That's it folks, no more midweek 2020 cricket for 2020. We played 8 and won all 8 games. Well done to all the players, and thanks to our oppositions for being good sports. You can read all the match reports below. HL were quite strong this year, and we didn't get to play all the teams we usually would have in this truncated season, but an unbeaten T20 season it is.
It's not quite all over as there is still one more HL game, a 40/40 on Saturday 19th v Hambledon CC. And Magdalen CC still have games every Sunday throughout September including Taplow, West Wycombe and Morden, and perhaps a game the first weekend of October.
2020 Season Match Reports:
3/9 v Richmond Yorkers,
An early start was required and impressively all 22 players took to the field for the 5pm start. It was warm but very overcast, and rain wasn't really forecast. However, 10 mins into the game, it started raining, getting heavier, and we had to come off for 20 valuable minutes. Back on and we decided to continue with the 14 8 ball over format. Mike had fallen first over, but Swainy, Sunny, Jamie and Neil all went well, Sunny and Jamie retiring on their 25's. Rick was bowled for a golden, but Umair, Chris and Paul continued to knock it around for HL to finish up on 152/6. Richmond were going to find the chase difficult, and was the case as Ian, Jamie, Chris and Sunny bowled tightly and all took wickets, Sunny on a hatrick at one point.. At the half way mark, Richmond were 37/5. The sodden ball proved difficult to both bowl and bat with and Richmond limped to 71/6 off the allocated overs, the last couple being bowled in very murky conditions. The game finished about 7.45pm, just as the 10 large pizzas turned up. Spectator watch: Wendel and Imran.
27/8 v Richmond Yorkers. RAINED OFF.
20/8 v Staefa.
Just 48 hours since our last game, the team were gathered at Spelthorne Sports Club for another t20, this time v Staefa. Into bat, and 20 overs later with retired 30's from Steve, Swainy, Kieran and Alex, HL finished up on a healthy 180/3. Chris (3 wickets) and Ian (2 wickets) ripped through their top order, leaving Staefa reeelng at 67/7 from the first 10 overs. The 2nd 10 overs were much better for Staefa as they scored 83 more runs with the loss of just 1 wicket, but too late as they fell 29 short. HL were always on top, but a good game on a warm evening. The sun dropped for the last few overs, signalling the need for earlier starts from hereon. Another 2 catches for Paul, and Swainy moves to 99 wickets for HL.
18/8 v Brentford.
HL batted first. Kieran was out early but Jamie, Chris, Mike, Swainy and Wendel knocked it around on the fast outfield for their retired 30's, HL finishing up on 188/6 from the 20 overs, including 28 boundaries. In response, Paul caught their dangerous opener first over off Chris and from thereon wickets fell on a regular basis. Chris picked up 2 wickets and a catch, Umair picked up 3 wickets and 2 catches, Paul took 2 catches and a direct 30 yard run out of the oppos skipper, which took everybody rather by surprise, not least the batter. Mike took his maiden wicket, Jamie bowled one with his first ball, Steve took a stumping and Wendel caught one off Waseem, to wrap up the game by 80 odd runs with an over remaining. A satisfying game in that everyone contributed. Chris needed 1 run to reach the 2000 runs milestone, which he duly did after the previous weeks run out duck. A milestone that Steve achieved a couple of weeks ago. Spectator watch: Jim. Tonights win makes it 6 from 6..
11/8 v OCCC.
2nd visit to Ruxley Lane this season on a scorching hot evening. Lost the toss and OCs put themselves into bat. Jamie and Swainy kept it tight for the first 5 overs, picking up a wicket each including one off Swainy caught by keeper Steve in his grill, drawing blood and resulting in Steve passing the gloves to Kieran. Must be the seasons leading contender for the JBM Award. Some confusion as to whether it was out or not, but the laws were consulted and the wicket given. OCs were struggling at 36 from 10 overs. Arthur and Ian bowled some good overs but poor fielding and several dropped catches allowed OCs to post what seemed a half decent 122/4 from their 20 overs. In response, Steve felt fit enough to open, and with Arthur (42no) got off to a positive start. Keiran came in and knocked off a rapid 50, hitting 5 rather large 6's. With just 4 needed, Umair hit the winning runs with a whopping 6.2 overs and 8 wickets remaining. HLs youth policy, with 3 players under 20, paying dividends this evening.
6/8, v Brentford Supporters
HL opted to bat first on the grass on a very warm evening in Sunbury. The oppo looked keen despite Brentford FCs defeat in the Championship play off final two evenings beforehand. Steve was lucky not to be out LBW first ball of the game, but Kieran, Mike and Neil got to retire (25, end of over). A flurry of wickets towards the end had HL finish on 133/4. In response, Brentford were ahead of the 'R' rate at 10 overs with a couple of batters going well. With wickets falling (3 for Paul, 2 for Rick), Br were requiring 18 off the last over and the return of their big hitter. A few 2's and a massive 6 meant they needed 6 off the last ball to win. Wendel duly bowled a dot ball. A nail bitter and a close win by 5 runs for HL, Brentford 128/8. The undefeated run continues. Spectator watch: Great to see Hardeep, Don, Alex, Claire and Liv showing their support. We meet Brentford again in a fortnight.
28/7, v OCCC
On a warm evening in Ewell, HL lost the toss and were put out into the field. We took two early wickets but a couple of good partnerships took the OCCC score to a competitive 136/5. Bicky took 2 wickets, the first with his first ball of the season. HL got off to a steady response with Kieran and Waz opening. Wickets started falling and in came Wendel at no 6 with 85 needed off 12 overs. A prompt 50 left us needing just 20 runs but with only 2 wickets remaining. Overs weren't the issue as Ian and Jamie finished it off with 20 balls remaining, 137/8.
23/7, v Staefa.
Again HL opted to bat first, posting 163/5 from the 20, with 30's from Kieran and Swainy. Its fair to say that extras contributed well to the total. In response Staefa made 136 for 8, with Ian taking 3 wickets and Paul 2. Their opener Hitesh made 70 odd but not enough to chase down the HL score, with HL winning by 27 runs.
Swainy called for the 3rd Umpire. We obliged. Out!
14/7, v Richmond Yorkers.
At last, the C-20 season has commenced! It looked a real possibility that in 2020, there would be no 2020 cricket, but after much faffing around by the Gov and ECB, the go ahead was given last week for recreational cricket to resume, and thus HL wasted no time in arranging our first socially distancing fixture of the season, having already lost out on 9 games to the pesky virus.
HL 'Social Distancing 2020' CC
HL opted to bat first in this 20 over affair on the astro at Spelthorne Sports Club. Steve, Kieran, Hitesh and Mike all scored their 30's, HL finishing up on 151/3 from the 20. Richmond scraped to 102/5 in response, with 2 wickets from Ian and 2 catches from Paul, HL finishing up victors by 49 runs. A good start to the season in which everyone contributed.
Magdalen CC had their first game on the weekend just gone, losing out in a closely fought game in Dulwich v the Ploughmans CC, a team that originate from the Plough Pub in Norwood Green (a long story!). Runs for Immy and wickets for Paul. Magdalen CC get to go on tour next weekend with games v Ferndown Wayfarers and Hambledon. Its great to be back and between both Leisure and Magdalen, we have the potential for 22+ games to play before the end of September, having lost out on 21 in total.
