Match report – 3xi vs Addiscombe - by Natedawg

"Lloydy's astute criticsim is commemorated by Addiscombe bat in leftover cheese sandwich" - Ed

HWRCC 229 all out (48.2 overs) – Goulbourn 59
Addiscombe 155 all out – Linter 5 for 29
HWRCC win by 74 runs

Scorecard

It is a fairly rare occurrence in league cricket that you have two consecutive away games against two different teams but at the same venue. However, returning to a ground where you had won the previous week and knew how the pitch would play is nevertheless reassuring when travelling to an away game. This week, back at the Queens Park ground in Caterham, the 3s were looking to record their second league victory of the season. The pitch still had a green top and was hard underneath. After winning the toss we decided to have a bat with a target of 200+ in mind showing how high our confidence is at the moment.

Goulborn and Ratnage opened up providing the perfect platform. Without taking too many risks they both batted sensibly pushing the score along at 4 an over until Sam (24) was bowled in the 17th over. Singh and Goldy took the total to 100 off 24 before the skipper kindly presented his outside edge to the opposing captain who gladly accepted it. Wick new boy Danny Byrne then joined Goldy in another 30 run partnership. Goldy continued to occupy the crease comfortably and brought up a beautifully crafted 50 before being caught trying to cut a ball that was too close and got a bit of extra bounce from the pitch.

In previous years the 3s have lacked consistency in the middle order. In one particular game last year against Old Emanuel we were in a similar position of 130 for 3 off 30 overs. In that game we were bowled out for 150 but this time we were able to push on to 229 thanks to Byrne (36), Clements (18) and Lloyd (24) who were unforgiving to any balls that pitched short from Addiscombe’s spinners. It was good to see everyone in the top 6 contributing for the second week in a row and hopefully this type of performance will be the norm and banish any memories of our opening day loss to Esher.

A long tea break followed due to late delivery of the food. The overall spread turned out to be okay with chicken nuggets, pizza and onion bhajis but with an unnecessary amount of cheese sandwiches, [sounds vile - Ed]the late service and the fact that everyone was already starting to look forward to some DBW specials next week I will have to give it a 6/10. [seems too generous - Ed]

Back out for the second half of the game Tommy D and Aqeel were given the new ball. Tommy didn’t play in the last game and after choosing to bowl downhill was presented with a wicket that had good pace and bounce. He took advantage of these conditions, removing the Addiscombe openers cheaply. At the other end Aqeel bowled an excellent 9 over uphill spell removing the leg stump of their number 3 with a great inswinging delivery. After the early wickets Hughes (31) and Narrine (55) put together Addiscombe’s only threatening partnership, involving a few good blows and a number of agricultural hacks that prompted the usually shy and retiring Lloydy to exclaim “what the f**k was that” louder than he had anticipated. Eventually Hughes was run out by some good work from Charlton and Linter and shortly afterwards Narrine’s off stump was removed by Linter to put the Wick firmly in control. Winter with an “L” went on to get another 4 wickets and Bendall 1 wicket as the 3s polished off the rest of the team for about 25 runs.

In summary it was another good team performance. With two consecutive scores above 200 and a strong bowling attack capable of taking 10 wickets we have gained some momentum that we can hopefully build on and keep looking up the table. MOM: This is a tough choice between Goldy and Linter but MoM goes to Goldy for a solid batting performance that set the tone for the game.

Match Report - Ashtead vs Sunday xi - by Selvsey

"Another Bea the Sunday xi might want to get away from" - Ed

You wait for one Sunday Match Report to come along...

HWRCC 133
Ashtead Got them something like 6 down...

Remember back to the second four day bank holiday in one week: no rain, street parties, commoners marrying princes, mass gatherings in London without a kettle to do some kettling in sight and Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club Sunday XI, away to Ashtead, looked to keep the Royal in the weekend a day longer following the Saturday Wick Wash?

Winning the toss Tong chose to bat and at 32 for 0 from 5 the only issues facing the Sunday XI was if Charlton would think the electric scoreboard was for texting his love interest or if he would pass out from the flatulence in the score box after a royal wedding and a captain’s night at the Wick. But just like Eugene and Beatrice what looks good with a glimpse can be misleading and before Charlton could write “I love you” on the scoreboard the Sunday XI were 67 for 5 from 16.

Out in the middle Rashid was the pick of the early batting looking like Gower till his Husain-like run out (Saddam? ie so slow he was dead? - Ed). Singh looked good until one got through and Miles was sublime, cover drive, then not so with a Strauss (Adelaide day two) leave. Byme hung about for a while and showed promise after a break from the game. Fahad showed promise but didn’t hang about.

