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Fourth XI Reports 2009 Saturday 29th August 2009 Won - NMCC (home) 154 - 6 (36.5 overs) Old Albanian III 152 - 5 (47 overs) - 14th in Division Well, well, well. Please forgive my indulgence but……. Having just recovered from intrusive surgery I decided to have a day out with the 4s and get some fresh air standing at slip, not bowl and, if needed, have a little bat under the leadership of Lawless or Medforth. I did not expect to find myself as captain at 1100 Saturday morning and, half an hour later, one player short. However, I was extremely lucky to have the Stiffin family in attendance with Hilary scoring like a true professional and Mick umpiring calmly and authoratively. I sincerely thank them for their support, assistance and positiveness. Having been thrown in at the deep end I had no umpire coats, bails, drinks or idea but, luckily, we scrounged stuff off Bushey and were ready for the opposition. According to my calculation the 4s were already relegated so it was a case of “having fun, enjoying the game and give it a go”. I won the toss and let the opposition have a bat as I did not want to be home by tea. Not that I did not have faith in the team but as a person who examines stats the omens were not good batting first. All our bowlers bowled well. Good lines, steady accuracy. Some with some bite, some with some guile. Some were unlucky not to pick up a wicket (sorry Jamie!) and some bowled their hearts out. The figures in order of bowling are: Overs Runs Wickets Jamie Blackburn 12 26 0 Nathan Stiffin 8 27 1 Jason Baldwin 10 33 1 Matt Perridge 6 20 1 Monte Colombo 7 23 2 Kit Osborne 4 18 0 All the bowlers, apart from Monte, were colts, two of whom were 12 years old. Their combined effort restricted OA3s to 152 for 5 off the full 47 overs. Not only was the bowling excellent but the fielding was gritty, determined and, mostly, well executed. Calum, keeping, only let through one bye all afternoon. Paul Terry fielded like a cheetah. Monte took one of the best catches I have seen for a long while. Jamie took a skier with aplomb. Everyone joined in. We probably saved 40 runs in the field. After tea we started our innings. The OA opening bowlers were quite a handful and although it was a slow start the Terrys, both departing for 6, at least saw off the new ball so that the real batsmen could enter the fray. Matt Perridge eased along to 22 before being caught. Kit played some fine shots in a lovely 15. Then came the partnership between Monte and Wayne Howell, Monte scoring 51 and Wayne 33, both hitting some savage and also some delicate shots which took the game our way. For some reason the OA captain persisted with about 4 spin bowlers in rotation. By the time he brought the openers back we only needed 20 to win with 10 overs still to do it. Monte and Wayne both departed and I swallowed hard as we still needed 8 to win with Calum and Jason at the crease. I need not have worried as Calum creamed the opener with 2 glorious shots to finish 8 not out and the game was over with 5 overs to spare. A shell shocked OA shook our hands and a delighted NMCC reciprocated in only our second win of the season. We won for a few reasons. First Monte played exceptionally well. His catch and his 51 were vital. Second, he had great support from Wayne, Matt, Kit and Calum in the batting and all the bowlers bowled well without exception. Third, and this is the most important, every single player (and we only had 10, 6 of whom were colts), each one and every one, contributed to the game. And, the contribution was professional, worthy and vital. A true team performance and one to be proud of. MoM though has to be Monte Colombo – well done to him and but also well done to ALL!!! Mark Terry. Saturday 8th August 2009 Won - NMCC (away) 121 (46.4 overs) Cheshunt II 95 (40.4 overs) - 17th in division The 4's travelled to Cheshunt on Saturday in a relaxed mood knowing that this was the best opportunity we had of a win. Availability being strong this week meant that the side hadn't changed much from selection. Having looked at the pitch and the condition and consulted with Dad's Army (Lawless and Terry) as to what to do, it was decided that that if the toss was won, we would be sticking them in. This however was a useless conversation as the toss was lost and their Skipper informed us he would be having a field. So at the stroke of 1.30 out strode JT and Henry Farrell (who had spent hours on Facebook convincing me his skill with the bat was better put to use as an opener). 