1st XI 2015 Bowling Averages
Come on SHPCL – Time for decisions and clarity
Another League Cricket season is behind us and for players and spectators alike it has been a rather strange one in the Saturday league we play in. During the 2014/15 close season our SHPCL Leagues were reduced from 20 teams to 10 with some future prospective promotions and relegations of up to 2 x Divisions at a time, and with League matches played under two different sets of Match Formats and Match Rules! As a player you now need a fixture card marker and a change of mind-set one third, and two thirds of the way through the season, to take account of the switches from “Overs matches with Draws” to “Limited Overs matches – Win or Lose” As a spectator you turn up to watch a match and cannot be actually sure what is going on, and what the tactics really are/ought to be, until you have met and interrogated a player or official! A marvellous testament to confused thinking and indecision! TWO SHPCL club surveys last year asked Clubs and Members what they wanted – presumably the first answer (pretty clear decision as I recall!) was not what the SHPCL hoped for, or wanted. So then they launch a second survey! Same answer as the first as I believe, and then ultimately the powers that be slide through a hotchpotch proposal at the winter AGM when most players are switched off, not in Cricket mode. Players tend to leave the “boring stuff” of AGM’s and other Meetings etc. to their club stalwarts/administrators – who are in the main, especially in the higher leagues, more likely NOT to vote against a League Management proposal. So now, in summer 2015 – we have just had [...]
Lives put at risk as Tidey hits big
Visiting Baldock made a hefty 247 for 6 when they came to Reed in a season closing friendly. Owen Hughes and Sean Tidey had opened for Reed and had done a superb job at keeping the opposition tied down. With the pressure on, Baldock tried hitting their way out of their trouble only to find the waiting hands of Reeds fielders. Hughes claimed three wickets in a superb opening spell. Things however took a turn for the worse as the visitors took advantage of some indifferent bowling and fielding. None the less Reeds skipper Marcus J.E. Baker had faith that his batting line up could easily chase down their target. Things did not get started in the right way however with a wicket falling to the first ball of the innings and a second falling soon after. William Heslam showed a steely resilience for his side as he tried to change Reeds fortunes. Heslam was then bowled for 33 by one of Baldocks two quicks. His stubborn, diligent innings proved that runs could be made and the batsman that followed him used his example in scoring. Rob Willoughby (33) and Richard Barlow (20) made useful contributions. However the major effort came from Jack Tidey. Scoring a 6 off his first ball he continued in the same vain with some almost outrageous hitting. The change bowlers were targeted and the boundary found as Tidey went mad. Baker (44) came in at 6 and partnered Tidey in an 81 run stand knocking off the runs. Baker’s prediction of reaching their target was realised thanks to some gutsy batting throughout the order but in particular Tidey. He finished on 94 not out a score made from just 29 [...]
Maiden Fifty Makes Moody Happy
In the final match of the 2015 season Reed played host to Waresley who batted first and took advantage of some sloppy fielding by Reed as they amassed a total 231. Joe Graves and Ollie Mansfield had opened for Reed and had kept things quiet whilst first change Steve Hughes claimed two wickets in his 8 overs. However, Waresley started to put play ever more aggressive shots and racked up the boundaries. The visitors then went about defending their total and achieved this with two cheap wickets. Some gutsy runs from Peter Baker (19) and Ben Mansfield (16) were important but neither could push on. Eventually with 4 wickets lost Marcus J.E. Baker came to the crease to join Ben Moody. Moody found great success taking the fight back to the opposition, making run scoring as easy as it possibly should have been. Baker also eventually got going but played the supporting role to Moody who looked better and better. He finally achieved the great promise he’s shown by making his maiden half-century. It was an innings of skill and maturity with a touch of audacity. Baker and Moody had made 50 for the fifth wicket when Moody (54) was bowled. Baker then tried his best with overs running out to keep Reed in the game. He biffed the ball about but found boundaries hard to come by. He misjudged running a second and was run out for 35. More wickets fell and the chance of victory slipped through Reeds grasp however, a tenth wicket partnership between Sam Rice and Rhodri Hughes kept everyone entertained. Hughes batting down the order because of an injury bravely came out with Moody as his runner. Rice and Hughes [...]
1st XI end season with entertaining defeat
Reed completed their Championship season with defeat in an entertaining game against Stevenage at the green. Despite a number of regular players unavailable Reed were still able to field a decent looking outfit and were keen to get the game on despite the overnight rain. Stevenage won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket still in good shape despite the weather. They got off to a good start putting on 83 for the first wicket with Captain Whitworth (61) leading the way as he has for much of the season. They then reached 150-1 off 34 overs and looked well set for a big score. And once hard hitting overseas batsman Neville Talbot (37) came in and smashed his first ball for 6 it looked like it could be even more! However, Reeds strike bowler Jack Tidey once again stepped up taking 4-40 including the key wicket of Talbot clean bowled. During this period Ian Osborne (2-32) also bowled well and the visitors were restricted to 224-6 off their 50 overs. In reply Reed got off to the worst possible start with James Heslam caught for 0 looking to dominate too early in his last game as Captain. However, Phil Lill (43) pushed up the order settled straight away and he and Will Heslam (20) took the score along to 60-1 in only 11 overs. However they both then fell in fairly quick succession leaving Reed at 77-3 off 14 overs. New signing Matt Sampson played very nicely for his 21 but when he and Wharton (4) fell Stevenage were on top with Reed 98-5. However, the very impressive 17 year-old Rob Lankaster (29) in his first league innings for the Reed 1st [...]