Smith and Selves played a quick game of first to pad up goes in next then tested the others early season fitness with some ones and twos before both mistaking the pies to come with the change of bowling as an early sign of tea and holed out wondering when they would next be in the teens with 15 overs left to bat. Meanwhile Charlton’s love messages had worked and he had an audience. A quick 20, with Sadique chipping in a few, left the Sunday XI 133 All Out from 36. Despite Charlton’s girlfriend putting the G in the tail’s WAG the score looked more Duchess of York than Princess Diana and the Sunday XI pondered their chances over some coronation chicken (You're having me on - Ed).

Ashtead started well and at 37 for 0 from 5 the game took on a déjà vu feeling. Fahad had one put down at keeper and then at second slip but a third flew to the right of second slip and Tong caught well. Next ball went straight to second slip again but popped out. With only one option left to assure the wickets his bowling deserved Fahad decided hitting the top of off next ball would do the trick. With one catch, one drop and one bowled in three balls “just do the same again” was easy to say but Fahad did by yorking the next man and taking middle stump. The hat trick next over was not to be but another bowled left Fahad with 4 debut wickets for 38 and Ashtead on 58 for 4. Sadique came on for Fahad and got a good nic for a good catch from Rashid and the Sunday XI looked to be doing more than making a game of it.

As with most tight games there is one person who steps up to make the difference and although Fahad had put the Sunday XI in with a great chance Ashtead’s number 2 was pacing his innings well and sensing the need to up the tempo before running out of partners quickly took himself to 60 and Ashtead to over 100. The Sunday XI did have their chance after tight lines from Tong forced indecision in the Ashtead opener between a front and back foot pull and the ball ballooned between mid off and mid on. Two more royal star crossed lovers appeared as the resulting collision between mid off and mid on left two men on the floor and the Sunday XI’s chance gone. The usual half chances we all imagine could have been more came and went but even with a wicket a piece from Smith and Rashid Ashtead had the time and pushed the ones and twos to get them over the line without taking risks.

A reminder to us all that not all royal love stories end happily and the weekend wick wash was not to be. However, Fahad is clearly a great prospect with the ball for the season and everyone else looked to be getting back into the swing of the new season. 30 more may have been enough, but then Eugene and Beatrice could have picked other dresses and still been upstaged by Pippa Middleton.

Match Report - Merstham vs HWRCC 3xi - by Selvesy

"Selvesey joins the rest of the team for tea on Merstham's outfield" - Ed

HWRCC 3xi 220 for 5 off 45. Clements 63, Byrne 57
Merstham CC 3rd XI 211 Aqeel Ilyas 3 for 27, Fahad Tanveer 3 for 54, Charlton E 3 for 36
HWRCC Wins by 9 runs
Singh, Risman, Ratnage, Selves, Aqeel, Fahad, Laight, Charlton, Byrne, Clements, Linter

Scorecard

As the 3rd XI surveyed the outfield of the first away league match of the season, the pleasures of playing on the main square at the WICK last week were a long way away. The opposition informed us that the game was moved to this ground because someone had in essence stolen their pavilion at the other ground. The fact there was also no pavilion at the new ground was something the boys pondered as they padded up after the invite to have a bat on the other side of the small hills between the boundary and the square.

The wicket had a nice grass cover that looked like it might do a bit, and it did in the bounce department. Ratnage got one and the catch was held. This turned out to be a bit unfortunate for Sam as the fielding then took on the consistency of the outfield (lumpy? - Ed). Risman and Singh took to building a healthy start with some good running against the poor ground fielding and some punishing hitting. Risman then got an assisted LBW from their umpire and then in the thirties Singh let one through.

Byrne and Clements set about building on the good work and kept the score ticking over. At 150 for 3 off 35 the 3s looked to have banished the demons of the batting collapse the week before and built an innings in the way Boycott would be telling them was perfect cricket if the TMS team had got lost while thinking they were walking on the south downs and found a cricket strip in amongst the hills. Byrne and Clements then opened up with some great hitting to finish off two composed and punchy performances and at 220 off 45 Captain Singh called the boys in and they had a picnic in the foothills.

The Wick took to the field and if the batting was a 100% improvement on last week the fielding went the other way. There were quite a few dropped catches throughout that would have put this game to bed, but then that would have ruined a nice story. Fahad and Aqeel opened up with lively spells getting good bounce and tickling the odd face guard. Neither bowler is however afraid to hit the furniture and both gave the stumps a whack and Merstham were 3 for about 15 after great opening spells for the two new Wick bowlers. It is about 15 because there was no scoreboard.

