Ricky veterans wind back the clock to secure safety against LGCCC

In a season defining moment Rickmansworth 2nds had to beat Letchworth 3rd XI in order to avoid a relegation battle. This has seemed a long way off in June when the team was competing for 3rd place, but an injury to talisman Bobby, and a loss of form for many of the players, combined with a need to keep the 1st XI at it’s strongest, meant Stefan was selecting from a widening pool of talent each week and failing to establish a competitive side.

Hamza was unable to continue his good run getting out for 1, but Maz (pictured above) was at last finding his form, and the boundary. He and Ali took the score to 51, which was a good platform, but with Majid then going quickly, it was 59/3 and it could have been another 120 all out. But not this week – not on Stefan’s watch. Rather than dig deep, Stefan trusted to his instincts and decided to flail the attack. 3 huge sixes into the stream was the result as he and Maz, playing one of his best innings all season, took the score to 144. Stefan overtook Maz to a 50 in the process, smashing 55 to generous applause.

Although Maz was out for 62 a few overs later, the platform had been built. Something rarely seen from this 2nd XI in July and August. Waheed (18) and Manpreet (14) ably supported youngster Ammaar Bandali who played fluently for 39, as Ricky had overs to spare thanks to the earlier onslaught.

224 was up when Ammaar was out and although the last wickets fell in a heap, 234 was 9 good batting points and the bowlers had something to aim for. With ex-LGCCC 1st and 2nd teamers in the squad, it was all needed and more.

But Ricky need not worry as Majid and Maz (an opening bowling partnership straight out of 2013) kept the runs down and also garnered wickets. Going at 2.5 runs an over between them, LGCCC were effectively out of the game in the first 15 overs, on 39 for 3. The middle order stuck to their guns, but wily old fox, John Smith, was waiting in reserves to gobble up some piggies. He hardly had to huff and puff at all, as the batsmen’s wickets were surrendered to his slow left-arm. 5-12 in 8 overs tells it’s own story.

Letchworth were all out for 104, putting them in serious danger of the drop, whilst securing, with just one point needed off the last 2 games, a very likely stay in 6A for another year for the 2nd team.