Scorecard

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 3rd XI v Reed II on Sat 21 May 2011 at 1:00pm
Match was Drawn 11 points

Match report Lots of swing and breaking timber from Swinging Low ... Jeremy brooks no argument with his second 70+ score in two weeks. ..Steve and Waxy block the you-know-what off it before the V-C smashes a half-volley over the Caveman’s head to the screens to give a moment of light relief. We may have denied the opposition a win, and that may tell come the end of the season, but in truth it was a pretty poor effort apart from Charlie’s, James’s, and Jeremy Book’s contributions.

So only 11 points and only a few positives. Charlie’s 6 for 69 (smashing a stump in the process) was a superb piece of sustained swing bowling, and despite being in the covers at the end, still maintained his energy and rhythm. Steve had a mixed day with the ball, some very tight stuff but when the wheels came off they did in style, being carted to all parts in a few expensive overs that ruined his figures. Not a great day for Waxy with the ball, nor Amir, but Jim chipped in with a wicket and the ground fielding was excellent.

From 99 for 6, and 135 for 8, 252 for 9 represents either an amazing recovery by Reed or a spectacular dissolution by TMs, aka Millridge, and in truth it was a bit of both. The big fella who made 105 http://www.projectcobb.org.uk/biographies/RoddiLiebenberg.pdf gave it lots of swing and enjoyed plenty of ding despite his rusty start, while his mate who made 34* at 10 (way too low) batted very sensibly, played it straight and enjoyed a bit of luck. The replacement balls were big and soft, the sun came out, the bowlers got tired, and it all contributed to a par score on an excellent Ridge track. So there we are. 48 overs to get 253, a different proposition to the last two chases we enjoyed so much.

We have to look at our approach rather than the opposition’s, and while a proper left-arm spinner (a spare overseas and a 1s player in terms of quality) and an experienced medium-pacer made it very hard for the Jeremies to get the ball away, perhaps a more positive mindset might have put us in with a sniff. It is, of course, easy to say that now. Jeremy B carried on where he left off last week and drove handsomely when it was pitched up. Jeremy G again fell leg-before. Hilton played down the wrong line to the young quickie and Arjun got a good ‘un from the same bowler. Jeremy went serenely up to 77 before clipping one to square leg, but skipper Hutch provided the only other innings of note with a brisk 33 featuring many of his favourite sweep shots.
Then with the tension building it came down to the last 4 overs and the last 2 batsmen, Waqas and Steve. Waqas had a swollen and bruised thumb at this stage (Ed. - we now know it was broken, so a top effort from Waxy) so perhaps fortuitously he was facing the spinner and Steve the quickie, Reed’s most potent bowling combination acting in partnership at this stage. But then Steve chipped a single off the seamer with eight balls to go; Waqas, who had been rock-solid against spin, blocked the 7th last ball leaving the V-C 6 left arm twirly things to deal with.

With the field circling like vultures, and the chirp plentiful but not very original, Steve took his time. A couple of blocks and a judicious leave, and we were nearly home. Then the caveman (Wheeler) dropped one on a perfect length and making Steve prop forward, it cannoned off silly mid-off’s hard hands and the catch was spilled. Dying to say ‘you’ve just dropped the big 3-Oh mate’ but resisting temptation, as there was still one ball left, Steve took guard again before perhaps the biggest crowd of the season. Wheeler served up perhaps his least effective nut of the over, a straight half-volley, and Steve joyously drove it straight (straight, mind you) over his head for 4. Game over.

Reed II Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
252 (0.0 overs)
Curtis Bowled  Low 0
Bowles Caught  Lyall (J Graves) 32
Cooper Bowled  Low 1
Freman Lbw  Low 35
Barlow Lbw  Lyall 3
Liebenberg Bowled  Hutcheson 105
Dobson Caught  Low (J Book) 4
Baker Caught  Low (J Book) 13
Wheeler Bowled  Low 1
Martin Not Out  34
Tidey  

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Charles Low23.0569611.503.00
Amir Khan8.015300.006.63
Steve Lyall16.0282241.005.13
Waqas Memon3.002000.006.67
James Hutcheson1.4013113.007.80

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
146
(0.0 overs)		    
Jeremy Book Caught  Martin 77 2
Jeremy Graves Lbw  Wheeler 6 1
Hilton Nathanson Bowled  Cooper 8
Peter Leslie Caught  Cooper 0
Arjun Chopra Bowled  Cooper 1
James Hutcheson Caught  Wheeler 33
Philip Ridout Caught  Wheeler 3
Amir Khan Lbw  Dobson 0
Charles Low Bowled  Cooper 0
Waqas Memon Not Out  0
Steve Lyall Not Out  5

Reed II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Tidey14.025900.004.21
Wheeler17.0635311.672.06
Cooper9.031543.751.67
Martin4.00818.002.00
Dobson4.0015115.003.75

  • Umpire :
    Bob Chandler
  • Scorer :