NLCC 1XI v Harrow on Sat 07 Jun 2008 at 1pm
NLCC Lost by 25 runs
Crook steals win from North London
North London lost by 25 runs to fellow strugglers Harrow in a tight game at Shepherd’s Cot on Saturday. Winning the toss, Norths chose to bowl on a damp and underprepared looking wicket. This is in no way a criticism of the groundstaff. The wicket had been under water three days earlier, much effort had gone into getting a game on at all.
Maaz Haffeji was quickly into his stride swinging the ball at a good pace and trapping one opener in front shouldering arms. At the other end Tom Wakeford immediately looked dangerous and Harrow lurched to 30-2 after 10 overs, thanks to Tom's quick reactions in parrying a straight drive onto the stumps to run out the number three. A freakish dismissal of course. Except that it was the second time in a week that Norths had pulled off the trick and ten minutes later Wakeford was at it again. David Walker looked short of his ground but the umpire ruled him in. Wasim Aslam and Walker raised something of a recovery but when Tom dismissed them both Harrow collapsed to 120-6 against the veteran left armer.
Walker stomped off disbelievingly after holing out off Tom Wakeford for at least the fourth time in recent seasons and promptly set about the North London drinks list knocking back five whiskies while waiting for the end of the Harrow innings. Out in the middle Harrow were mounting a spirited fightback led by Darren Crook (88 not out) who grew in confidence and unfurled some thumping drives and farmed the strike effectively.
Tom Wakeford finished with 4-50 in a marathon spell of 21 overs and was well supported by Kelvyn Smith who picked up 3-50 in 12 overs at the death. Maaz managed 1-39 in 11 accurate overs while Ahmed Khan had a day to forget suffering some criminal damage from Crook.
Chris Ridley opened up for North London’s reply and looked really focussed. Playing earnestly straight and watchfully he stroked his way to 31 before offering a catch to Walker who probably picked the wrong one of the three balls he would have imagined heading his way to grass what could, should have been a very costly drop. Two balls later Chris offered another chance, and amazingly it was also spilled. Ridley then fell LBW to complete a dramatic over.
Enter AK. Exit fielders for any practical purpose other than finding the ball. The most brutal six came when Harrow paceman Theodore Modeste managed to pitch one in AK’s half and saw it land on the football pitch, but the best hit was a cover drive into the tennis courts off an off spinner at the bottom end. Selective, massively strong, and clever enough to nick, nudge and sweep in between the home runs, AK stormed to 53 in 30 minutes with 5 or 6 huge hits and North London were back in the game.
Despite a spirited late rally from Jim Green (31 not out) and the tail Norths ended on the losing side for the third time this season. With 5 overs remaining Green hit a ball into the covers and set off for a single to keep the strike. Norths number 11 Kelvyn Smith was two inches short of safety when Crook’s throw from extra cover hit the stumps for a direct hit.
Harrow Batting
202 for 9
NLCC 1XI Bowling
NLCC 1XI Batting
177 for 10
Harrow Bowling
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Umpire :
Panel
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