"The most unforgettable 2nd XI game"

In a game that will live long in the memory, Rickmansworth 2nd XI chased down their biggest target in living memory, and quite possibly the largest ever by a Ricky league team, to win at Broxbourne last Saturday. And all from 26/3....but more of that to come....

On winning the toss it was hard to not bat first on what looked a decent track, but as a win was the priority, the decision was made to bowl. And this started well with Broxbourne 18/1 after 7 overs and no indication of the carnage to come. To try and grab more wickets, and with the big Number 3 batting well out of his crease, Paul changed the bowler to Brett so standing up to the wicket was possible. And then stood up to Majid - hence the rather bruised fingers on Sunday morning. However this didn't stop Humphries from hitting the bad balls to the boundary and before long Ronesh was into the attack. Bobby got the other opening bat to edge the ball to the keeper standing up but not until 113 was on the board and Humphries was really into his stride. Anything over pitched disappeared for 6. Anything short for 4. And even good length balls went for 1 or 2 as the Ricky fielding was rather abject at times. It seemed impossible to stem the flow of runs apart from keeping him off strike. And sure enough his hundred came up in 30 overs.

As it turned out Humphries averaged 76 last year with the bat, but he wasn't done yet. It also turned out he was the 2nd XI skipper, who was playing 1st XI the year before, but playing in this game as he had to go early. None of this we knew at the time - just that he was one heck of a powerful bat. As he tired he started to give chances, but, very much out of character for this 2nd XI, Ricky spurned the chances he offered (3) and let him carry on batting. Majid came back and bowled out a couple of middle-order batsmen, but Humphries carried on to score 158* out of a total of 269. The rest of the batsmen scored 92 combined. If Ricky had grabbed him early, it might have been a lower total. As it was Ricky now had to set a new club record to win the game. The key was going to be a good start.

However, Sohail (7) was clean bowled, Maz was taken at gully by a diving Humphries (that man again) and then he bowled Kamran for a duck. 26/3 and Bobby on 7 not out. Suddenly the mountain to climb was looking like Kilimanjaro. And having won the toss and chosen to bat second the team had a total of 0 points on the board. It was win or bust. And then Ricky's luck changed - Majid was promoted up the order to prove what he could do, and this he did brilliantly. The sixes started to rain down and a partnership of 87 was only ended when he was clean bowled. A real shame, as most people watching felt there was a first club 100 available for Majid, but it wasn't to be.

Raz joined Bobby and together they pushed on, now only needing 5 an over to win. Bobby then tried to take charge by going over the top but was caught at mid-on for a well put together 41. Ricky were on 155/5 with 22 overs left. But the Ricky tail needed to show why we had such a depth of batting. Ronesh was sent in next to interfere with the bowlers as a left-hander and he took full advantage with 2 sixes, and two fours. Short and sweet and now Ricky needed 87 with 18 overs left. The rate was under 5 for the first time in the match, but wickets were running out and then Billy Mohammed (again promoted to keep the rate going along) scored a 6 and then popped one up to the keeper. 6 and out! 81 needed, with overs to come, but wickets running out. Broxbourne needed just 3 wickets to win a game they had in their hands. But maybe this was when the biggest gamble of all paid off.

Your own reporter, out of form with the bat, and rather jaded after 43 overs of standing up to the wicket, came to the crease to help Raz Khan get close to the target. After a lung-bursting 9 overs, edges and pushes (with the occasional 4) somehow bought a personal tally of 29 and a partnership of 63 with Raz which took Ricky from 189/7 to 252/7 and just 18 runs short of the target. Just as important the runs had come at 7 an over, so there was now 7 overs left to score those most valuable 18 runs. Zaf hit a few 2's and the by now exhausted Raz ran a few byes and the target was reached. Raz finished on 57*. Not his highest score for the club by any means, but quite possibly his most valuable knock. Raz had helped put on 116 runs, scoring half himself, to see the team home.

After the game most players were shell-shocked. Every week they turn up and perform, consistently posting high scores, but this run chase was something else. And to do it with 3 of the top 4 making single figure contributions, and a 63 partnership for the 8th wicket, rather defies belief. But belief is exactly what this team has in abundance. For the moment though the players involved will enjoy their moment in the sun. And rest those frayed nerves. Well done to one and all. Record-breakers.