Selves came on up the hill for Aqeel, watched a catch go down then watched his line desert him and received some punishment. When their number five avoided being caught again Selves asked him for his lottery numbers and took a blow thinking of Jimmy C and a week being a long time in cricket. Then in the strange yin and yang relationship that has developed between Selves and Charlton’s bowling (never both take wickets in the same game) Charlton came on down the hill and looked the money. A few words with their lucky number five and a caught and bowled saw the Wick break the one partnership that looked like it could take the game from them. It was a great spell from Charlton that saw three fly past slip somehow not finding a pair of hands. Ratnage came on up the hill and Charlton continued his desire to be involved in every ball as Merstham’s opening bat swept every ball to him at square leg. Byrne offered to go stand in the openers face and when Singh said ok he realized he meant it. It is yet to be decided whether it was more impressive that Byrne nearly took a catch from a full pull about two meters away or the that he didn’t flinch when one hit him full on a few balls later.

Despite the wick proving they had the harder players Merstham were doing a sneaky ticking along of the score board, made all the more sneaky by there not being a scoreboard to tick along and their scorer taking about an over to work out the score when asked. Linter came on down the hill and continued the aggressive fast bowling of the others. Linter tucked up the batsmen and just as things were looking to be hitting a stale mate Linter forced an early shot with a quick ball and Aqeel took the catch running backwards with the ball flying over his head.

Singh didn’t let the new batsmen get comfortable as they started blocking out and rotated the bowling bringing Aqeel and Fahad back into the attack and both picked up wickets wrapping up great starts to their promising Wick carriers as Fahad caught low to his left off Aqeel.

With one wicket to get in 8 overs the Wick looked to be on for the win as Charlton and Linter came back for some more with Merstham needing 36 odd to win. A couple of top edges flying for 4, a dropped catch and a number eleven who did a quick Chris Gale impersonation and it was squeaky bum time for the Wick. But the boys held their nerve and with 9 runs left to win Merstham’s luck ran out and the top edge flew high down to Ratnage at fine leg. There was a long pause as that ball came down then a lot of shouting as the 3s recorded their first league win. Pleased to say Sam’s heartbeat is just returning to normal.

If the 3s field like they did week one and bat like they did week two anything is possible this year and the composure and support of each other in a game that somehow became a nail biter shows great team spirit for some tough games to come.

MOM this week was Fahad. Nathan says:

It is a tough call but I am going to go with Fahad for three wickets and a great catch. He would have picked up more wickets if catches were held.

Match Report - 3xi vs Esher - by Krusty Lown

"Splinter and Rizzo were quick to console Lownsy after the match" - Ed

HWRCC 3rd XI v Esher 3rd XI 7th May 2010
Esher 141 (Selves 6 for 37) HWRCC 86
Esher win by 55 runs
Scorecard

The wick won the toss and chose to bowl in the first 3rd XI league game to be played on the main square. Despite overnight rain, the outfield was dry and conditions good.

Donnelly and Lown opened up and bowled tight lines, restricting Esher to 19-1 off 13 overs. Both were replaced by Charlton and McMullum who also bowled well, but anything short was punished on this sticky wicket.

At Drinks the Wick had Esher at 59-2 off 20 overs, and a change in bowling saw Adam Selves come on from the Millennium Wood end. Having listened to the words of advice from Risso, Selves took the pace off the ball and bowled with great control; either tucking the batsman up or back of a length outside off. This bowling, backed up with some good catching from the wick brought Adam good reward, with figures of 14-3-37-6. Along with Phil Linter and Sam Ratnage at the other end, the Wick managed to bowl their last 32 overs in 1hr 50m and restrict Esher to 141 all out in 47 overs.

Tea – it never helps when the opposition wonder in and tell DBW the tea is a 10/10. Yes it was good – new combinations such as Chicken tikka with crispy onion and crème cheese had Goldie going back for 2nds, and the introduction of mini Cornish pasties is always pleasing. But tell someone they cant improve any more on the first league game is a recipe for disaster. So am giving the tea 7.5/10.

The Wick went out to bat needing 142 to win off 53 overs. With a strong top order this seemed very doable. However, Esher had other plans and opened up bowling very tightly outside off which resulted in wickets. Risman was caught at gully to a ball that stuck in the pitch, Goldie got a great ball which was feathered to their keeper and Ratnage was unlucky in playing onto his stumps. 12-3 off 5 was not the ideal start.

Clements and Edmonds tried to regain the initiative and both batted watchfully to see off their openers. However, Esher’s change bowler – bowling slooooow right arm around the wicket to right handers proved too tempting for some of the Wick, and wickets again began to fall quickly.

Donnelly and Selves came in and played some lovely looking shots and rotated the strike well, but ultimately the wick fell well short of their target and were bowled out for 86 off 31 overs – with 21 being the top score.

This was definitely a game of 2 halves – with the fielding and bowling being very good for the first game of the season. The bowlers worked well in pairs and stuck to their job, and were backed up by 7 catches. Its just a shame we couldn’t make the most of 53 overs and seen off the new ball to give ourselves a chance.

This week welcomes back skipper Singh from some pre season warm weather training in Mauritius where we hope to do a lot better with the bat.