND XI V Maori Oxshott

1) Cole
2) Goulborn
3) Fudge ©
4) Kilner
5) Jackson
6) Crowther
7) Soppitt
8) Copeland H +
9) Breakwell
10) Unsworth
11) Webster

Umpire: S. Riley
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 12:00
Start: 13:00

HWRCC 3RD XI V Walton on Thames

1) Singh
2) Hirsch
3) Lloyd +
4) Kemp +
5) McMullan
6) Cameron ©
7) Bendall
8) Selves
9) Donnelly
10) Lown
11) Charlton

Umpire: N/A
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 12:00
Start: 13:00

Good Luck to everyone involved...

WICK WASH

Fantasy cricket up to week 5

SHOUT: LET IT ALL OUT

SMCC - all out for 187 off 49 overs. Selves 6/60 off 21 overs. Dick Ewan 4 wickets

drew with

Hampton Wick - 162 for 9. Hirsh 62.

"Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I can do without Come on, I'm talking to you, come on" was what 80s super group Tears For Fears said many years ago in their seminal classic "Shout", from the album "Songs from the big Chair". It's one hell of an record, with many commentators at the time describing it as "the freshest piece of music" since Phil Collins and Genesis released their first record.

The song, of course, has incredible meaning and depth. It is about political protest for sure, but it also about expressing yourself and telling others what you think. It was something that dawned on me, perhaps hauntingly, as i watched the 3s go toe-to-toe with Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club on Saturday. This is a team that has talent and quality, and now needs to start shouting about it and breaking free from a nervousness that is costing points.

After Jimmy C won the toss, he decided to send S&M (see what i did there?) into bat. It was a crazy start. Adam Selves opened the bowling alongside Eddie Charlton and took two wickets in the third over - a cheeky caught behind and then a caught and bowled. 2/10. It looked like the Wick were about to skittle these boys in just a few overs.

It was not to be. The match probably turned on a dropped catch which was easy to take, much less actually attempt to catch. Their left hander popped one up in the air between square leg and the keeper. As Lloydy and Tim looked at each other and waited for something to happen, the ball fell embarrassingly to the ground. It was a precurser to Robert Green's howler that evening against the US. The lefty, with support from the skipper, then went on to make 60-odd. Damn!!

At 130-odd for two off 35 overs, S&M were heading for a big total, before Dick Ewan and Adam Selves ran riot. Selves took two more wickets, while Dick Ewan took four wickets in just a handful of overs. 130-2 then became 138-8. It was looking like they would be out for 150, a score that could be happily chased down.

Sadly, their last two batsmen proved a bit of a handful, and managed to put on a 50 run partnership from the last 14 overs. Dick Ewan in the process managed to do his hamstring while attempting to reach a skied catch. It was 50 runs and an injury that probably cost the 3s winning the match.

With Dick sitting on the sidelines, Jimmy opted to send in Lloydy to open with Risso. Opening with the old ball, S&M gave it to a slow pie chucker to do some damage. It was clear that Lloydy's eyes would light up with these deliveries and not last too long out in the middle. Just too tempting, and he skied one to the keeper. Gone. With Joe Hirsch coming to the middle, Risso and he looked to tick the scoring over. However, a lack of shouting from young Joey on a quick single left Risso exposed, and then run out. Skipper Jimmy C was overheard to have remarked - "why does no one call anymore?! Just shout either yes, no or waiting....those are the three calls!!"

Nathan then joined Joey at the crease, and they batted superbly. Hirshy has matured into a fantastic young cricketer, and drove all over the ground to reach an inspired 50. His first league 50 for the club. Top work son. At the other end, Nathan finally began to show some of his potential - belting balls to the boundary with ease, and showing his true power for one. The wick were now on 130-odd for two, needing 58 off the last 18 overs.

