Shepherds Bush v NLCC 1XI on Sat 14 Jun 2008 at 1pm
NLCC Won 20 runs
ASKEW'S LEAD HAND IS WORTH ALL 10 IN THE BUSH
NLCC 1s, sitting in 9th place in the league, travelled to Shepherds Bush’s impressive Bromyard Avenue ground to take on the early season pace setters. Bush were fresh from a 200 plus run demolition of Twickenham the previous Saturday, and having bowled Hampstead out for 30 in a T20 game on the eve of Saturdays match. NLCC were without skipper Johns, v-c, Green, and leading run scorer Khan. Fortunes could not therefore have been more contrasting.
Skipper for the day, Mark Askew, was keen to accentuate the positives, this was probably the best fielding side NLCC had fielded this season, and that was to prove a crucial factor in the outcome of the game. This was a day when all 11 Crouch Enders were to pull together to achieve results that appeared greater than the sum of their parts.
On a well prepared track Askew had little hesitation in electing to bat upon winning the toss. The skipper and Ridley then set the tone for the day by expertly driving Spear’s 2 opening deliveries for a total of 7 runs, a further 3 off the last ball and NLCC were 10-0 after 1. As if sensing that something special was afoot, we then had a break in play whilst observing a 5 minute fly past from the red arrows and the might of the RAF, fuel crisis, what fuel crisis!
After Suman had bowled the first of many impressive overs, Askew tucked into Spear for another 3 boundaries and had the opener, who had destroyed Hampstead the previous evening, removed from the attack with figures of 0-23 off 3. The skipper’s positive intentions were in evidence and set the tone for the day.
It was something of a surprise when Ridley misconnected with a full toss in Terblanche’s first over and was first out for 7, leaving NLCC 24-1 off 7. Enter Tom Noutch, who had received early warning from the skipper that he was to take the important No3 role for the day. Tom had been struggling this season, and it was to his credit that he took his opportunity at 3 by giving himself time at the crease. One could almost see Noutch rebuilding his technique and confidence during his near 2 hour innings. He went from slow accumulation to blistering stroke play during those 2 hours and this was a very mature effort. Hopefully Tom’s 72 will be the first of many substantial innings for NLCC this season.
Askew and Noutch forged a very useful partnership, good running, and watchfulness enabled them to see off the dangerous Suman after 7 wicketless overs. The score had reached 70 in the 22nd over when Askew tried to force the pace once too often against the spin of Ashra and was adjudged LBW for a fine 36.
Mills (1) came and went to an unfortunate run out. Gill (7) batted patiently, adding 47 for the 4th wicket with Noutch, this was a most valuable partnership, allowing NLCC to use up overs and time and to accumulate more runs, all of which was to prove crucial later in the day. At 119-4 off 37 the game was in the balance, Noutch was by now going well, but it was clear that run scoring was not easy on a pitch that was a little slow once the ball had gone soft. Noutch attempted to increase the scoring rate and was caught off Suman in the first over of his impressive 2nd spell. A fine innings of 72 came to an end with the score 131-5, that became 131-6 as DeVilliers (4) was bowled in the same over. Hart (4) was next to have his timbers rattled by Suman, 137-7, and in the next over Ben Wakeford (0) befell the same fate. At 139-8 off 47 the home side had their tails up. Enter Maaz, all confidence and strokeplay, a mistimed pull shot off Suman, a few plays and misses, and Maaz realised he had to change his gameplan. Clever thinking encouraged Maaz to negate the late swing Suman was achieving by going down to meet the ball, a tactic he also employed against the returning Spear. In a 5 over cameo Haffeji changed the dynamic of the entire game scoring 24 in a partnership of 25 with Tom Wakeford, and proving that he could count to 6 rather well! The 9th wicket fell at 164 in the 53rd over, Kelvyn Smith then continued his recent good form with bat (8*) before Tom Wakeford (8) became the 5th NLCC player to be bowled by Suman (6-39) in his impressive second spell of 6.4 overs 6-19. 179 all out off 54.4, meant that the home side required 180 off 45, or 149 for the 4 point draw.
Askew had words, now was the time for NLCC to show what they were made of, and to prove that this was the best fielding 11 we had selected this season. If we were to emerge from this game with anything, that fielding prowess would need to be evident for the following 3 hours, as would a collective will to win.
Haffeji opened up, and with the skipper’s words about needing early breakthroughs ringing in his ears he produced a snorter 4th ball to have Bush skipper Reynolds (0) caught behind by Askew. Whilst an early breakthrough was crucial, equally important was that we did not leak early runs, and it is to Maaz’s great credit that he pitched the ball up at pace and did not allow the batsmen width to free their arms. He took a crucial wicket to add to his earlier cameo with the bat, and did not allow the Bush batsmen to break the shackles, his impressive contribution to this game was however far from over.
