Once in a while you get games that have more twists and turns than a rollercoaster – games that engross the players and those watching, both in person and on-line. Add to that the pressure and incentive of going for promotion with games running out and that was this Saturdays game between our own 1st XI and Totteridge Millhillians. Batting first on a pitch with a some surprising bounce Ricky were unable to handle the gentle pace and spin on offer on a multi-paced pitch that was begging for bowlers to bowl straight. Every 10 runs or so a batter would come and go. 23/3 became 78/7 with only Rameez seemingly able to stem the tide. Harvey had packed his side with batters, which proved vital as James, Vivek (17) and Angus (13) all worked tirelessly and the 10th wicket partnership of 34 between Angus and Viv was vital in the chase for a defendable score. Angus was run-out to finish the score on 140 which seemed a strange way to get out in the circumstances…but more of that to come!

Ricky rightly have the most feared bowling attack in the Division and quickly went to work with plentiful dot-balls interspersed with wickets for Billy and Harvey. But then came the period that Ricky feared with Plummer and Pratt building a steady partnership whilst Harvey rang the changed with no success. Without Aman in the side, 16 year old James Haines was called upon to bowl the spin and he did so brilliantly, conceding just 20 runs in 10 overs. Now the scoreboard pressure was mounting but Harvey needed a wicket so, at his own brothers suggestion, brought himself back on for one last dart with TMCC needing just 45 to win and 7 wickets in hand.

Plummer was bowled by a beauty by Harvey but still a hero was needed at the other end. Step up Angus Forrest, who Harvey had held back, but who took a wicket with his first ball. Then another for Harvey, an LBW appeal that the umpires at Chorleywood might have had to consider and 2 more for Angus, who was now bowling as quick as he ever has, meant that TMCC were 104/8. But still Henry Pratt was there at the other end. 16 runs from 100 balls. This boy didn’t want to go. Angus induced another false shot to take 4-14 but Harvey was out of bowling options. The score was 132 now. 9 to win when Navaee pushed the ball into the offside and called a single. Pratt was now on 23 in 2 ½ hours at the crease and didn’t really want to take a chance but hesitated mid track. He reached back to the crease but not before James Haines had pinged the ball back from 30 yards and crashed into off stump. WICKET. Even seasoned players admitted it was the most outrageous piece of fielding to win a game and one that will live long in the memory of those watching and playing.

The 1st team now need 45 points over the next 3 games to secure promotion. A position deserved by this team of heroes.

The 2nd team fared less well and as a consequence slipped out of the promotion running with a 9 wicket defeat to table-topping Old Elizabethans. A pitch that was described by one player as a ‘minefield’ accounted for 4 of the top 5 batters, scoring just 2 runs between them. A 66 run partnership between Bev (33) and Manny (43) perhaps showed the wicket was easing off, however a total of 133 was a poor return overall. 7 bowlers gave the reply a go, with Tom bowling 10 overs for just 19 wickets. But as one of the leagues leading wicket takers, OECC could just see him off and coasted to victory. It’s been a hard year for Shiv and the 2nd team, as the 1st XI approach to only use home-grown players where possible has meant the 2nds having to make do sometimes. A high mid-table finish is somewhat of an over-achievement in the circumstances.

The 3rd XI also faced tough opponents in a Northchurch 2nd XI that was brimming with talent. After racing to 91-2, Ricky made some good inroads with the ball and reduced NCC to 131-7 at one stage with Lekshay and Hanu both taking a couple each. However the tail wagged with Hopkins contributing 41 at no9 and he was last out with the score at 214. Every Ricky batter got a start but failed to go on and at 92-7 it looked like a lost cause. But Waheed has been producing telling knocks all season and once again he stepped in with a pacy 50 off just 39 balls to catapult the score to 163-8. But he ran out of partners and energy and Ricky finished on 164.

With the 1st XI entertainment on the next pitch you could forgive the 4th team for not putting 100% into their game, however this was certainly not the case as they raced to best score on the top pitch of 249 with 9 balls still to go. The wicket up on the Nursery ground has been playing so well this season and it was appreciated by Prasanth (31) and Ansh (31) in an opening partnership of 72, which then enabled Bishal (48) and Kevin (41) to unleash some fireworks. 188-3 with 15 overs to go was dreamland and though a few extra wickets fell, Nasser finally found some form with 27 from 20 balls. Northwood didn’t surrender and all of the top 7 made double-figures on a track that resembled the Gabba or the MCG. The Ricky bowlers kept taking regular wickets and they finished on 205/9 after 40 overs. Maybe the 1st XI wished they had played on this track ! Considering the 4ths only have 2 other 4th/5th teams in the division a mid-table finish is a great achievement which is how things look to be finishing.

The 5th Xi stayed in 4th place in the table despite a chastening loss to Hatch End 2nd XI. They can still get promotion by finishing 3rd which means winning 2 of the last 3 games. In this match Sunny (21), Vijay (27) and Vikram (19) all contributed with the bat, around a magnificent first club 50 by Yashas off just 43 balls. Well done young man! 192 was a decent score, but HECC had the players to chase it down with veteran Sherman seeing them home with 25* out of a total of 193 off 37 overs. Yashas also took 2 wickets.

On Sunday, Rickmansworth secured promotion despite losing to OMT 1st XI. Whether they finished as champions was unknown at the time of writing this report, however in the OMT game, Ricky were chasing a score of 279 with James Haines taking 3-38 and Yashas Pail 2-59. Both Saturday heroes! James then went one better scoring 68 with the bat as he and Abhishek (40) put on 85 in a losing total of 197. A good score with 8 players aged 23 and under.

Ricky are truly lucky to have such a great crop of younger players to call upon this season and it showed this weekend as it does every weekend. The future remains wonderfully bright.