However, the 3s again conspired to collapse in the middle order again. After Joey and Nathan had gone, only Jimmy and Selves would follow to try and keep the chase on target. Jimmy looked completely out of sorts with the bat and ball, and will need to get in a session with Kam Raza at nets this week to change his fortunes. Selves, exhausted from bowling nearly half the 3s overs, couldn't replicate his heroics with the bat. Both were removed cheaply, and left Dick Ewan and Eddie Charlton to get the remaining runs.

Sadly, there wasn't enough batting to finish off the chase, and the side held out (thanks to Charles Edmunds....who faced the task of blocking out the last 5 balls) for a losing draw. It was such a disappointing way to end the match. Another team who the 3s should have beaten, and it seems like playing well in patches may haunt the side come the end of the season. The games agaitnst Old Tiffs, Old Eman and now Streatham have followed a similar pattern - the 3s have had the game by the thruff of the scroat (so to speak) and have let sides back into the matches.

The side now needs to regroup for next week's game. It needs to start shouting louder and being more confident in the field, and with bowling and batting. It needs a bit more of the Fabio Capello school of leadership and discipline now to start getting these victories. Otherwise, one can see a "Falling Down" moment when the skipper, and some of his angry mob, might just lose the plot entirely. Buck up boys. Shout it out. NOW!

League Smashes it Out of the Park

Wickman does not presume to think that The League reads this blog, but it does seem that they have listened to feedback from member clubs and done the right thing with respect to this weekend's fixtures, allowing games to start as early as Midday to allow football spectation and the consumption of grilled food. Here's their statement allowing clubs to agree changed start times and well done to them!

"The Executive has considered the reaction of Member Clubs to the issue of start times on those Saturdays where an England World Cup match in South Africa is scheduled to start at 7.30pm (Saturday 12 June and perhaps Saturday 26 June).

Taking into account those views, if clubs BELOW first team level can agree an advanced start time of between 30-60 minutes ahead of the scheduled norm, then they will not be subject to any of the normal sanctions that might otherwise apply were this to happen at any other time.

This is an exceptional move and is put forward in response to a groundswell of opinion at Member Clubs from playing members, particularly in the lower sides.

This allows sides within Member Clubs BELOW first team level to agree matters between themselves, and grants them the flexibility and choice to vary start times within the above guidelines."

It is important to stress that should there not be full agreement between two clubs then the normal League rules will apply.”

Be good to see a full 3xi out for our away fixture and maybe some of the niggling injuries suffered by football fans in the xi will now clear up.

Some much happier cricketers from The Wick say "thank you".

League Inflexible Over World Cup

Wickman was passed the following communication this morning from the Surrey Championship.

Dear Club Representatives [That's Keith to you and me - Ed]

We have received a number of requests [loads probably - Ed] for matches to be allowed to start earlier on Saturday 12 June because of the England v USA football match being played in South Africa. [It's not just a match. It's the World Cup me old Chinas - Ed]

Members of the Executive have discussed this and the answer is that all matches must start at the official scheduled time [Booooooo - Ed]. We play standard hours and these must be adhered to. The main reason for this decision is that clubs starting their matches earlier could have an advantage over clubs starting at the scheduled time if there is bad weather later in the day.

Please ensure this message is passed onto all within your clubs who need to know this information.

Please note that action will be taken against any clubs that disregard this instruction.

Now Wickman can see the logic of this argument and Wickman likes nothing more than logic. However, that the executive committee has only JUST met to discuss this in response to enquiries from clubs looks at best myopic.

Traditionalists amongst you may well argue that this is after all a cricket league and big national events like a World Cup in another sport should not derail the playing of our game. Wickman is sympathetic to this argument.

But those of us who organise stuff in the real world appreciate that sometimes you have to plan ahead. Anyone knowing this was a World Cup year should have been able to plan this into the schedule over the Winter. Being inflexible now is a shame, being inflexible (or myopic) in advance is something else.

During the last WC Wickman donned the gloves against Merstham in a 1s game. It was done and dusted by 5pm. This was because the oppo were three short on the day as their boys didn't want to miss whatever game was on that afternoon. They won the toss and batted (the decent thing in the conditions - set small total rather than run around all day in the baking heat trying to prevent a boundary fest). Here's the scorecard.