If you want to talk about shackles then look no further than Tom Wakeford and Kelvyn Smith. During the next 2 hours these 2 bowlers strangled the life out of the Bush batsmen, superbly assisted by astute field settings and excellent ground fielding. Marc produced the first scoring shot off the bat, a lofted drive over midwicket for 6. His intentions were clear but Wakeford gave him nothing to hit. Eventually he reached for one and hit it powerfully towards mid off, Ridley made ground and clung on to a fine catch. Smith had Dishon (11) caught by the impressive Askew, who could by now see his troops warming to the task in hand, and comprehending the challenges that lie ahead. Mills, from slip, reminded Colbeck that his back leg should not be collapsing in the drive, unimpressed Colbeck (1) drove the next ball off Wakeford hard toward extra cover, but Haffeji was at short extra cover and held a screamer of a catch. The league leaders were 40-4 and an upset was by now a realistic possibility. The experienced Corbin joined the impressive overseas opener Watts, and immediately demonstrated some of the class that older NLCC members have heard a certain rotund ex 3s captain and erstwhile purveyor of fine teas refer to on many an occasion. However Algie (12) was undone by an excellent tumbling catch at square leg by Gill off Smith.
Terblanche was full of attacking intent and his partnership with Watts was looking very threatening until he mistimed one off Smith, unfortunately the ball fell short of Maaz at short mid wicket, but Terblanche had set off for a quick single. Maaz fielded the ball on the bounce, realised he had time to reduce the distance to the stumps before taking aim and running out Terblanche (9), impressive composure from the young opening bowler, who now had 24 runs, a wicket, a run out and a catch to his name. Speer then joined Watts at 100-6 and played some useful shots before attempting 1 too many of Smith, who had him LBW for 9. At 120-7, the 4 point total of 149 appeared to be the realistic target for the Bush. However No9 Ashra had other ideas and unleashed some fine straight drives off Smith and some works to leg off the tiring Tom Wakeford (17 overs 6 maidens 2 for 48). Askew had to act. He did not dwell, and reintroduced Haffeji, but Watts and Ashra found his pace to their liking and progressed to the brink of the 4 point total of 149 before more excellent fielding form Ridley produced the run out of Ashra for a potentially damaging 17. Watts was by now past his 50 and looking increasingly good, he was joined by Suman with a handful required from 5 overs to secure the 4 point draw total. He continued positively, forcing the withdrawal of Haffeji, who was replaced by Ben Wakeford with only 5 overs remaining. Not an ideal time to commence a spell, but Ben used his experience to stem the flow of runs in a crucial 2 over spell that forced the batsmen to be positive at the other end against the frugal Smith. Once again this was evidence of the collective responsibility taken by the NLCC players, on the face of it Ben’s contribution to this win might appear insignificant, but the stats can lie, and without his crucial 2 over spell the pressure would not have been created to enable Smith to force the errors that eventually enabled victory. With 3 over remaining 21 were required for victory which would have sent NLCC home empty handed. Watts was on strike 72 not out, he could not afford to go easy against Smith as Askew had ensured that the Dude would have 2 of the last 3 overs. He tried 1 shot too many and Kelv trimmed the top of his off stump to end a superb innings, and reduce Bush to 159-9. NLCC then had 17 balls at the final pair, could they force the win and 10 points, or would they have to settle for a losing draw and 1 point? 2 balls later Kelvyn answered the final call of the day with a cutter that was far too good for the No11 and cleaned him up.
NLCC 10 points SBCC 0 points.
It is customary to name a Man of the Match I believe, however such a task is beyond the author of this report. In all honesty there were many candidates (Noutch for his excellent 72, Haffeji for his fine all round contribution, Tom Wakeford for his marathon frugal spell, Smith for his match winning 5-52 off 15, and undoubtedly Askew for his 36 and most astute leadership throughout the day), however this was a victory for teamwork over individual feats, and all who were present would no doubt observe that it was an 11 man effort that ultimately forced victory over the league leaders. If we can maintain this collective spirit and thirst for the fight for the remainder of the season, then this squad is capable of a great deal, we are only 10 points off the top of the league!
NLCC 1XI Batting
179 for 10
Shepherds Bush Bowling
| Amit Suman |
13.5 |
2 |
39 |
6 |
6.50 |
2.82 |
| William Speer |
9.0 |
0 |
49 |
0 |
0.00 |
5.44 |
| Terblanche De La Rey |
10.0 |
3 |
20 |
1 |
20.00 |
2.00 |
| Algernon Corbin |
4.0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0.00 |
3.25 |
| Mehul Ashara |
14.0 |
4 |
36 |
2 |
18.00 |
2.57 |
| Derek Mian |
4.0 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
0.00 |
4.00 |
Shepherds Bush Batting
159 for 10
| Edward Reynolds |
0 |
Caught |
| Robert Watts |
72 |
Bowled |
| Earnest Marc |
8 |
Caught |
| Sam Dishon |
11 |
Caught |
| Ben Colbeck |
1 |
Caught |
| Algernon Corbin |
12 |
Lbw |
| Terblanche De La Rey |
9 |
Run out |
| Willim Speer |
9 |
Caught |
| Ashara Mehul |
17 |
Run out |
| Amit Suman |
7 |
Not Out |
| Derek Mian |
0 |
Bowled |
NLCC 1XI Bowling