15 minutes later and with the score at 7 for 1 Henry was walking back to the pavilion after maybe losing patience and trying to hurry the score along only to loop one to covers. (Farrell 1 off 10 Balls) This brought Stuart Craig to the crease who after one or two forward defensives, decided he had played himself in enough and slapped the next ball to mid off. Now the only reason Stu wasn't walking back was the he had hit the ball with such venom (as is his trademark) that the poor young lad at Mid Off never stood a chance. Stu decided that the score needed pushing on and with JT in suitably supportive mood pushed the score on to 56 for 1 before Stuart, swung at one too many and was bowled by "Old Father Time" (S. Craig 38 off 36). This brought in young Matt Bevans or "Mr Clean" after his antics of the previous Thursday. Matt having listened to his Captain began patiently, and added a very useful and well thought out 22 and with JT now getting in on the act took the score to 98 before holing out to the opposition skipper (Bevans 22 off 70). At 98 for 3, a spring was in my step, and smile on my face and this captaincy malarkey was a doddle. What I hadn't counted for was the 4th XI's tendency to make every game difficult and close run. What proceeded was what can only be described as a typical Mymms middle order collapse. In the next 40 minutes we would go from 98 for 3 to 121 all out. P. Terry (2) decided to swing and miss and was stumped, Terry Snr taking great joy in raising his finger at Square Leg. Young Boucher making his debut started with a Golden Duck and Mark Topham also departed out first ball. Lawless entered the fray at 8 to stead the ship and did just that unfortunately JT didn't stay to long with him and he departed for 37. JT batted well and not only showed his usual determination and gritty demeanour but also showed his skilful side with very well timed shots to all areas of the ground. Blackburn entered the crease but failed to trouble the score, which meant we had now lost 5 wickets for 6 runs! Entered the Skipper and what can be described as probably the ugliest display of batting ever witnessed, put on 16 for the next wicket with Lawless before deciding to dolly one back to the bowler. And so after Jason Baldwin had been bowled we finished our innings 121 all out! (From 98-3!) The Oppo only used 3 bowlers all game their Skipper in fact returning figures of 23 overs 9 maidens, 6 for 50.(well bowled) So with smile wiped firmly off the skippers face we entered the field opening the attack with Lawless was the skipper. especially after seeing his counterpart do the same! Almost immediately we shut up shop, miserly bowling from 2 Yorkshiremen, building pressure etc and it paid off almost immediately, the batsmen deciding to run one from a ball hit straight to Baldwin. Not a chance! and they were 2 for 1 off 3 overs. This brought their Keeper and according to Lawless a very good batsmen to the crease. he didn't last long and after middling a ball to Henry Farrell who held on to it with such nonchalance that it looked like a dolly, I knew the tide was turning our way.. Bevans replaced the Skipper and supported Stumpy beautifully with some aggressive bowling, but unluckily was wicket less. Lawless having removed no's 4 and 5 through applying pressure and some great catching from Bevans and Farrell, was replaced with Blackburn and immediately got amongst the wickets, removing their No. 6 with a top edge to "Safe Hands" Farrell. The opposition were 58 for 5 off 23 overs when we took drinks and although ther No. 2 was still there and punishing anything wide or short, we felt the game was ours for the taking. Blackburn picked up No. 7 caught behind to the surprise of Mark Topham. and then dismissed No. 8 by hitting the timbers. Feeling that it was time for a change the Skipper introduced the "Spin Twins" Farrell and Baldwin into the mix and although they turned the screw, (Farrell picking up the No.2 with a fantastic caught and bowled) we did let them back into it due to the Skippers lack of experience with field settings for Leg Spin Bowling. Farrell picked up No. 9 and it was time to wrap things up, having brought on Lawless at one end to mop up the last wicket and threatening to bring himself on the other end, Lawless obliged and finished the tail off to secure the team's first win of the season! Fantastic performance in the field with everyone contributing, and supporting each other. The focus and commitment shown in the field really won us the match, and I would love to see that continue. MOM - It could have gone to Jon Tunnell for his beautifully crafted innings, or Stuart Craig for his lusty 38 off 34. However I am giving it to 2 people this week. Ian Lawless for his faultless performance with the ball returning 12.4 overs 5 maidens 4 for 15 and also for Henry Farrell for his commitment in the field and for holding onto everything that came his way. Top Effort boys lets build on it. Meds