It's tougher, obviously, on the side travelling. Wickman hopes sincerely that this lack of foresight doesn't create an average weekend of cricket where playing numbers are not so depleted that the games are rendered almost meaningless and the quality of cricket for those that put club before country is not poorer as a result. While Wickman remembers this game with some fondness for a juggling catch off Zam and some, for once, effective Matrix skills off Coley, it was a lame duck. Although Hibby will be pleased with 61... Good luck to all the clubs in this position this weekend.

The Wick will put out three strong but largely pissed off sides this weekend as we have good spirit in the club and the atmosphere at HQ with our World Cup themed evening will still be excellent. Eventually. But with a 12pm start the revenue raising opportunity would have been bigger and better (let's face it, no club can chuck away income at the moment) and there was an opportunity there to make things easier for the amateur cricketers who play week in week out. This one looks like a free hit missed by the League.

TEAM NEWS - WED 9TH JUNE

WICK T20 V KEMPTON C.C. (HOME)

WED 9TH JUNE

17:30 START

1) Rashid
2) High
3) Mackie
4) Raza
5) Fudge ©
6) Whinny
7) Holland +
8) Marfleet
9) Tong
10) Selves
11) Charlton

WICK

Bogey Team Strike Again... 1xi vs West End

Match Report by Sir Matty of D

Bolton Wanderers are generally considerred to be a bogey team for Arsenal. It used to be Liverpool, with Robbie Fowler seemingly always scoring hat tricks against us. My well informed Spurs supporting friends inform me that Wolves are the team they hate playing. Tottenham always boss them, but somehow manage to always lose 1-0. Wigan don't like playing Chelsea (although who does?), Birmingham always come up short against Villa, and HWRCC always seem to struggle against West End Esher. Its written in the stars.

Davies, Ali, Rashid, Raza, Crowther, Cronin, High, Ewen, Tong, Holland+, Unsworth.

HWRCC bated first and lost Davies early on to a ball he should have ducked, opting instead to glove it behind. Ali and Rashid then combined to move the score along to a healthy 72 before Ali holed out on the boundary. This brought Raza to the crease whose 70 from 64 balls was the batting highlight of the day - a masterclass in running 2s and manouvering the ball. A lack of support from the middle order, Cronin being a run a ball 21 exception, meant Kam was unable to relax and fell just at the time when a few lusty hits would have taken the game beyond West End. As it was, Ewen's 200% strike rate and some Tongshan scoops moved the score on to a more than respectable 221. The track was a road and did nothing once the shine left the cherry. The outfield was like corrugated iron, but also glass. Glass corrugated iron if you will.

Teas - same. The bread especially soft and the egg especially smelly. I do seem to rememebr some bacon rashers also - that was a pleasant surprise.

221 was 20 runs shy, but more than enough to win, and it would take some getting. The missing Tughral would be a concern and a track suited to spin, but such is a long season that you can't have everyone available all of the time.

Ewen was on the money first up, bossing his way to the first nut, lbw with the score on 5. The followed the 'story'. As Sisso pointed out to me a few years ago, only losers tell stories, whilst winners celebrate. Well, heres the story....

To compare the stand out innings for West End with Raza's, would be like comparing Wayne Rooney with Wayne Hemmingway. Raza's innings wasn't perfect, but the innings of West End Esher #3 was the single luckiest knock I think I've ever seen. He played and missed more times than he will have been pleased with and the ball hit him and squirmed around the stumps at least 10 times. It was frustrating stuff to watch but he made the most of his opportunity which is the key reason that West End won what would have been a tight encounter. Left me wondering what I had to do to miss that bouncer and get 75 of my own runs...

