Rickmansworth retained their position as league favourites with a comprehensive demolition of Totteridge on Saturday. It was the perfect game plan as Yash (27) and Matt Allsop (28) protected wickets whilst running at 3 an over. Vivek stepped up the pace with 2 fours and a six, but at 95-4 the score could have gone one of 2 ways. But this was a Rameez-type wicket and he spectacularly smashed 62 from 34 balls and the score raced to 176-5 with 15 overs still to go. Harvey (53 off 33) and Aman (33 off 23) were now at the crease and the score rocketed as a tiring TMCC were dispatched to all parts with 12 boundaries. Keshav with a tidy 19* proved his value to the team with 19 at a run a ball and the team finished on a magnificent 301/9.

TMCC now had to score at 6 an over against possibly the best bowling attack in the league and struggled to maintain any kind of effort in the chase. Only 3 players reached double-figures as it seemed like the fight had been drained out of the batters having faced the earlier barrage by Harvey’s cavaliers. There were some tidy catchers as Rameez (2) and Billy (2) were the pick of the pace bowlers. Aman’s figures of 3-1 off 18 balls were extraordinary and Ricky won by 202 runs having dismissed Totteridge for just 99.

The 2nd X were less fortunate having chosen to bat first on a deck that was a little underprepared, and as a result found going pretty hard. Taz scored 22 but single-figures around him meant Ricky were quickly 53-4. The middle-order all got going, but none could get past 16 and when the tail collapsed for a combined 4 runs, Ricky were skittled for 102 on a damp one.

The only advantage for Ricky was the wicket was still not fully hardened, and the bowlers were able to make the most of it. Azeem with 4-18 led the line and 2-10 by Taz put OECC in trouble at 72/8, still needing 31 to win. However Tom Bev – the terminator – was not playing and OE’s were able to scrape to a win with one wicket to spare.

The 3rd XI were unlucky to come across a very strong Northchurch 2nd XI who included a new batter who had joined from a Premier League last year. Northchurch rattled up a score rarely seen on the top square of 226/8 in their 30 overs – at least 60 more than par. With no Ricky player exceeding 26 (Stefan), Ricky played the wicket as it usually is and finished on 136 all out before the full 40 had been bowled.

At Northwood Town, Ricky hung on whilst the wicket was drying out, thanks mainly to a stunning 35 by skipper Neil. This meant Waheed could go ballistic in the last 20 overs smashing an extraordinary 92 not out including 14 boundaries. NTCC were also intimidated by having to score at 5 an over from the off, chasing 203, and found it even harder when Nasser was brought into the attack. Bowling full and straight with a bit of seam, he took 6-19 in 8 overs. Normally a MotM award there, but not when Waheed had thrilled the spectators a few hours earlier.

The 5th XI made it a good weekend overall as they dismissed Hatched End for 131 when chasing Rickmansworth’s 167/9. Hasan had scored 61 in the Ricky innings to ensure a good score was made, whilst the wickets were shared by the bowlers helped by some good catches in the field.

Looking forward to a warm and sunny next Saturday.