20th June 2009 Lost - NMCC (home) 137 (43 overs) Southgate Adelaide II 138 - 1 (19th in division 11). By our special correspondent Mathew Monte-Colombo. On an overcast mid June afternoon Mymms 4s rocked up to there home ground at Bushey Met Police to face Southgate Adelaide 2s, little did the team realise that they would only have 9 players, 4 colts and 5 adults. Was this going to be a long day in the field or a short day at bat. Also the thought of having the lowest score ever had been muttered by a few players. Mymms lost the toss but were put into bat. A good thing for many as 47overs of chasing leather was not a welcomed thought. Goody and John Tunnell opened the batting and started excellently putting runs on the board early, Goody was especially batting well hitting some magnificent strokes to the boundary. However the excitement got to him and he swung at a wide delivery which he edged to backward point. How he claimed he shouldn’t have been out as it was a bump ball was beyond belief as no-one has ever seen a bump ball carry 30 yards. The loss of this wicket meant young Callum Bayliss was sent in at number 3, and wow what an innings the young man played, hitting the ball into every gap he could find and making poor JT run for his life. He eventually lost his wicket but had helped to take the team past 47 (lowest Mymms score). This sent Wayne Howell into the bat, looking like a rag and bone man in all his borrowed kit (a cunning disguise) he walked out and scored off his first ball faced, he then hit a great cover drive for 4. a few balls later JT lost his wicket to a dubious Lbw. This sent in Monte, he as usual swung wildly after his first delivery, a few snide remarks were made by the opposition, so he stepped back into his crease and proceeded to hit his second ball straight back at the bowler who managed to get a hand to it but did not alter the path and it raced to the boundary for 4. this caused the opposition to send fielders out to the boundary which inevitably left gaps in the field, Monte and Wayne continued to put runs on the board before Wayne fell to a rank fall toss that should have landed in the bar rather then cost him his wicket. This sent in Matt Perridge, who after easing himself into the game hit a great shot for 4, Matt's running between the wickets was excellent meaning Mymms were able to keep the score board ticking over. He eventually fell to an outside edge. Ultimate then made his way to the crease and put on a quick fire 6 runs before losing his wicket. This brought in Tom Roberts, who quite frankly played magnificently, except for 1 incident that we’ll talk about later….. Tom and Monte kept the score board ticking over and took Mymms past 110runs (2points) they then took the team past 125(4points) before Toms moment of madness, He hit a ball straight to a fielder and called for the single, Monte set off and with no chance of getting in was run out on 31, this sent in our final batsman. Jason Baldwin, the two young men batted excellently for a few more overs and got Mymms to 137 all out off 43overs, Mymms went in for lunch and whilst the kids ate donuts and talked about homework, the 5 adults tucked into sandwiches and discussed quantum physics and its applicability to cricket, at the end of lunch it was confirmed… we knew nothing about quantum physics… and not a lot more about cricket J Mymms started their fielding with 9 men and got off to a fantastic start with Goody taking their opener off the very first ball after a great catch from Jason Baldwin. That was the end of the show from there apart from three lbw decisions that got turned down. Some great bowling from Tom Rodgers and Jason Baldwin helped keep the run rate down and both players should be commended for their effort, Southgate eventually got the the 138 they needed to win the game for only the 1 wicket. All in all it was a very good and valiant display from Mymms, had they had the extra 2 batsman and fielders it could have been a very different story….. Mymms sat in the bar and reflected on what had been a good performance before falling around with laughter after being reminded that young Callum who had been superb at wicket keeper after 3balls into Southgate innings used the quote ‘’ he's got more blocks than Legoland’’ Mymms look forward to next weeks game and the hope that with 11 players their first win of the season isn’t very far away….. 13th June 2009 Lost - NMCC (away) 80 (39.2 overs) Pirton 82 - 0 (16.3 overs) 2nd May 2009 NMCC 52 a.o. v Knebworth V 55 - 5 (23.1 overs) The sun was out, pitch looked good...then it came to the
toss, the first as a league captain....I lost it! |
Updated: June 25, 2009 - Chris Cook |