Two from Two!
The 1st XI won their second game of the season to make it two wins from two matches, the first time we have done that since we last won promotion to division 4 in 2003. The win was setup by excellent bowling spells from Herbie and Nav. Nav weaved his usual spell over the batsman, only allowing 20 runs from his 16 overs including a maximum in his last over to rob him of conceding less runs than overs bowled. Whilst keeping it tight from one end, Herbie took his first senior wickets of the season, taking advantage of the overcast and muggy conditions to record his best figures in the first XI of 4-35 including clean bowling the opposition number 4. The one low point in the field was injury to H, who we have since discovered fractured a bone in his shoulder, we wish him a speedy recovery.
So it was over to the batsman and hard work they made of it early on. We found ourselves 27-3 in the 12th over, but this brought together Nav and Gibbo who would put on a partnership of 115 to all but seal victory. Following his exploits with the ball, Nav(64) recorded his maiden fifty of the new league season as did Gibbo(56*) who made up slightly for running two of his partners out, by guiding the team home in the 36th over.
We hope to continue this momentum at home local rivals Old Cholmeleians II’s on Saturday and maintain our perfect start to the season.
Summary
Old Haberdashers 148-10 (A.Herbert 4-35 & N.Akhtar 4-20)
Old Elizabethans 149-6 (N.Akhtar 64 & R.Gibson 56*)
Two out of Three isn’t bad!
Old Elizabethan’s first XI got off to a fling start this weekend with a victory over Broxbourne II in Division 5 of the Hertfordshire League. After winning the toss and inserting the opposition, skipper James Heavey was probably having second thoughts when Broxbourne raced to 77 without loss off 12 overs. Following the breakthrough, OE’s slowed the run rate right down and were able to restrict Broxbourne to 207-7 off their 53 overs, this was largely thanks to a marathon spell from off spinner Navaid Akhtar who ended with figures of 19-1-36-3 and some excellent ground fielding to back up the bowlers on a pitch that offered very little.
The OE’s top order felt very confident in chasing down the target and this was helped by a superb innings of 85 from Matt Holland. After losing an early wicket, Holland was pushed up the order from 7 to 3 to get some quick runs in a pinch hitting role, at the end of his innings he had staked a claim for a slot in the top order. The win was sealed with Navaid Akhtar (48*) and Rob Gibson (28*) seeing the side home for a six wicket win with four overs to spare.
Summary
Broxbourne II 207-7 (D.Smith 74 N.Akhtar 3-36) Old Elizabethans 208-4 (M.Holland 85, N.Akhtar 48*) Link to Scorecard
Elsewhere, it was victory as well for the second as well with new skipper Rob Dunn getting off to the perfect start, having won the toss and elected to bat, Dunn couldn’t have been happier with openers as they amassed 165 for the first wicket with opener Paul Lissowski (95) and Andy Vernon (73) putting the Sandridge II bowlers to the sword. The innings finished with the total of 266-3 with Captain Dunn afforded the luxury of declaring in 47 overs. The OE’s bowlers made light work of the opposition batsman dismissing them for a mere 134 with Rob Jones the star of the show finishing with figures of 4-29.
Summary
Old Elizabethans II 266-3 (P.Lissowski 95, A.Vernon 73) Sandridge II 134-10 (R.Jones 4-29)
And finally, the third XI nearly snuck victory from the jaws of defeat as they lost by two wickets at home to Shenley Village IV, having been dismissed for just 121 the third XI made early forced victory taking 8 wickets to at least take 10 points from their opening game.
Summary
Old Elizabethans 121-10 Shenley Village IV 125-8
League Averages 2010
The Hertfordshire League have published there annual averages for the 2010 season. It is again pleasing to see players from each eleven making it into the divisional records rewarding those individuals for their exploits over the season, these will be published in the 2011 League Handbook.
There are five players from the first XI who make it into the Division 5 lists. Navaid Akhtar was included in both lists having scored 576 runs and taken 28 wickets, among his performances a special mention for his century against Knebworth Park. Matthew Heavey & Clive Collins are included on the batting list for the the second season running, both had indifferent seasons this year but it is good to see both our openers make the list. Harshad Patel capped an excellent year as leading wicket taker for the 1st XI with 33 wickets. Finally, new ball bowler Matthew Holland was rewarded for a great improvement in his control (and some excellent field settings from his skipper) to end the season with 27 wickets and an economy rate of under 3.5.
