SJFCC vs Wheathampstead
2006-08-03. Lost by 12 runs By Chris Williams
Result: Wheathampstead, 160 for 6 off 20 Overs. Fishers, 148 for 5 off 20 overs
Another close game, but Fishers ultimately ended up the losers in another tight contest. The oppo was Wheathampstead, our landlords, and they were determined to keep us in our place. Things did not start off too well, as the W/H openers well and truly put our opening bowlers to the sword. Bob, Matt and Aqil (in his first over) were absolutely slaughtered, and after 4 overs the W/H score stood at 60-0. Aqil then bowled a couple of maiden balls and the scoring rate plummeted to only 12 an over. Adam H then came on and bowled a superb spell of 2-3, Dan taking an excellent catch at long -on and Adam himself taking a good caught and bowled (showing his elder brother how to take a caught & bowled without it deflecting off his eye lid and ending up in hospital).
Rafi and Malc then followed this up with tight spells which kept the score within reach – just. Best moment of the game was courtesy of Jack Stevens ( 8 year old son of David Stevens of W/H) who was a guest player for the Fishers, coming on and showing us all how to bowl, having his dad caught behind by an elegant Sandsy off a good inswinger. There followed much cheering and congratulations for Jack, both from Fishers and W/H. We hoped to keep the score under 150, but Nick the barman (and W/H captain) smashed 24 off the 19th over and W/H ended on 160-6. A stiff target for Fishers to chase then, especially as Bungle was not playing because he had got a better offer from a lorry load of Pukka Pies, Andrew was getting ready for his impending nuptuals and Reevo was on holiday. Oh, and in case anybody didn’t get the email, Martin couldn’t play because he had so much ironing to do for his missus before they went on holiday….
Dave elected to keep with last week’s opening pair of Rafi and Aqil in the hope they could repeat last week’s excellent start. Unfortunately they couldn’t repeat the heroics. They found it difficult to lay a bat on ball and our start was completely the opposite of W/H’s.#
After 5 overs we were 15-2 and Sandsy soon followed them back to the pavilion. However, Dan showed yet again what good form he was in with the bat by putting away some admittedly buffet bowling (i.e. help yourself) and so on had to retire for 26, including 3 sixes. Dave also continued his good form of late by hitting 34 before he retired. He was kept company by Adam H who started steadily, but gradually grew in confidence and also had to retire on 28. Needing 100 of the last 10 overs, Bob also joined the fray and smashed 25 in double quick time. Unfortunately, Adam made him run quite a few singles, so much so that we had oxygen on hand when he came off the field. These excellent efforts meant we kept up with rate to such an extent that 30 were needed off the last three overs. With Bob and Adam retiring, two new batsmen had to face the last three overs in fading light. Matt and Malc tried their best, but we fell 12 runs short in a really entertaining game played in good spirit.
Man of the match: a number of candidates – Dan and Dave for their continued good form with the bat, Bob for his excellent batting exploits and Malc for his spell of 2-10, but the award goes to Adam H for a superb all round effort – penetrating bowling, technically correct batting and good fielding around the ground
