Scorecard

Radlett CC 1st XI v Hoddesdon on Sat 22 Jul 2006 at 11:30
Radlett CC Won 4 wickets

Match report Rob Smith continued his rich vein of mid-season form with a commanding 94 not out to steer Radlett to their 7th victory of the HCPL season, Hoddesdon on the wrong end a 4 wicket win for the high flying Cobden Hill outfit, who consolidated their position at the top of the table. The visitors will feel somewhat aggrieved however, as an untimely heavy rain shower came at a time when they were on top and in a position , at 156-3 off 47 overs, to launch an assault through their remaining 13 overs allocation. The delay in proceedings took 8 overs from their innings and in the remaining 5 they managed to add 29 runs to set Radlett a 186 run target off their reduced allocation of 42 overs.

Earlier, Hoddesdon skipper Richard Byrne won the toss and elected to bat on a superb looking batting surface, but Radlett dominated the early overs as Stuart Browne and Shane Burger applied the early pressure with immaculate line and length which lead to the run out of Rhys Wynne. This was swiftly followed by the unfortunate dismissal of South African star Matt Harris, who trod on his wicket as he played the ball to leg, Browne the bowler, and he subsequently switch ends to dismiss Yousuf, who having survived a bouncer barrage from Burger succumbed to temptation and in attempting to break the shackles, tried to smear Browne to mid wicket only to lose his off stump. Thereafter, there was little joy for the Radlett attack, as Rory Coutts played a fine innings, looking in control and assured at the crease he played himself in patiently before expanding his strokeplay to both sides of the wicket. The rain delay took some of his momentum, but he managed to complete a superb undefeated hundred in the final over of the innings. Browne was the pick of the bowlers with 2-42 off 18 overs.

In reply, Radlett made a disastrous start as Fielden and Lowe fell cheaply to the off spin of Byrne, and when Dill skied a catch off the bowling of Shafraz Mohammed, Radlett were in some trouble at 48-3. Rob Snith was already at the crease and finding the boundary regularly, and he was joined by Burger (25) and they took the total to 83 before Burger was bowled through the gate by Byrne. Mitz Choksi was then run out after a mix up and when skipper Dan Chippeck fell in controversial circumstances adjudged caught off bat and boot, the scoreboard read 91-6, still 95 needed off 17 overs. However, Smith found an able ally in Simon Gray who, on his recall to the first eleven batted with determination, flair and skill, playing some superbly timed shots off his legs and dispatching the short ball with power. Smith meanwhile was in magnificent form, and hardly looked in any bother, driving the spinners with power and placement. The partnership accelerated to the extent that the victory target was achieved with 3 overs to spare as, with 18 needed, Rob Smtih struck Steve Coleman's over for 20, including a superb straight six to finish procedings in style with 94 not out, Gray with a superbly made 40 not out.

Radlett skipper Dan Chippeck commented:" To be fair, I feel for Hoddesdon who dominated large parts of this match and were unfortunate with the rain delay which robbed them of a chance to post a big total on the back of Rory Coutts' superb innings, the best against us this season without doubt. I was mildly disappointed that our top order failed to fire on a superb pitch, and we were bailed out by a magnificent partnership, and two outstanding individual performances from Rob Smith and Simon Gray. Some of their strokeplay was a delight to watch ."

With Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar beating Hemel Hempstead and Sawbridgeworth respectively, its as you were at the top of the HCPL Division 2 East, Radlett leading by 13 pts from Welwyn, Potters Bar a further 6 pts back. Intriguingly, Radlett travel to Potters Bar this coming Saturday, as first and third square up in a vital clash.

Radlett CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
188
(0.0 overs)		    
Nick Fielden Caught  6
Graham Dill Caught  14
Steve Lowe Caught  0
Rob Smith Not Out  94
Shane Burger Bowled  25
Mitz Choksi Run out  4 1
Dan Chippeck Caught  1
Simon Gray Not Out  40
David Hegarty   1
David Hegarty  
Stuart Browne  

Hoddesdon Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Hoddesdon Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
185 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Shane Burger15.0456156.003.73
Stuart Browne18.0642221.002.33
Simon Gray 6.012400.004.00
Haydn Smith9.003700.004.11
David Hegarty4.0020120.005.00

  • Umpire :
    Peter Baldwin & Mike Townsend
  • Scorer :
    Doreen Browne