Javid Akhtar capped off an excellent season in the Second XI with 539 runs by being included in the Division 10 list. Also included was Glenroy Hylton in his debut season in League cricket in which he scored 2 centuries, and Tristan Smith was the the third batsman to be included, GET IN THERE!!!
In Division 13, Deshal De Silva finished the season with an average of 40.67 and top score of 134 to achieve a top 10 batting spot. The other batsman to be included was John Willoughby as he once again provided the foundations at the top of the order for the Third XI. The Third XI wasn’t always spoilt for choice when it came to bowlers, but those it did have regularly excelled. Young Player of the Year Jack Willoughby led the way with an average of just 11.15 and ended with seasons best figures of 6-36. Steve Moss had an excellent start to the season before suffering an injury which kept him out for nearly half the season, the highlight would probably be the hat-trick he took at Waltham X Rosedale. Finally Shane Millar was included as he provided his skipper with control from one end, he led the way with 30 wickets and season best figures of 6-71.
Its good to see our colts leading the way with 3 U18′s making it into the league handbook, a big thank you goes to those who run our colts setup for all the players it has nurtured through to push our senior teams onto bigger and better things.
Please click the below attachment to view the 2010 League averages.
First team maintain promotion push in Hatch End rain.
Old Elizabethan’s first XI remained on course for a very tight finish to the season as one of 5 teams who could still steal the last promotion place on the last day of the season.
Arriving at Hatch End on Saturday just gone with a team fresh from a confidence boosting victory it was quickly noted that this day would not be like many others. A park pitch, 1 very long boundary, 1 tiny boundary, no opposing umpire, a burnt down clubhouse and half of the outfield the length of the rugby field ready for the new season. Challenges lay ahead.
Win the toss and bowl Smirnoff the team were saying….he didn’t! What a let down!
Go get 200 the skipper says, and with Kappa off to a flyer this looked as if it could be the case. This before Kappa and Clive were involved in a mix up which left Kappa short of his ground and run out. Enter Sat Nav, who began some clean hitting causing some trouble for their bowlers who after an erratic start were beginning to find their lines and lengths.
The scoring rate slowed and soon the top order suffered a minor collapse with Sat Nav, Clive and then skipper Smirnoff all losing their wickets with not much being added to the score, albeit still a half decent total of 120 on the board at this point on a pitch not conducive to high scores.
Gibbo and Milo begun the rebuilding process with Gibbo looking more ‘in’ on this pitch than any other this season….it beggars belief it really does. How can you find form on this! Gibbo even takes advantage of the short 30 metre boundary by smashing 3 sixes all of which crept over the boundary rope. Still well done on your first ever 6 mate. Shame it was on an under 11 wicket! Champagne moment….I think not! Anyway his knock of 55 on a poor wicket dragged OE’s back into the driving seat and with Milo looking comfortable against a turning ball at the other end the rebuild was well and truly on.
Dutchy and then Cassie enter and add some long handle hitting. Cassie in particular hitting very cleanly against their ‘quick’ bowler who disappeared back over his head. With Milo gone the steadying job lay with Olay. And he hit a four through the offside (to the aforementioned under 11 boundary!). And with 49 overs gone and 232 on the board Smirnoff decided to declare. Giving the bowlers the best chance of getting the 10 wickets and 30 valuable points.
The bowlers who have not let the team down all year had to perform against a small boundary and a group of batsman who liked to throw their bat at most balls, as notably this happened third ball of their innings with Dutchy going for six. Herbie opened up from the other end, and did all but get a wicket, as did Dutchy from his end, was it going to be one of those days? A sprinkle of rain came making the ball difficult to hold, so Smirnoff turned to ‘H’eratio Patel and he soon had the ball misbehaving off the pitch, swinging and seaming and causing trouble for the batsman. Dutchy then has one dropped by keeper Gibbo who went with one glove when 2 was always the way to go, and another ball spiralled and was not taken in the field. Was it going to be one of those days? Sat Nav joined H’eratio in the attack and was also unlucky not to have a caught behind, or a stumping.
