Ricky 2nd XI powers on with win against Southgate Adelaide

After successive wins, Rickmansworth turned up at 2nd bottom team Southgate Adelaide in hot conditions hoping for a bat. However the Southgate skipper called correctly and chose to have a bat himself. At 46/0 after 10 overs, it seemed a good decision, however Waheed had the opening bat caught out and a small collapse saw them fall to 50/4. Mohammad Rai claimed his first wicket for the club in the process.

Southgate then rebuilt on a very true wicket and whilst Azhar and Asghar Ali kept the brakes on, they still put on 78 for the next wicket. A smart run out by Muhammad and Rishi and a good stumping by Rishi then saw Southgate 140/6. However the next two youngsters, pulled and clipped 65 runs between them and the wearying Ricky bowlers could do nothing to stem the tide. However, 203 was not a fearsome target on this track and the Ricky bowlers had done a good job.

Paul and Sohail opened the batting as usual and got off to a steady start against some tight bowling. Indeed the Southgate team were delighted when Sohail (17) chipped one back to the bowler and Ricky were 44/1. Bobby was net in and though he hit a good 6 to the cover boundary, his usual fluency wasn’t quite there and he was finally bowled by the young leg spinner but not before contributing 28 out of a stand of 66. It was then left to Paul and Raz to finish the job in some style with the run rate picking up after the 30th over with a boundary every over. Raz finished on 38 not out whilst Paul had the chance to reach his hundred by hitting a 6, but could only find the boundary on the bounce meaning he finished on 98 not out, including 15 boundaries.
Ricky finished on 205 for 2 for probably the most comfortable win of the season. Even 5 years ago, the idea of scoring over 200 for just 2 wickets down would have seemed amazing, but this Ricky 2nd XI are on the march now and it’s old rivals Hatch End next for the green and gold.