Having said that, he was dropped twice, one almost impossible (Ewen's leavers being the only reason you would consider it a chance) and the other swooshing over 2nd slip's head. He was dropped right at the end also, but the game was up by then, so that doesn't count. In complete contrast, the other opener batted very well - not perfect by any means (a penshant for lollipops over cover), but showed very good discipline against a probing Wick attack. The #4, probably their best bat, also was impressive with his 30, hitting the ball hard and straight.

The Wick in the field? Not bad. Aside from the drops mentioned above, the catching was sound, and given the state of the outfield the fielding was as committed as it could have been. Maybe 15 runs could have been saved... The bowling however was as always excellent. Ewen in particular showing great control and beating the bat too many times to be real - we went throguh every emotion: confidence, frustration, embarassment, frustration again, anger, resignation, insanity and then indifference, as it became obvious that this was the #3's day and that was that.

In conclusion a very good game of cricket. A typical game of cricket in fact. You don't always get what you deserve, but lets not take anything away from West End, who chased 221 against our attack, and in good time as well. I'm left, on Sunday morning, wondering about the distribution of luck... some guys have all of it...

3s let another team off the hook...

Hampton Wick 3RD XI - 145 all out - Singh 34

lost to Old Emanual

146-7 - Ewan 4 for 31 off 11 overs.

They say a week is a long time in cricket circles (they don't really - i've never ACTUALLY heard anyone say that...but it is certainly something someone might say if prompted). This week has been no exception. Availability was so GOOD for the match against Oxted and Limpsfield that even the skipper couldn't get a match. However, for this week's match against Old Emanual, it was uncertain whether the 3s would even get a side out on the field, let alone 11 players.

After some 11th hour phone calls, 11 players were sourced for this game against league leaders old emanuel. A few colts were drafted in and golfing great Adam Crane even managed to sneak into the side. It was a mismash team if ever this writer had seen one, but could they pull off a surprise victory? No, as it happens, they couldn't....

After winning his first toss of the season, Skipper Jimmy C opted to bat on a relatively slow and flat deck. Conditions were muggy, but with just 10 players at the ground at this point, the intention was to bat Old Emmanuel out of the game. This strategy appeared to be working well when Risso and Dick started the innings. The Wick's most charismatic men got off to a fantastic start. Risman and Ewan took their openers by storm, flashing some beautiful off-side cuts and drives, taking the Wick to 70-odd for no loss after 23 overs. The perfect platform for Nathan, Crane and Kemp to build on for a strong score. 200+ was looking a very real possibility.

The opening partnership was soon brought to an end after Adam Selves decided he'd seen enough of Rizzo at the crease. Raising his finger for LBW for one that Risso came well forward to, did little to endear himself to Old Soft Hands, who seemed set for a big innings. Jimmy C will need to put more thought into who does the umpiring in future perhaps.

However, with Nathan and Dick now at the crease, the scoreboard ticked over nicely. At 90-odd for 1, a tiring Ewan managed to cut one to the fielder at point, who took a splendid catch. 90-2. Bilal "billy boy" and colt Robbie Oliver then fell in quick succession and suddenly the 200+ figure seemed to be a little far fetched. 110-4.

Jimmy C and Nathan started to get the runs going again, until Nathan splayed at a wide one he sould have left well alone. His score of 36 runs could so easily have been 80-odd, but again a rash shot when it wasn't needed got the better of him. This commentator feels that Nathan is one innings away from becoming a really good batsman again, but just needs that little bit of temperament when out in the middle.

Nathan's dismissal then brought about a ridiculous batting collapse. Kemp and Crane both were dismissed after the bowler exploited a damp patch on the wicket, forcing the ball to keep low, knocking the stumps over. While the skipper try to stay in a bat the overs out and creep up to a defendable score, he ran out of partners as Selves, Smith and Smith were all dismissed cheaply. 145 all out was such a disappointing score given that the 3s were 90-odd for 1.

