Ricky 2nd post first win

Rickmansworth 2nd XI put last weeks debacle behind them with a comprehensive win over Radlett IV. Radlett choose to bowl first on a sunny day and a decent track despite having only 10 men. It would seem that they were hoping to chase something reasonable with some tight bowling. However that wasn't to be the case as Ricky got off to a very decent start.

After Benn got one that rolled along the ground, Paul and Anwar set about scoring at a brisk 5 an over. When Paul departed caught and bowled for 36, with the ball lodging in the bowlers thighs, Raz and Jez batted very sensibly, after Anwar also got out for 29. There was a boundary every over and the score just kept going upwards. At drinks, Ricky were 108 for 2 and ready to push on for a big one. Everyone agreed it was a 250 track. However 5 overs later and we were 4 down, with The Riddler going for 29 and the Golden Arm for exactly the same score. And worse was to come as Ricky toppled on 128 for 5 a couple of overs later, leaving Bobby with the tail.

The skipper started to pace as a score of 170 looked a long way off, but even with Majid and Billy failing with the bat, Majid to a very good catch at square leg, Bobby continued to farm the bowling and score at will. Carefully conserving his energy, it was when Coops came to the wicket that the pressure was lifted. A partnership of 38, with Dave contributing 21, was only topped as Bobby went to his half-century and by now Ricky were coasting. Brett kept his wicket intact enabling Ricky to post a decent 242 with Bobby scoring 53 before being run out in the last over.

Radlett started very well, and saw off the opening bowlers, however in the 9th over of the game, Bobby took the cherry and with his first ball castled the dangererous opening batsman. 2 balls later number 3 had chipped a catch back to him and Bobby's day was getting better by the minute. He still had time to nibble out another batsmen before drinks. Jeremy Riddleston took up the bowling from the same end and kept it amazingly tight, conceding only a couple of boundaries in his 8 overs. Meanwhile, the champagne moment of the day came when the Radlett Captain hit the ball to mid-off and Majid, within a flash threw down the bowlers end stumps to run out the batsman backing up. Amazing scenes. Paul then brought back Brett Harvey, who had taken some tap from the Pavilion end, but had more luck bowling up the hill. At one point he took two wickets, both bowled, with consecutive balls, and Radlett's game was nearing a conclusion. A bit of light relief ensued as Benn Glazier took a wicket with a Yorker first ball and then cleaned up the last Radlett player in his next over. With a player in Hospital, that was it for Radlett.

30 big points were celebrated and the circus moves back to Park Road next week for the visit of Stevenage 3rds.