Last ball thriller goes Ricky's way

A hattrick, a test innings & a last ball winner.

Rickmansworth IV’s searching for their first win this season, decided to change their preferred option to bat first and opted to bowl. This seemed like a poor decision at first as Joe Monk and Nas Shah in their respective first over were off their lengths and Leverstock Green were 20-0 after 2 overs. However, this notion changed once Nas found his line varied his pace and got their key opener bowled. This then lead on to what can only be described as a fantastic & memorable moment for Joe & the fours. Joe Monk (8ov, 1md, 33runs, 3wkts) producing a rare hattrick, taking the opener bowled, an edge behind and a clean bowled, highly celebrated by all his teammates who have seen Joe develop over the years. A few overs later Nas got an additional wicket, Leverstock were now 30-5 and Rickmansworth thought they were in for a quick afternoon. Leverstock had other plans and with a bit of fight back their number 3 & 7 stuck around and started to build an innings, before Nas (6ovs, 2mds, 19runs, 3wkts), finished his spell getting the number 3 caught at midwicket taken well by Jaimin Patel. Their number 7 & 8 would then settle and with application further build Leverstocks innings (Neil R – 4ovs, 0mds, 17 runs 0 wkts). However, Prasanth Subramanian (8ov, 0mds, 23runs, 2wkts) would persevere and get their number 8 caught by Harvey and shortly after get the number 9 LBW. Harvey Blackwell would then be bought into the attack and bowl well applying pressure with Rushil (2ovs, 1 mdn, 1run, 0wkts) bowing tight on the other end, this pressure would tell as the opposition would swing at straight balls with Harvey (5ovs, 0mds, 13 runs, 2wkts) able to take 2 in 2 finishing Leverstock 111 all out after 33 overs, starting on a hattrick in his next game.

112 the target, over to the Ricky batsman and a new opening pair at the top with Jaimin Patel & Neil R starting off the innings and getting Ricky to a comfortable start with extras taking precedence. 15 for no loss after 5 overs. 97 to achieve of 210 balls. The first wicket fell and a somewhat unlucky way to get out for Jaimin (5) as he hit the ball clean but straight back to the bowler. Rickmansworth number 3 Matt Atkins 25 of 27 came in and continued the momentum with the highlight of getting 3 fours in a row and really increasing the scoring rate for Rickmansworth before getting out in the 14th over to a well bowled delivery. Ricky now 52/2 (60 required of 156). Neil R was still plugging away but the overs were also diminishing as Rickmansworth had added 16 runs in 11 overs with 8 coming from Harvey Blackwell before getting out in the 25th. Rickmansworth now needing 44 in 90 with 7 wickets in hand. I’m sure a few pints were in the mind of the Ricky fours coupled with the fact that we don’t like doing things the easy way, as 3 wickets were lost for 12 runs, with Prasanth, Rushil and Rumpy all getting out cheaply. Rickmansworth now needing 35 in 66 balls, surely? Neil R still anchoring the innings and keeping an end. We needed someone who could up the ante and Ronak took it upon himself to get a fiery 8 with a few additional extras bought Rickmansworth closer to the total, Neil who had batted superbly through 34 overs to this point facing 90 balls and achieving 22 runs unfortunately couldn’t see us through bringing in Captain Ken. 97 of 34 overs, 3 wickets in hand, 15 of 36. Leverstock would slowly chip away but the runs would also very slowly reduce at the point where 6 was required of the last 18 balls, an edge for four got us to get 2 of 14 with 3 wickets in hand, no sweat right? Wrong. 2 of 14, turned into 2 of 8 before Ronak was dismissed, trying to hit the winning runs, to 2 of 6. Wicket maiden. Enter in Joe monk who hit the first ball for 1. Ken now on strike 1 off 5, now 1 needed off 2, never have I heard so much cheering and swearing in the same moment. Ken (5) though see’s his opportunity but unfortunately gets caught at square leg. 1 of 1 now needed, enter in Nas and the rest is history!

First game won by Rickmansworth Fours, special mention to the Joe the hat-trick hero, Nas for his good spell, Harvey for his anticipated Hat-trick ball, Matt for his quick 25 and Neil for getting a national call up to be a test specialist!