Scorecard

Ickenham v Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club Ladies XI on Sun 13 Jun 2010 at
Match was Tied

Match report As the Yanks would say, we won 106-106!

Zoe again led from the front by opening the batting, with a new partner in Ciara, and the new-found aggressive running and calling soon had the scoreboard rattling along. Against probably the best, quickest and youngest bowling attack in the NLLCL, runs were never easy to come by but keeping wickets in hand allowed the late assault that came, well, late.

Ciara was bowled by the 14-year old willowy wunderkind but Zoe and Emma carried on in their contrasting styles. Em lived on a prayer but took us half-way there by despatching anything in her arc, while Zoe nudged, nurdled and ran like billy-o. A full straight ball took New Jersey’s (sorry New South Wales’s) finest Em out leg before, although Zoe demonstrated her knowledge of the LB law by kicking away anything pitching outside leg (at the cost of a badly bruised foot).

A rapid re-appraisal of priorities brought Julie up the order, which proved a very sensible move although her classy strokemaking did bring a hint of controversy, with major consequences. A lovely cover drive was held up by the lush turf and settled close to? On? Over? the boundary line (there was no rope), On asking the fielder for confirmation Mr Umpire was assured it hadn’t gone for 4 so two runs were awarded. On closer questioning after the event the fielder revealed her scant knowledge of the game by saying that the ball had reached the line but not crossed it, so no four, innit? A vocal but similarly ill-informed spectator, one with a vested interest, also piped in by saying ‘no four, no four’ but again his confidence was ill-founded, one suspects he was more familiar with the rules of the bigger round ball game, since he too thought the ball had to cross the line to score four goals or whatever. Too late for post balance-sheet date journal entries, we settled for 2, but how little we were to know then how important two runs would have proved.

A few wickets fell in the rush for quick singles but Julie and Aileen ran themselves into the ground turning ones into 2s and 2s into 3s. Perhaps in hindsight attempting to run byes when the keeper, standing up, takes it cleanly, was a mite ambitious, so Julie’s ‘not out’ bonus for the Fantasy League was squandered. 106-6 in 25 might have looked light but in context it was an excellent effort, founded entirely on proper cricket shots and fab running and calling.

Ickleford’s big bird openers biffed and bashed for a while (including biffing Caz out of the attack) but their haymaking was short-lived, by virtue of bowling full and straight Zoe gained an lbw while Emma cleaned up skipper/big hitter Tracy. Emma enjoyed her best spell of the season, motivated by wanting to get out of Ickleford to see Jon Bon Jovi and the boys, and it worked so well that she finished with 4 for 17 from her 5. The catching was magnificent, step forward Aileen, Genelle, Julie et al and from a sure thing Ickleford began to look like also-rans on 98 for 9.

Experience always counts of course, and after viewing the carnage from 22 yards away their number 8 calmly hit two fours to bring the Ickles to 106 for 9. The stand-in left-hander in pink, batting at 11, did a sterling job in keeping her company while they inched towards (but not over) the line. Zoe gambled by bowling out her big 4 gun bowlers, Caz coming back for a triumphant second spell, and took the knacker herself when a captain’s over was needed. ‘Straight and full’ were the silent vibes from the umpire, and the classic MO when bowling to a tailender did the trick when a return catch (we hoped) was popped up……… Zoe sprinted in, stooped to conquer and clutched the ball to her chest. Cue wild group hug on securing a famous tie, or a draw, or was it a victory as we lost fewer wickets?

Once again the lack of clarity in some of the League’s rules was highlighted – in a limited overs game, surely it’s a win – but to bowl a good side out for 106 was a fabulous performance, with only three wides, some fantastic catching, and excellent ground fielding.

106-106!

By Mr Chairman Lyall

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club Ladies XI Batting
106 for 6
Player Name RunsCatchesStumpingsRun outs
Zoe Aspinall Bowled  Tracey Seaman 13 1
Ciara McManus Bowled  Anna Groves 2
Emma Becker Lbw  Ash Popat 18 1
Hannah Stevens Bowled  Tracey Seaman 0
Julie Loebell Stumped  18 1
Pat Tookey-Dickson Run out  3
Aileen Kennedy Not Out  5 1
Caroline Giles  
kayleigh richardson  
Charlotte Tollington  
Hannah Dearing   2

Ickenham Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Liz Petric5.0028128.005.60
Anna Groves5.0112112.002.40
Monicka Tank5.001700.003.40
Ash Popat5.0015115.003.00
Tracey Seaman5.001829.003.60

Ickenham Batting
107 for 6
Player name Runs
Tracey Seaman Bowled  Emma Becker 26
Paula Reopath Lbw  Zoe Aspinall 15
Anna Groves Caught  Emma Becker 16
Dawn Seaman Lbw  Caroline Giles 13
Liz Petric Caught  Caroline Giles 0
Monika Tank Caught  Emma Becker 1
Ash Popat Caught  Emma Becker 6
Rose Norey Not Out  12
Laura Dodsworth Caught  Aileen Kennedy 2
Heather Gibbons Bowled  Aileen Kennedy 0
Rachel Freeman Caught  Zoe Aspinall 1

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club Ladies XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Caroline Giles5.0028214.005.60
Aileen Kennedy5.0024212.004.80
Zoe Aspinall5.0026213.005.20
Emma Becker5.001744.253.40
Charlotte Tollington2.011100.005.50