4's Return to Winning Ways

Rickmansworth 4's enjoyed a hard fought 3 wicket victory at the Chiltern ground against Stevenage. On a hot a sunny day the skipper took the risky decision of asking Stevenage to bat. The decision almost reaped immediate results first ball as the Stevenage skipper top edged the ball to square leg but unfortunately the chance was missed. Neil (1-25) made the breakthrough when he bowled the young opener. The second wicket partnership took Stevenage to the first drinks break although they offered up a series of chances of varying degrees of difficulty.

Charlie’s introduction into the attack broke the partnership when he had the number 3 caught at short leg by Asim and followed up by bowling the Stevenage skipper off his pads for 37. The big hitting number 4 (35) looked to take the game away from Ricky but a top edge flew down to the safe pair of hands of Trigger at fine leg giving Atul (2-23) his first wicket for the club.

It was then the Charlie (5-37) and Asim show as Asim took a further three catches at short leg off Charlie’s bowling. The innings was wrapped up by Asim (1-64) bowling the number 9 and then Matt (1-2) inducing a false shot which spooned up to Ray at short cover.

Ray and Matt were sent out to lead the run chase and got the innings off to a positive start. Matt (20) in particular took a liking to the young left arm spinner until a top edge was snaffled by the Stevenage captain at mid wicket. Ray and Trigger then consolidated the innings with Trigger in full blocking mode (took me back 5 years to Abbots Langley). After playing some fine shots Ray (24) chased a wide one and nicked through to the keeper and walked. Nawaz was then undone by the variable bounce and popped a catch up to short leg. Trigger departed soon afterwards to leave Rickmansworth 4 down with 90 required.

Asim (29) joined Neil (30) at the crease and they both played sensible innings punishing the bad balls and defending anything on the stumps. With victory in sight Neil was bowled behind his legs. Ken came in and made 5 before he was also bowled. The skipper joined Asim at the crease and together they got the target down to 5 before Asim popped a return catch to the bowler. On debut Mark then hit his first two balls in league cricket to the boundary to give Rickmansworth 4s their second league win of the season.

It was again an enjoyable game of cricket played in the right spirit. Some of the Rickmansworth fielding was terrible and some sublime. Had we held our catches the target would have been less than 100. Charlie was the star with the ball with 5 for 37 and all of the batsmen made a contribution with important knocks from Matt, Ray, Neil and Asim.

Written by Richard Harwood (aka Rumpole)