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