145 runs would surely never be enough on such a pitch to defend, and when Emanuel had reached 60-odd for 1 after 20 overs, it seemed a formality that they would go on to win easily. To the Wick's credit, this did not happen. Far from it. After Graham (i need to be wrapped in cotton wool) smith went off the field with a bad back, Dick Ewan grabbed the ball. His first delivery produced a wicket. Caught and bowled. 3-70.

With Jimmy at the other end keeping the runs to a minimum, Dick set about destroying the oppo. Old Emmanual's batsmen appeared to be very unsure with the bat, and as Dick applied the verbal pressure on them, they lost another 4 wickets. Old Emmanual now seemed set to lose the match at 100-7. Surely it would be a formality.

The game possibly turned on one umpiring decision. An appeal for LBW was turned down after the batsman offered no shot to Ewan's bowling, striking him on the pad in front of off stump. To say that Dick couldn't believe the decision was an understatement...and he wasn't best pleased. Dick's outbursts have been great to watch over the last few years, and this was no exception. It's why he's so loved in the team. FACT.

Sadly, despite Ewan's heroics, Old Emmanual's skipper batted with too much sensibility from then on in. With 30-odd not out, he helped squeeze them over the line to take the points in the end. It was a disappointing end to the match, after coming back to positively into the game.

Looking back, an extra 50-odd runs from the Wick's innings should have been enough to win the match, but the batting collapse cost the match. Like the game against Old Tiffs, the 3s have been in very strong positions and have let these opportunities slide again to lose from the jaws of victory. For a side that is more than good enough for promotion, this will have to be rectified if there is to be any change of fortune, but the belief remains.

Wickman Junior

TEAM NEWS - SAT 6TH JUNE

HWRCC 1ST XI V West End Esher (Home)

1) Ali
2) Davies
3) Rashid
4) Raza ©
5) Crowther
6) High
7) Cronin
8) Holland +
9) Tong
10) Ewen J
11) Unsworth

Umpire: K. Nicholls
Scorer: A. Whicher

Meet: 12:00
Start: 13:30

HWRCC 2ND XI V Godalming (Away)

1) Cole
2) Goulborn
3) Fudge ©
4) Madoc-Jones J
5) Jackson
6) Hirsch
7) Soppitt
8) Copeland +
9) Breakwell
10) Donnelly
11) Charlton

Umpire: S. Riley
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 11:00
Start: 13:00

HWRCC 3RD XI V Old Emanuel (Away)

1) Risman
2) Ewen R
3) Singh
4) Kemp +
5) Crane
6) Edmonds
7) Cameron ©
8) TBC
9) Selves
10) TBC
11) Smith

Umpire: N/A
Scorer: N/A

Meet: 11:30
Start: 13:00

Good luck to everyone involved...

WICK

2ND XI - MATCH REPORT V'S FARNCOMBE C.C.

Weather dampens spirits and drenches leagues only unbeaten record…

Cricket; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - “Cricket is a sport played predominantly in the drier periods of the year. But, even so, the weather is a major factor in all cricket matches. A scheduled game of cricket cannot be played in wet weather. Dampness affects the bounce of the ball on the wicket and is a risk to all players involved in the game.”

There should be a caveat to this statement that reads something along the lines of; “But not in England and not in May”

I suppose the clue is in the equipment that we use. Wood and leather are notoriously un-happy creatures in the wet and so it transpired are Hampton Wick 2nd XI as they lost their unbeaten record to web-footed Farncombe.

It’s a horrible feeling, having done the usual thing and spent all week wishing the days away, desperately looking forward to a game of cricket, only to arrive at the ground and find that the weekends forecast had for once materialized. With the prospect of any play looking as bleak as that mythical area behind the trees and towards Hampton Court that seems grabs everyone’s attention the moment the word rain is mentioned, our thoughts soon turned to an afternoon playing Royal Cricket, Crazy Golf and Beer Pong.

