Barnes v NLCC 1XI on Sat 31 May 2008 at 1pm
NLCC Won by 31 runs
JOHNS SETS TAILS WAGGING
Another early start saw North London setting off at 10.45, with some interesting routes being taken to get to Barnes. A series of curious manoeuvres from the people who new the way, left Maaz and Jack on the North Circular and Rich, Tom and Alan performing a record number of U-turns. But eventually all arrived at the ground to find a wet, green pitch that had not been covered during the monsoons last Sunday to Tuesday.
A crucial toss to win and Barnes happily inserted North London. Chris Ridley and Jack Godfrey Wood opened up and saw the ball darting all over the place. After one fine 4, Chris was caught behind after a half volley popped on him. Neil Gill came in at 3 after his last week’s heroics, but soon fell to a dodgy looking LBW. This brought Jim Green to the wicket, but he soon saw Jack leave LBW to a good swinging full ball after a really good start for 11. A shuffle with the batting line up brought Rich Hall to the wicket to try and sure things up, but almost immediately lost Jim when he was also given out to a debatable LBW to the trigger happy umpire. This brought AK to the crease whose brave batting style brought him 21 quick runs with some hard, but straight hitting. With one of his few defensive shots of his brief but crucial innings, AK was caught behind to a good ball that seamed away and was matched only by the keepers one handed, diving catch. Rich soon followed, caught at short cover off a leading edge to a ball that popped.
A difficult start for North London, which saw them slump to 21 for 4 and 53 for 6. The pitch had no small influence on this, but all credit to the Barnes openers who put the ball in good areas and made full use of the pitch. But here was the critical moment in the game. Ian Johns and Tom Notch started to re-build the innings, riding their luck at times, taking a few on the gloves, but more than anything batting sensibly. Good shot selection, leaving many of the seaming balls, solid defence and dispatching the bad balls to the boundary brought hope to the North London innings. Tom was caught after edging a popping ball up in the air for only 7 runs, but when occupation of the crease was more crucial, especially as Ian was looking good at the other end. Tom Wakeford came in at 93-7 which was quickly followed but a tactical error from the opposition captain. Varying views on the reason for bringing on 2 spinners have been aired, but all agree on the fact that it was a mistake. First Ian, then Tom helping themselves to boundaries, 2 big 6s for Tom in one over were particularly memorable. Ian brought up a fine 50, characterised by his gritty defence and opportunistic scoring. The short all spin spell brought 30 runs, but more importantly brought a shift in impetuous.
Back came the openers, and back came a few troubles. But Ian and Tom continued to bat well, edging the total up. Tom was eventually undone by one of the opener’s slower ball, and was bowled for a fine 19 which saw him reign in his usual game, with only brief flourishes of his natural big hitting. Maaz came and went, caught and bowled to another fine slower ball. Ian continued his fine innings, and started to open up a bit. The highlight of which was walking down the pitch while the bowler was in his run up. After the bowler pulled out of his run up first time around, Ian waited slightly longer before beginning his advance (still only half way through the bowler’s run up), the result of which was a rank long hop which was duly dispatched to the square leg boundary. This earned Ian a beamer, and an apology. Kelvin Smith came in at 11 and quickly made claim to the number 10 spot with a bludgeoning blow and some solid defence as the last pair added 20 more.
Ian was eventually caught for a magnificent 75, the importance of which can not be diminished. He led North London to a total of 166 from 50 overs, to give us something to bowl at. Contributions from Jack, AK, Tom and Tom deserve credit as well. Barnes’ opener Collins finished with fine figures of 7 for 59, which also gave hope that if North London put the ball in good areas they had a good chance.
After a mis-match tea which almost made me long for the onion laden sandwiches of North London, the second innings got underway. The first ball only lasted only a couple of overs before it was discovered that it wasn’t a league ball, and the first proper new ball only lasted a couple of overs before it was dispatched by one of the openers into the houses. Another new ball was produced to the grumbles of the openers, but which was appeased by the umpire gently hitting the ball on a bat, and ‘roughing it up’ by rubbing it on the softest pitch in London!
Barnes started well creeping their way to 30 without loss, surviving a couple of LBW shouts and wearing a couple of popping balls. AK was particularly unlucky with one massive shout which was hitting nothing but middle against the opening left hander who eventually struggled his way to 33. Then came the turning point of the innings. With Rich moving up to the stumps, Kelvin produced an inspired over taking 3 wickets in one over. The first 2 were LBWs, Kelvin’s patient wicket to wicket bowling paying dividends, which was followed by the number 4 tamely offering a catch. The hat-rick ball was kept out, but that didn’t take anything away from an inspired over from the Dude. Ian’s joke of “have a blow there” was carried through as Kelvin switched ends as Tom Wakeford was brought on at the top end. He was immediately in the wickets as the hapless batting line up continued to collapse. The number 5 scooped the ball to Maaz at mid on, who did his best to drop it, but managed to clasp it at the second attempt. Tom followed it up with 2 more wickets. After edging his way to 17, the number 6 holed out to cover (AK), before the number 7 drove the ball to Neil at short cover who dropped a hard catch. His next ball (an over later), now with 2 men on the drive, he played the same shot, only to be caught by Ian.
Enter Maaz Haffeji. Trapping the opener LBW to a fast, full, straight one, he proceeded to bowl the incoming number 9, who was comfortably nearer to the square leg umpire than the stumps at the time of delivery. The number 8 who through a number of nudges and edges made his way to 23, before he was run out when his partner played a straight drive off Maaz, and Maaz stretched out a hand to deflect the ball onto the stumps.
What followed was at a first an enjoyable few overs bowling at a jumpy 10 and 11 as North London moved in for the kill, but quickly turned nervy as the overs ticked down from 14 to 5. The number 10, showing flashes of brilliance unseen from any of his predecessors, straight drove his way to an impressive 34 not out. The number 11 was not quite so convincing and eventually nicked a ball, backing away and slashing one too many times to Maaz.
A fine victory, which takes North London to 6th place.
MOM: undoubtedly Ian Johns with his brilliant knock. Although a quick mention of a girly skip, when 2 steps back would have done nicely at short cover, needs to be made!
All credit to the bowlers as well. All bowled in good areas and made full use of the pitch.
Report by Richard Hall
NLCC 1XI Batting
166 for 10
Barnes Bowling
| R Craig |
16.0 |
6 |
28 |
2 |
14.00 |
1.75 |
| Collins |
14.3 |
2 |
59 |
7 |
8.43 |
4.07 |
| Ewer |
3.0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0.00 |
4.33 |
| Pugh |
6.0 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
13.00 |
2.17 |
| Kapadia |
7.0 |
1 |
29 |
0 |
0.00 |
4.14 |
| Ratcliffe |
3.0 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
0.00 |
6.00 |
Barnes Batting
135 for 10
| Bruce |
33 |
Lbw |
| E Craig |
9 |
Lbw |
| Kapadia |
0 |
Lbw |
| Brockman |
0 |
Caught |
| Ewer |
0 |
Caught |
| Ratcliffe |
17 |
Caught |
| Holmwood |
0 |
Caught |
| Dixon |
23 |
Run out |
| Collins |
0 |
Bowled |
| Pugh |
34 |
Not Out |
| R Craig |
9 |
Caught |
NLCC 1XI Bowling