Bad day at the office for 1st XI
With only final league standings to play for Reed 1xi suffered a heavy defeat away to Langleybury. The toss was crucial on a bowler friendly track from the week’s rain that appeared as if it had not been effectively covered during some of that time and the home side won this and had no hesitation putting Reed into bat. Runs were hard to come by with the ball not coming onto the bat and biting in the pitch made more difficult by some very accurate Langleybury bowling. Will Heslam went for the first of three reed ducks and although James Heslam and promising looking new signing Matt Sampson dug in to take the score to 29-1 this was at a slow rate. Unfortunately James Heslam (7) and Sampson (10) then went in quick succession looking to start to accelerate the score. Although Chris Jackson (25) and Tom Greaves (7) settled well to take Reed to 53-3 once Greaves went Reed suffered a bad collapse with only Jack Tidey (13) getting in at all. The innings subsided to 82 all out off 39 overs. In reply the Langleybury openers rode their luck a little but chasing a small total played pretty well and positively to secure the win. Jack Tidey (6-0-24) and Phil Lill (2-0-3) were the pick of the Reed bowlers on a day to forget. Reed’s final game is at home to Stevenage. A win will see them finish 4th or 5th and a defeat could mean 6th, either way a mid-table finish seems a fair reflection on a tricky season in a competitive division.
“Cricketing Ethic flounders in confusion – and why our “Jonno” needs to play International Cricket!”
Ageing Colonels and other “old boys” who enjoy watching our great sport at various levels have been choking on their sherries for many years now as the structure, rules and past ethics of the game are dismantled at the very top, and much of the resulting debris provides unnecessary fallout and confusion much further down the great games performance levels. “The Umpire is always right!” has of course been a misnomer for as long as the game has existed, but by and large it was accepted as a mantra, however reluctantly, and however many tongues were being bitten!! Of course Umpires have not always been right, some have been downright cheats, but in recent years with the advent of DRS at the highest, most visible levels of our game, the phrase has been totally devalued. Cricket Officialdom (at levels below international Cricket) still insist that Umpiring decisions are afforded unflinching acceptance and respect, even when their confusing actions provoke unnecessary controversy. (Rein yourself in Mr Chairman!). However at International Level it is all so different. The Umpire is always right, until DRS proves him “Wrong” (unless you are playing India!). The Umpire could be “Wrong” but is still declared “Right” if the DRS fractional analysis eventually declares the incident to be “Umpires Call”. Additionally, the Umpire could be “Right” on the decision, but then the whole issue is declared void because the bowler has overstepped the popping crease and a “No Ball” is declared as an afterthought! This latter issue occurs very frequently at the moment because the Umpires (who are always right) no longer choose to pay deference to, or implement, the front foot No Ball rule of the game they are adjudicating! They will [...]
1st XIs faint promotion hopes ended
The 1st XI lost out in a close game to Chorleywood on Saturday as they were unable to match the high standards they have set in the recent excellent run. On a scorching day the visitors won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat. Although Toby Fynn (10-39-1) took an early wicket Chorleywood got off to a reasonable start on what looked a decent batting wicket as they reached 55-1 off 14 overs with the Reed fielding a little under par at times in the heat. However the reliable Jack Tidey (10-33-3) then struck three times in quick succession to reduce the visitors to 71-4. Phil Lill (10-24-4) then came on and continued his fine performances with the ball putting Reed well on top with Chorleywood reduced to 125-9 also helped by a good spell by Tom Greaves (10-40-1). Although the last wicket added 32, when Reece Fitzgerald (1-1-1) took the last wicket the final score of 157 all out on a decent track looked well within Reed’s reach. However, the home side got off to an unusually rocky start as James Heslam went for just 5 and then William Heslam (14) and Chris Jackson (0) departed leaving Reed 39-3 off 15 overs. To be fair to Chorleywood their bowling has been performing pretty well all season and they bowled tightly and with a fair bit of seam movement potentially helped by a new ball which had to be swapped after just 14 overs. At this point Reed then began to dig in as required and turn the tide as the inform Greaves (40) and Smith (27) took the score along to 86-3 off 28 overs. Another flurry of wickets then brought Chorleywood back into the [...]
Rain Reduces the Overs but can’t Reduce Reeds Winning Efforts
A heavy rain shower looked like ending Reeds match against Camden Casuals early when it came down in force. It perhaps was a welcome break for Camden who having won the toss were in trouble loosing 4 wickets for just 54 on the board. Matt Giblin found a fantastic line and exploited it picking three of the four to fall. Whilst Josh Conley used his heavy bounce and swing to pin his single victim lbw. Tea having been taken and the rain passed over the players returned to the pitch. The captains agreed that the first innings would be limited to 27 overs, giving them a further 12.4 overs. The second innings would also be reduced down to 25 overs. Although no further wickets would fall Reed contained Camden well with exceptional spells of bowling coming from Jonathan Lankester (4-1-7-0) and George Garrott (4-3-4-0). The visitors finished setting a target of 124. Paul Garrott and Rob Lankester opened Reeds response and quickly made easy runs against the visitors opening quicks. Lankester in particular scored in a classy fashion. Garrott fell with the score on 33 but Marcus Martin the experienced number 3 soon found his feet and scored quickly. He overtook Lankester and made 53 before retiring. Lankester continued in his usual un-flustered manner and also retired having made it to 51. This left George Garrott to knock of the last few runs leaving Reed victors by 6 wickets with ten overs still in hand.