1st XI
Matches
Sat 09 Sep 2017
Rickmansworth Cricket Club
1st XI
223/8
160
Old Haberdashers
Ricky 223/8 beat Old Habs 160/10 by 63 runs

Ricky 223/8 beat Old Habs 160/10 by 63 runs

Paul Blackwell11 Sep 2017 - 18:56
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Taz, Maz and Harvey shine in the Autumn sun

With end of season matches it’s often hard to get a ‘good’ game with players made up from all 4 teams and a varied opposition. However, this particular game felt like it was a little more competitive. There was certainly a lot riding on it. Old Haberdashers, the visitors, had both teams promoted in the league, and their 1st XI was 4 divisions above our own. They had also drafted in some young Habs 6th formers to add further strength.

And then of course there was our own competition, between Maz and Taz to see who would finish with the better average and total runs. And bragging rights in the Blackwell household as to who of Owen, Paul and Harvey was the MVP on the day. A day, by the way, that promised rain and wet conditions which miraculously didn’t appear.

Taz won the toss and decided to bat first and what a great decision as he and Maz put on 93 for the first wicket off just 17 overs. Never in any trouble, Taz was happy to play 2nd fiddle whilst Maz tore into the new ball attack of the visitors. Maz scored 4 maximum’s in his 53 whilst subsequently Tahir (32) and Taz put on a further 47 for the 2nd wicket. On this kind of form it was hard to see why Ricky ended up the season fighting at the wrong end of the table – this was batting of some class. After a short hiatus with Paul (0) and Owen (4) contributing very little, Matt Atkins and Taz put on 31 for the 5th wicket. And the score was well over 200 thanks to some firm stroke play by Billy down the order. Taz retired on 86 to give everyone a game. What a man! 223 the final score. Pretty good.

Old Habs turned out not to have the fire-power to compete in the 2nd half and Billy and Brett kept the score down to 35 off the first 12 overs. Tahir then bowled with good pace, celebrating his call-up to the County U15 Squad, but the revelation was young Harvey who spun his first ball sharply to uproot middle stump of the other opening bat and Haberdashers 1st XI player. First game for the Saturday 1st XI and a wicket first ball. It couldnt get any better. With Tahir at the other end, Ricky now had 2 x 14 year olds bowling in tandem and it didn’t take long for Harvey to take a further 2 wickets and Tahir to grab one of his own. Here was the future of the club, one spin, one fast. It was now the turn of Prasanth to bowl his cutters and Maz to bowl spin, both mopping up a couple of wickets a piece whilst Taz took a skippers consolation wicket. Old Habs crumbling 63 runs short.

And so the day finished in sunshine and a real feel-good atmosphere at the club. A special thanks as well to Jon Wood who umpired the first half. Sometimes the result is not important, but it was really good to get a win and for everyone to get a game. And to get back to the ethos of playing Cricket for the love of the game and not just 30 points.

Match details

Match date

Sat 09 Sep 2017

Kickoff

13:00

Meet time

12:20
Team overview
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