H’eratio strikes not long after and on a pitch now offering something to the bowlers it was never easy for the incoming swinging batsman. Chances continued to come, but all were falling out of reach or frustratingly being shelled by the fielders, a total of 7 in all counted by a member of the team.
H’eratio was now in the middle of a long spell and was joined by Cassie the two of them looking very threatening in between the rain spells, and both getting just rewards for their efforts. Cassie taking 3 wickets again and H’eratio taking a couple. With 2 overs lost to rain the team still had a chance to gain victory, and Sat Nav and Dutchy both picked up a wicket a piece at the end to leave the team with a total of 17 points at the end of the day. With the weather threatening to ruin the game this must be seen as 7 points gained rather than 13 points lost.
So going into the last game of the season 3 points off promotion lets hope the rain stays away and we get the results which are needed starting with a big 3-0 for us.
If you have not got a game this weekend please feel free to come down to Gypsy Corner and support you’re first XI in their push for promotion. All support is very much appreciated.
And hopefully we will see a member of the club with clenched fists come 8pm saying “GET IN THERE!!”
Colts star as 1st Bandwagon keeps on rolling!
On the 17th June the 1st XI turned up at Bayford and Hertford looking to take the good form in recent weeks which has seen us take 110 points out of a possible 120 to the team lying second in the league.
On arrival the team went through a vigorous warm up to ensure that when skipper Smirnoff won the toss again we would be in the field. Much to the shock of the B&H captain Smirnoff actually chose to bowl on a pitch with a freshly cut short outfield and what was described as a ‘road’. Restrict them and chase it down….same plan bigger challenge!
OEs made a very decent start with Dutchy and one of the new comers to the 1st XI Simon ‘Godders’ Godfrey both taking an early wicket. But the B&H run rate thanks to the quick outfield was always high and when Kappa was asked to turn his arm over this only helped out the run rate.
Smirnoff then turned to spin in the form of Nav and himself, Gibbo will be turning in his New York bed when he hears this news! The B&H numbers 3 and 4 were both looking very good and at one point they were 140-2 off 30 overs, we were looking at chasing something BIG! Then shock horror. In amongst all the rubbish (and there was a lot!!) Smirnoff takes his first league wicket of the season with a very acrobatic caught and bowled. The number 3 still looking good in the 70’s then presented a very tough chance to Nav off his own bowling, which was brilliantly taken!
Time to strike! Dutchy comes back as an inspiring bowling change from the skipper sees a wicket fall first ball. In strolls a Macca look-a-like but he was not blessed with Macca’s batting ability constantly missing the ball and he was clearly jealous of the new names and numbers on the new shirts of the OE’s boys. The 2 batsman in hung around without making any headway until a brilliant run out from Godders takes care of Macca 2. H was then brought on and being really fresh clearly helps the AshrafulExpress as he knocks over the last 3 wickets in no time…on a road quick outfield we’ve restricted one of the top teams in the league to 191! Great effort!!
Now OE’s never make an easy chase, never! Kappa comes and goes quickly without being able to take advantage of the friendly conditions. Clive, with the chance to see his own score on the scoreboard makes steady progress, but new number 3, 14 year old Preetham takes over the scoring and not even Clive is taking the strike on the 5th ball of the over, happy to let Pree play his shots. Very entertaining innings which was brought to an end by their leg spinner. Good debut, well done.
Nav and Smirnoff will rebuild…..a few big shots but nothing substantial, and the chase begins to falter when both these two are removed. Monty and Dutchy are to take up the chase. Monty looking solid and Dutchy playing his natural swashbuckling way hitting some 4’s missing some! The deficit was now 40, when again the chase loses momentum. Monty then Dutchy and then Miles each lose their wickets.
Godders and Olay are then left to take up the chase. Ball by ball looking more and more confident. Godders playing some great shots along the way and Olay not looking in any trouble at all. No more problems here as Godders and Olay chase down the target brilliantly and well timed!
What a brilliant result the team very pleased and a great all round performance! Lets continue the good team ethic and work, and lets give Botany Bay a good go on Saturday!
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