Various attempts to remove our high-tech covers (!) at the slightest sight of any break in the cloud were thwarted by instant downpours and aggressive winds until approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes after the scheduled start time when umpire, Stephen Riley eventually called play. The long delay meant that the game was reduced to 38 over’s per side and suddenly thoughts were turned to working out what would be a competitive target in such atrocious conditions? Captain Fudge won a toss for the 1st time this season and we should have known there and then that this just wasn’t going to be our day.

With a member of the 2nd XI’s top 4 (who will remain nameless) currently courting a Sky Weather girl (who will remain nameless) we had inside knowledge into exactly what the weather would do for the remainder of the day. We had it on good authority that the day was destined to get better with brighter, dryer spells this afternoon leaving us with no option but to bowl first.

Webster and Lown took the new ball and whereas Lown struggled to find his length and gifted one opener full balls to ease through the covers, Webster was bang on the money and prompted the other opener to knick off to Cole at 1st slip. Despite Breakwell replacing Lown and grabbing no.2 well taken, by keeper Gates, Farncombe had got off to a flying start and suddenly with the ball starting to resemble a bar of imperial leather it was going to be crucial that the WICK took wickets at regular intervals to stem the flow and restrict the visitors to a total we could chase.

Fortunately we created these chances, unfortunately and uncharacteristically we were unable to take them. 4 catches were shelled that should have been taken and innings that should have been cut short were allowed extended sentences. Webster, Breakwell and Cole bowled with skill in difficult conditions but in limited over’s cricket you need more than 3 bowlers to shine and certainly fielders to back them up. 186/6 was a very decent score however if ever there was ever a week we could chase such a target in so few over’s this was surely the one with ample batting a small boundary and tough bowling conditions all in our favour.

I needn’t waste any column inches about tea, as you have all had your fair share and I don’t need to teach you lot to suck egg mayo. They are the best in the league (FACT) and thoroughly enjoyed by all opposition that visit Café DBW.

So on with the chase. The happily married Cole opened up with the WICKS most eligible bachelor Goulborn as we were looking for a positive start. Unfortunately like previous weeks our openers struggled to put away the bad ball and an all ready healthy rate was increasing sharply from as early as the 3rd over. Farncombe’s openers were brisk enough and were now benefiting from a dry ball and a lively deck. The ball wasn’t the only thing that swung as conditions were now in their favour and Goulborn would get bowled by a sharp ball nipping back from the impressive Bray.

Bray bowled with pace and bounce and welcomed skipper Fudge, to the crease with a barrage of short pitched stuff, most of which he ducked and weaved out of the way of until he was tempted into a hook and a top edge saw it carry to deep backward square. DOWN!! Fudgey who is happily settled down with his girlfriend of 4 years had received a let off. Could he go on and make Farncombe pay just as their batsman had done to us? No is answer and his failure to convert “another” decent start was compounded by the loss of Cole (C&B 19) and Sky TV contractor, Jackson (batting 4) to a 1st ball duck.

The WICK were reeling on 40/4. Crowther, fresh from his Caribbean exploits made heavy weather of things and failed to trouble the scorer and when Wright had lost another partner in Gates and he was left to bludgeon his way to 20 with just the last recognized batsman, Soppitt for company. The pair threatened to get a partnership going before a rusty Wright held out to mid-on. Cue utter frustration bought about by another change to conditions and a sudden shower that rendered the ball useless.

Suddenly the Farncombe attack that had looked threatening all afternoon was suffering the same fate as our own earlier in the day. Soppitt convinced the WICK tail to wag and first Breakwell and then Lown offered the experienced no. 8 valuable support. Farncombe were suddenly rendered clueless and one bowler (Honeywill) even resorted to baseball style pitching, but to the same null affect. Soppitt took full advantage and swept, pulled and scampered his way to 71*.

One WICK player asked the skipper, if he “had ever seen Soppitt bat this well before?” I replied “I have had the pleasure of watching this type of resilient performance for the last 17 years”. Soppitt is batsman who knows his limitations but also knows how to play a situation and score in his areas. His performance on Saturday should be a lesson to at least 4 of our top 7 batsman who returned an unsatisfactory 2 runs between them. The lesson read simply; Regardless of the amount of talent you have, if you don’t know your own game you are always going to struggle to convert talent into runs. I wouldn’t swap the talent in my batting line-up for any other in the league but quite simply, cricket is a game of stats and some of our players stats just don’t add up.

