Frumpy Flamstead flop

Oh dear what a dull old game this was and very frustrating too.

We won the toss and asked them to bat and after a wide off the first ball, the second was hit hard straight back to John Cal and he had the easiest of jobs in running out the poor chap at the non strikers end who was sent back and had not faced a ball. The second over resulted in a second run out this time a spectacular throw from Graeme hitting the stumps at the bowlers end, fielding a gentle clip down the leg side. This got rid of their only really quality batsman for just 3. From this point on, they took virtually no risks, rarely running and leaving any challenging deliveries. Sadly we missed a catch and perhaps a run out, but they did not give too many chances. They ended up 88 for 4 in the end, with Dave taking a great catch off the side wall from me and then a late run out. Sadly their lack of ambition meant we dropped a bowling bonus point.

Andy and Graeme opened and struggled a little in the first 4 overs, but did not lose any wickets. They then pushed up the run-rate and each retired on 25 within a few balls of each other. Dave was the only wicket lost driving the ball back to the bowler, leaving John C and I to wrap things up in the 7th over.

Grumpy Graeme nearly totters Tottenhoe

Well we were somewhat up against it last night, as the time allotted arrived, we were only 5 men and no sign of other team member after some frantic ringing around.

Tottenhoe were raring to go, but due to late start we were reduced to 10 overs each, a decision in the end which I think probably helps us rather than Tottenhoe. At least I won the toss and for once we bowled first and got off to a good start with Dave and I opening the bowling, both of us finding a length and line. In my first and second over there were two smart pieces of fielding leading to two run outs, one a back heal from Murph that dribbled on to the stumps but just hard enough to knock of the bails, who would have guessed he used to be a footballer. The remainder of the Tottenhoe batsman hung around rather like limpits, not showing too much attacking intent. Neil twirled away and got some considerable turn at times, but with only 5 men, the batsmen kept finding the wall that was unguarded. I full team from us would have kept the runs down considerably. Murph took that last two overs and sadly gave a an 8 in the last over leaving them on 112 (off 10 overs), a score I think we all felt was well within us.

Dave and Graeme opened facing a close in field with no one on the back wall, however their repeated attempts to hit the back wall were thwarted with some excellent fielding, often resulting in dot balls. So after 6 overs we were behind the run rate just, instead of comfortably ahead and a growing frustration from Mr Angry himself. The verbal abuse started as a dribble, but then started to extend not just to the opposition, but also to his own side (poor old Dave taking the first salvo). Fortunately, he finally reached 25 and retired and out came Neil with a need to move the score along, as we were still behind the required rate. Neil swung manfully but made little impression before getting out and in a I came with a sum total of 3 runs from two innings so far. I really looked to force the running between the wickets and put the Tottenhoe fielders under pressure, which started to work, but then nearing 25, Dave was brilliantly run out from a smart underarm throw with just one stump to aim at. This left Tim and I to face the last two overs. I then solidly middled two drives one for 4 and the other for 6, Tim also scampered a couple of quick singles, leaving us just 9 off the last over. I went for another quick single which normally would have been comfortable, but a tremendous throw to the bowlers end was a direct hit and I was a gonner. Graeme returned and Tim scampered a couple of 3s, Graeme another 3, but with last ball remaining the scores were tied, but as we had lost more wickets, we had to score at least 1, which with Tim an Graeme gratefully scrambled which finally brought a smile to his face, but the opposition were later to be heard chuntering about the gob-shite behind the stumps.

This was not a bad win considering we only had 5 players and the opposition bowling was some of the best we had faced.

