Scorecard

Harpenden III v Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 2nd XI on Sat 21 Aug 2010 at 1:00pm
Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club Won by 1 run

Match report A team should know when they are beaten......

With only 14 points separating the TM2s from the relegation zone and with little resources from elsewhere to call upon , it was with a grim determination that this band of brothers made the trip up to Harpenden , a team in 5th place, on a winning run and seeking promotion to the 2nd division.

Given the 2s propensity to self destruct whilst batting and the fact that our victories had come from defending totals, therefore, no matter what the surface or conditions skipper Rizwan Siddiqui has no choice but to bat first if the toss is won. Today this was irrelevant as the opposition would have inserted us in anyway.

Joe Askham and Matt Crutchlow began proceedings against a high quality seam attack and despite several close calls survived the early onslaught. Runs were at a premium and with only 19 scored off the first 9 overs – Matt fell trying to move the rate along.

Their followed two very useful partnerships involving the top order trio of Joe (31) Saf (35)and Haris Ali (38) , however none of them could press home the advantage and despite being 123-3 in the 40th over there then followed the mother of all collapses as 7 wickets fell for 12 runs in 7 overs, despite having a strong lower order full of all-rounders which had rescued many previous innings before.

Their then followed an interesting turn of events, Rizwan was determined that as tea was not ready we should get back out there and commence the Harpenden innings straight away. This would hopefully make the TMs forget about their dismal batting quickly and give an immediate chance to put pressure on Harpenden in a tricky 20 min period , then for the bowlers to come out refreshed again after the tea break.

The umpires agreed that as tea was not ready, we should start the Harpenden innings and as the TMs were preparing to enter the field the oppo umpire then decided that tea delivery was only 5 mins away and therefore it would be taken immediately. Rizwan said if it was not here in exactly 5 mins then we would take the field and expect to commence. No sign of tea after 5 mins and despite the obvious and unsurprising unwillingness of the oppo to take to the field... play commenced.

First ball of the innings and Rizwan strikes by bowling the opener and soon after Nozmul Hussain removes their dangerous looking No 3. After 8 overs and with the score on 27-2 tea was finally taken and the TMs had a glimmer of hope.

Immediately after tea Nozmul struck again as the policy of short spells and rotating ends seemed to not allow the batsman to settle. At 29-3, Harpenden sent in a gun to start muscling some boundaries, another change was made and Rizwan replaced Nozmul and immediately struck a double blow to leave Harpenden struggling on 62-5.

During this period Shakeel Durrani bowled an inspired spell that had Harpenden in all sorts of trouble , particularly their opener Latham, who we somehow managed to put down three times and for that we were about to pay. There were a further three dropped chances, six in total!

Latham took advantage of his good fortune and as his innings went on he began to grow in confidence and despite losing another wicket on 94, seemed all set to lead Harpenden to victory with just 10 runs required, the score on 125-6, 14 overs still remaining and his own tally on 74.

Shakeel returning from the pavilion end then struck up a vital bowling partnership with Rizwan , (by this time Nozmul was injured and could not bowl any further) by finally....deservedly.... getting Latham out clean bowled ( best not to rely on the fielders !!) by an absolute corker of an inswinging delivery , Rizwan followed up by taking two wickets in consecutive overs to leave Harpenden on 128-9.

A Mexican stand off ...who would blink first?

Unfortunately it was us ...on 132-9 a chance was offered up at square leg off the bowling of Rizwan to Shakeel, put down ,aaaargh... the butterfingered malaise afflicting the team did not spare the bowlers. Next ball an airy drive just clears the infield and two runs are taken. 134-9 , one run for a tie, anything more and Harpenden win. Rizwan comes in to bowl his fifth delivery of the over.

Bang!!

Ball on bat???...Hell no.....ball on stumps !!! and TMs with that one wicket gain a further 21 points...to take home the full 30 and secure a vital victory against one of the top teams.

The 2s had done it again and for the third time this season had won a match that seemed well and truly lost......perhaps a team should know when it is defeated....but not this one....not this one.



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TM 2 135-10 47 0vers
19-1,52-2,93-3,123-4,123-5,127-6,127-7,128-8,128-9,135-10.

Harpenden III 134-10 49 overs
0-1,27-2,29-3,57-4,62-5,94-6,125-7,128-8,128-9,134-10.

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 2nd XI Batting
135 for 10
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Joseph Askham Bowled  31 1
Matt Crutchlow Bowled  3
Sarfraz Ahmed Lbw  35
Haris Ali Soomro Caught  38
Waleed Khan Bowled  14
Hassan Ali Bowled  4
Jahangir Ahmed Stumped  0
Nozmul Hussain Bowled  0
Shakeel Durrani Lbw  7
Rizwan Siddiqui Caught  1
Oliver Ridout Not Out  0

Harpenden III Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Rohan7.0020120.002.86
Pack13.0715115.001.15
Watts8.014700.005.88
Gilson10.0224212.002.40
Randall9.232764.502.89

Harpenden III Batting
134 for 10
Player name Runs
Jones Bowled  Rizwan 0
Latham Bowled  Shakeel 74
N Pancharanam Lbw  Nozmul 12
Wade Bowled  Nozmul 2
Watts Bowled  Rizwan 16
Arnold Caught  Rizwan 0
Randall Lbw  Haris Ali 12
Gilson Not Out  10
R Pancharanam Lbw  Rizwan 0
Goodwin Lbw  Rizwan 2
Pack Bowled  Rizwan 2

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Rizwan Siddiqui13.523465.672.46
Nozmul Hussain8.0131215.503.87
Oliver Ridout6.03800.001.33
Shakeel Durrani12.0624124.002.00
Sarfraz Ahmed5.001800.003.60
Haris Ali Soomro5.0013113.002.60

  • Umpire :
    Ali Kazmi
  • Scorer :
    Ansab