The WICK mustered a respectable 160/8 form their 38, a score that should have been good enough to win the game had we not shelled as many chances as we did.

Our first defeat of the season was a difficult one to take, but an easy one to explain, however still sitting in the automatic promotion places we go into the next 9 time games in a far healthier position than we were this time last year.

MOM – Soppitt

Soppitt (above) was unable to complete this week’s match report due to a sudden boom in the 2nd hand car market.

1xi Match Report by Matty D

Sanderstead 1XI v HWRCC 1XI @ Old Saw Mill, Sanderstead.

Davies, Ali, Rashid, Raza*, Mackie, High, Cronin, Tong, Holland+, Tughral, Unsworth

Umpire Nicholls, Scorer Whitcher.

Call me weird, but the highlight of my week is not the game of cricket I have on Saturday afternoon. Rather, it's that time about 11am on Saturday when the anticipation of a game of cricket is too much. Not only that, but I also get to drive my car for often the only time in the week as I have the dreaded commute into town (it's a long bloody way to Hackney from Teddington, especially by bike). This week however my routine was in disarray as I was forced to 'go direct' due to a tragic quirk of fixtures and girlfriend birthday celebrations (she lives in Queens Park - google it). As many have said this year: 'Build up your credit before the world Cup'. Wise words indeed.

I arrived at Sanderstead before the Wick convoy(s), looking decidedly like a walk of shame candidate in school shoes and black trousers. I was even there before most of the home team, opting for a leisurely train journey with Telegraph in hand. The track on first inspection looked a bit soft on top although hard beneath. There was however a lot of grass and covers which had clearly been on overnight and left the surface warm and damp, matching the air. The ground is very pleasant, although the pavillion is a little hidden away in a corner in the dark - a bit of a shame.

The rain was persistent, and soon enough the covers were reapplied by the home team, and there they stayed for a good while. Mackie's late arrival, and Tong/Whitcher/Nichols' almost non-arrival proved to be no loss as there was to be lots of sitting around. I was decidedly bored - so much so that I opted at one point to venture out into the rain to explore the surrounding fields. I didn't find much. Not my best story.

The rain stopped just after 3pm and the covers were removed. The outfield was wet, but the track dry and as we were high drainage was good. Play would begin at 1545, a surreal moment given the downpour that we had sat through in the previous 3 hours.

Raza lost the toss and we were put in unsurprisingly. Wick would get 33 overs max, with Sanderstead getting 24 (if we batted 33). Not an ideal scenario for anyone, but as with most things cricket related, the game is played inside your head. If you can keep that bit in control, more often than not you will prevail, providing you have some kind of talent (which we do). Having to bat first on an unknown track, against a team of hitters, on a damp day, knowing that their could either get our score, or easily block out 20 overs if necessary for a draw, wasn't exactly an exciting prospect for us. However, there were points up for grabs, so game on.

That's four paragraphs setting the scene, and I haven't even got onto the match yet. [Yes, got on with it. This is worse than one of Clark's - Ed]

Davies and Ali opened up and the ball started doing all sorts. A few flew past Davies' face, and a few over it off the quickie. At the other end, some slight wobble was also resulting in plays and misses. Davies however did manage some sweetly timed shots, surprisingly off his legs. Ali, loosely caught at mid off was first to go. The rate slowed. Davies then was caught off a classc edge with 26 (probably worth double given the conditions and the slow outfield) [Correspondent's preorgative again eh Matty? - Ed]. Rashid didnt last much longer, an lbw decision he moaned about for a good few hours.

