Ricky 2nd stay top despite losing to Albanians II

In Rickmansworth 2nd's sternest test of the season so far, the visitors Old Albanians were captained by a 1st team player and had plenty of firepower with both bat and ball. On winning the toss skipper Ghulam had no hesitation in batting first, and no wonder as the batsmen on show were of the highest calibre. Whilst David Rourke dug in at one end for 40 off 93 balls, Ricky had to work their way through the remaining players. Ricky also had a much changed line-up with more bowlers being called up to fill in for the 1st XI's ever growing injury list.

On his 2nd team debut in 2015, Brendan enticed Hussein to play on for a single and also got Iqbal to play a wide one to Waheed in the covers. The number 4 hit an imperious boundary before Asim Butt got him to attept the same shot to a straighter ball and grabbed a return catch. The next partnership scored 59 before Anwar tempted Stannard to drive on the up and Bilal took a good catch at mid-off. On a good pitch, it was hard work for the Ricky bowlers as each batsman that came out was as good as the one just dismissed! Next in was skipper Ghulam who knocked up 20 before Raz pushed one through his defences. A good spell by Raz, taking pace off the ball, as he also got Rourke for 40, but still OA's were nicely poised on 149 and looking to push on.

In another moment of inspiration, skipper Blackwell offered the ball to Waheed Mahroof and asked for a bit of spin, rather than his usual seam-up. And it worked a treat, as Waheed got both Burman brothers out in the space of 3 overs. Bilal finally got his rewards with a wicket and Brendan returned to bowl last man Dunklin for 13. The total of 188 was probably about 40 runs shy of what OA's should have got, but Ricky kept taking vital wickets and showed the benefit of persistence and team work. That extras were the 2nd highest scorer (36) including 22 byes, shows that there is still work to be done though.

Rickmansworth's reply could not have started better, as once again Blackwell opted for unorthodxy and chose to open the batting with Naeem Khan. Naeem has not batted higher than 8 all season, but demonstrated outstanding prowess against some quick, hostile bowling and scored 20 before being unluckily ran out when the young Albanian quick bowler threw down the stumps at the far end from mid off. An opening stand of 43 then moved to 72 before Anwar Thaker (19) was also run out when he slipped attempting a 3rd and ended up in mid wicket. Blackwell as Khan then took the score to 96, and half the job done, when Blackwell perished for 35 attempting to up the rate.

It was then that the game turned in Old Albanians favour. The usually dependable Raz (7) and Kamran (8) followed soon afterwards and then both Ben Soames and Asmin Butt went within 2 balls of each other without scoring. 101/3 became 115/7 and the Ricky chance had gone. Or so we thought.

Slowly at first, and then accelerating, Waheed Mahroof (23) and Billy Mohammed knocked the ball around for singles and twos. The rate crept up to 8 an over before Waheed and Billy both started to crash boundaries to accelerate. Waheed went soon after hitting a six, but Bilal just stepped up and played an inning of maturity and excitement that would not have been out of place in a 20:20 game. Old Albanians put everyone on the boundary, but when Billy took 14 off one over, it was anyone's game. By now the bar had emptied and a raucous crowd of supporters and 1st and 4th team players were there to cheer Billy on. 2 overs to go and 19 needed, but Billy launched a 6 into the Car park and another 4, before he was well taken behind the stumps for a brilliant 47. If ever a knock deserved to win a game, this was it. But it was sadly not to be. Brendan needed 2 boundaries, but couldn't connect with the ball, and the team fell 5 runs short of victory.

Everyone watching agreed it was a great match to watch, and through everyone's efforts, Ricky took enough points from the game to stay top of Division 7. A fantastic effort from a team for whom a relegation dogfight was forecast at the beginning of the season. But not anymore. Keep believing.