Scorecard

Harpenden 111 v Radlett CC 3rd XI on Sat 14 May 2005 at 1.30
Radlett CC Lost 90 RUNS

Match report This game was played on a ground with a true wicket, where the opposition were, and played, better than us, and deserved to win. I never thought I would ever say that, because there is always hope, and sides that you think are weak can turn the tables against an “on paper” much stronger team. What compounds this poor performance is that all the other Radlett XIs won.

It is early in the season, and the 3rd XI have drawn one and lost two games. Sides have been less strong than perhaps in recent seasons, so will this set the scene for the remainder of the season? Captain Richard Hardy doesn’t think so, and, strangely, I would agree.

But for now, this is what happened:

Hardy won the toss and bowled. Harpenden batted well on this good track, and it took two deliveries of extremely high quality from Josh Rose to baffle and clean bowl the well-set batsmen. What followed was not quite carnage, but might have been but for some outstanding outfielding from Jez Menzies, who fielded his heart out, Rose himself, Ollie Robertson, and last year’s fielder of the season John Crocker, who also took a stunning catch. Some difficult catches admittedly were put down, but our bowling, which is never going to be described as penetrative, was always persistent, and the team’s collective head never dropped, even in the face of some frankly excellent batting and running from Harpenden (could we learn some lessons?).

Harpenden declared after 50 overs on 236 for 6. This was actually gettable on this good wicket, and Amjad Khan, the side’s only in-form player, started promisingly, but was removed lbw by a very good delivery. John Crocker came in and struck the ball beautifully but not for long enough. 53 for two, but a good scoring rate, and Tony Johnson looking very solid. He and Ingram put on another 50, and the game looked very winnable, with some sensible batting.

Here lies the problem. These two, having laid the foundation, and being set, had the opposition trying to think of a different plan, but both got themselves out on the same score, and the rest of the team, mostly far less experienced, managed just another 46 runs.

So a defeat by a whopping 90 runs. Application is probably the missing single factor, but a problem is rarely solved by just one resolution, it is more likely many factors. To eliminate what the problem isn’t, it isn’t spirit, the will to win, or leadership, all of which are there in abundance. The bowling is not penetrative, but could we compare last year’s winners of the county championship, who hardly bowled sides out all season.

Here is a side that needs a bit more practice, a couple of wins, and getting the habit of success will turn the tide.

The sooner the better.

Radlett CC 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
147
(0.0 overs)		    
Amjad Khan Lbw  21
Tony Johnson Lbw  34
John Crocker Bowled  12 1
Dominic Ingram Lbw  28
Simon Watman Bowled  4
Richard Hardy Caught  6
Oliver Robertson Caught  14
Shabbir Foyez Caught  6
Ceri Luffman Not Out  6
Jeremy Menzies Lbw  0
Josh Rose Bowled  2

Harpenden 111 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Harpenden 111 Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
237 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Josh Rose13.0164232.004.92
Oliver Robertson13.0239139.003.00
Richard Hardy12.0044144.003.67
Dominic Ingram10.0154227.005.40
Jeremy Menzies 2.002100.0010.50

  • Umpire :
    Peter Irwin
  • Scorer :