Raza and Mackie then combined well for a decent middle order partnership, taking the score towards 80 on a track that was lively to say the least. You were never in, with some balls behaving like salmon swimming upstream. Mackie caught at mid off (surprisingly?) was followed by High who ballooned one to cover. Cronin then managed to time one to deep mid-wicket, and then Tong middled his only ball straight back down the bowler's Gregory. This was a classic collapse, everyone being caught seemingly trying to hit the ball in the air on a track that demanded more commitment.

Raza then got one that reared at him (see the salmon comment) and we were staring down the barrell. In honesty, I dont think anyone knew what a good score was at the start of the innings. 140 was probably considered par, but at 30-0 off 4 overs, we were looking for that and more. Credit goes to Holland and Tughral who added some critical hits at the end, even if their running between the wickets needs working on.

111 all out off 32 overs. Nelson. On the face of it a below par score. It looked as if we'd capitulated and given the points to Sanderstead. However, as we've proved time and time again, and as Nicholls often says, we don't make things easy for ourselves, but invariably we come out on top.

Teas: Fairly basic, lots of children's party food that Fudge I know would disapprove of. Sausage rolls, scotch eggs, one slice ham sandwiches etc etc. 3/10.

The weather hadn't really cleared up by this point, although the temperature had gone up slightly and the Surrey Downs in the distance were no longer obscured by hazy rain. It looked as if we would get a result. With Sanderstead needing 112 to win off 25 overs. Easy.

Tong opened up. Ball 5 was sent over cover's head like a rocket, straight to the boundary. The home side cheered rapturously, as their veranda filled with locals in support. However, ball 6 lifted just outside off stump and was pouched behind the wicket - Dougall (Tong) celebrated like a dog with 3 balls to lick and the boys rallied, knowing one of their guns was out.

Next over Ali bowled 2 away pearlers, followed by a searing inducker. Bowled. 5-2. Absolutely game on. Sanders rallied somewhat with the classy #3 looking to take the game to Tong, although he was having none of it. Some excellent words were exchanged. Ali then had #3 snaffled by Rashid at gooley and we were probably on top.

The only player for Sanderstead who reached double figures was the #4 saffa. Despite being plumb on about 10, he rode his luck well and stayed leg side of the ball. Ali in particular made a few sing as they jigged their way past the bat and various body parts.

Just as Raza was contemplating a change, another wicket fell. To be honest it was a bit of a blur here after. The pitch was so bad that the cheers from Sanderstead soon become nervous silence as a procession of low scores (matching the HWRCC innings) materialised, invariably caught in various locations.

Holland dropped a very difficult chance, and Davies a difficult (but not very difficult) one at 2nd slip. Having said that, Mackie was dropped as well, so in terms of chances I think both teams were about even.

With 3 overs to go, Sanderstead found themselves on 78, needing 7 for a winning draw, an unlikely 30 odd for a win, and the Wick sensing victory needing one more. Surprisingly the final 3 overs were alarmless for Sanderstead. It turned out that in the main if you didnt want to hit any runs, it was easy to stay in, as the balls that went bezerk went so bezerk that they were never going to hit the stumps. Many wickets on both sides were claimed off attacking shots.

Sanderstead ened up on 80-9, HWRCC claiming a winning draw. A ridiculous result that belies conventional wisdom on reduced overs games, but supports the premise that cricket is played in the mind.

MOM Tong. 13-2-28-5. He's not back to his best yet, but 5-28 is pretty good for someone still searching.

HWRCC find themselves in 5th after 4 games, perhaps lower then we would have liked to have been. This game could have been won, but if we show this spirit every week we will be fine. Incidentally, taking aside the Shepperton fixture (who we didn't play last year), our 3 games against Horley, Sanderstead and Merrow have been more successful in 2010 than in 2009 (LLW in 2009, WwDlD in 2010). On that basis we're ahead of last year and on track for a real push at promotion. West End beat us in 2009, so we'll be looking to continue the trend of improving on 2009 results next week.

The game is at home, so I won't be driving, but I will probably be the first there again...

ats