17/05/2014

2014 Match Reports

Next week..The IPL comes to Boston Manor...GSK v HL...

v Old Californians. With a few key players missing, 10 man HL visited Ewell looking a touch light on both batting and bowling. However, 20 overs later we had managed to limit OCCC to just 134/4, 2 bowled by Ian in a tight 4 over spell. HL started losing wickets early, unable to support Dipesh (28), and Chris (42) who gave us some late hope. Once Chris fell, with HL needing 28 off the last 4 overs, it was effectively all over as we stumbled to 111, all out, in the 18th over, Ricks winning 3 game run coming to an end.


v Harrow. Since 1992, we have played Harrow 36 times, with 17 wins each. (and 1 tie and 1 nr), so we were all keen to get a game and a win in to edge us in front on the leader board. As all HL players know well, Rayners Lane has its own micro climate, so it was no real surprise when it started tipping it down en route an hour before kick off, despite the forecast saying it wouldn't, but putting the game happening into serious doubt. As we arrived at Roxbourne Park the rain clouds cleared, and despite the puddles and the bog in parts of the outfield, the wicket looked just about ok, so being a bunch of 22 cricket mad loonies all kitted in white, a 16 over game commenced. We batted first. 101 off 10 overs with a blazing 62 from Wendel opening, things were looking bright. Harrow did well to pin us back in the last 6 overs, HL reaching 123/4. We knew we had to bowl well, and the fall of regular wickets kept the score in check, Harrow finally falling 15 runs short, 7 men down, with 2 wickets apiece for Dipesh and Wendel, and 2 stumpings for Mike, for our 3rd win in 3.



V Chessington WofA...Facebook comments from Alex and Rick. (HL141/7, CWoA 138/9)

Really enjoyed being part of last night's 20/20 win for Hounslow Leisure at Chessington CC. Great to be part of a 100 stand with Chris. Tense finish that went to the last ball but we sneaked through. The goose always seems to fire on what is a good track. (They needed 5 off the last over, but only managed 2, losing 3 wickets)

Excellent performance against CWoA all round, going down to the last ball and winning by 3 runs. Great 100+ partnership with Alex (44) and Chris (66) after losing our first 3 for not much at all (6!), good bowling and fielding throughout against a pretty good batting side, having Swainy (3/19) and Wendel (2/19) bowling tightly in the second half. After the last two years where Chessington have come through in the last over after we were on top for most of those games, it was nice to see them off this time. Oh and well skippered again I thought  with me skippering again for 'hopalong' Paul. 2 wins in 2 ...

V Elmbridge. Rick skipper tonight. HL into bat on a lovely sunny evening in Esher, on a slow wicket. Knobby bowled first ball of the innings, to one that pitched, died and slipped under the bat, Steve out playing on with 39. 65/4 off 10 overs a good start. Swain played on so enter Wendel into bat in the 11th over with a quick fire 73no, including another lost ball 6 over the hedge and into the meadow, in a partnership with Alex of 78, 73 scored off the last 5 overs, for HL to finish up on a very healthy 164/5. Elm have lost a few players this season and when Aubrey was out for 7 in the 3rd over, the wheels started falling off their response. Ian picking up his 50th wicket for HL, a catch and 2 stumpings for Mike, and 4 wickets for Rick, restricting Elm to just 93/9 off the 20, for the fist win of the season. Mags watch: Only Don today out of the 11 having not played for both teams.

v LBH. A friendly, but still competitive, early season warm up against a Coates LBH XI, LBH batting first and reaching 128/5 off the 18 overs, 3 players (including Wendel) retiring on the agreed 25. HL's response was rather feeble, with only Steve and Knobby reaching double figures, limping to a poor 95/8. However, great to be back out midweek after 8 long months.

v Richmond. Typical. A lovely sunny March and April, come the first week of May, the only day of this week it decides to rain was this evening, so no game.