Match report V Crabtree

First into bat, we lost wickets early with Trevor getting a faint nick to the keeper and Neil firing a sharp return catch to the bowler who clung on to the ball via his elbows! Tim had remained as an interested spectator whilst accumulating uneventfully and was joined by Laurie. Together they moved the score quickly to, statistically, a rather uninspiring 40 odd for 2 although only off 3 overs or so. Tim batted with the back lift of Lara but the touch of a surgeon to find the gaps retiring on 25 and was replaced by Steve Ball who, greeted with a high full toss first ball, only managed to ping it back to a grateful bowler. Every thing was going right for a delighted although somewhat disbelieving Crabtree. Their captain was beginning to froth in the anticipation. For the Colts, a second, and potentially even more, embarrassing defeat was looming. Enter skipper Tim Murphy to stem the tide and after Laurie, having batted well, was unluckily run out (correct me if I’m wrong), Tim S was last to return with the score on a rather worrying 60-4 albeit with 7 overs remaining. A disciplined and prolonged session by Tim^2 engineered the score up to a more respectable 130. Tim M playing his accustomed nurdling strategy laced with a refreshing straight six, and Tim S refraining from the usual trying to leather it until he also received a full toss well above the eye-line and managed to miss it completely. Tim M craftily continued the run gathering and got us to 149 before debatably being run out. Not bad give the earlier proceedings.

Crabtree innings never got going to be fair. After 3 over they had only managed 17, and after a series of run outs their captain was left on his own at 60 for 5. All bowlers bowled tightly – new recruits Steve and Laurie stepping up nicely. Whilst Crabtree managed to stay at the crease until the final over they did suffer the humiliation of being bowled at with all Colts fielders in the slip cordon in a blasé tribute to Crabtree’s likelihood of getting nowhere near our score and a blessed win.

Colts 149 for 3, Redbourn 150 for 2

What can I say other than we were rubbish, well the bowling was rubbish, I think we easily exceeded are maximum ever for extras.  Redbourn knocked off (or should I say we gifted them) the win with 1.5 overs to go and unbelievably one of the earlier overs was a maiden.  And with all the turmoil in the financial markets this was a truly depressing evening.

Colts 142 for 3, Long Marston approx 80 all out

We had a good start to the season with an easy win. Having lost the toss, we were sent into bat and fresh from their success in winning the league for Harpenden 2s, Graeme and Dave set up the foundation of good if not excellent first innings total. The start was a little slow with Graeme becoming somewhat annoyed at the quality of the fielding at backward point which prevented several runs and almost brought and early run out. However, post this minor alarm the pair moved on with little fuss. They each cruised to 25 before retiring, Graeme the first having hogged most of the strike.

With availability this year dropping, we have had to fill our ranks with some new blood and the latest recruit Tony Hooper, joined Dave. He soon started to remember the differences between out and indoor cricket with the Long Marston first change bowling very slow leg breaks the first of which bounced to chest height. Tony soon adjusted though and connected cleanly with several deliveries only to be extremely well fielded. Unfortunately his innings did not last two long as he was well run out after Dave drove hard to extra cover. In came Don, quickly followed by Tim, as Dave retired. Another solid partnership developed, before Don retired having looked very comfortable. As last man in, I joined Tim for a very swift partnership, pushing a 3 of my first ball, then left a legside wide moved out of my crease and as the ball returned off the back wall, was pathetically run out. Graeme returned, Tim completed another 25 for Dave to return for the last over, and was caught off the last ball. Our final total of 142 for 3 seemed a reasonable start.

Dave opened our bowling and almost immediately they tried to push a single to Tony resulting in an easy run out, 0 for 1, not a good start. Tim took the 2nd over and was even more impressive and at the end of the 2nd over they were 7 for 1. Tony took the 4th over and bowled some accurate medium pace with a hit of extra bounce. I took the 5th over and hit the stumps for once, at real rarity, in fact I can remember the last time I bowled someone. They lost three more wickets I think all via run outs, Tony again being responsible for one, via a fine accurate throw from the back wall right over the stumps at the strikers end. From fairly early on it had been clear that they were going to get nowhere near our total and with one man, I felt safe enough to threw the ball to Graeme for the penultimate over. What a fine choice this was, as he finished off the match without the need for the final over.

They were all out for around 80 leaving us winners and maximum bonus points.