Scorecard

Radlett CC 1st XI v Stevenage on Sat 05 Aug 2006 at 11:30
Match was Drawn

Match report Radlett's winning run in the HCPL Division 2 East came to an end on Saturday, as third placed Stevenage left Cobden Hill with the better of a drawn fixture to claim 16 points to the home team and league leader's 8.

Radlett skipper Dan Chippeck won the toss and invited Stevenage to take first use of the rock hard and evenly grassed pitch in the hope that his opening bowlers could inflict early damage on the Stevenage top order with the new ball. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Radlett's overseas strike bowler Shane Burger claimed 8 wickets as Stevenage were bundled out for 85, and with that in mind, openers Tanweer Sikander and Gary Brown started with extreme caution against both Burger and his opening partner Stuart Browne, to the extent that just 6 runs were scored in the first 10 overs, 3 of which were extras. Both opening batsmen were beaten time and again outside off stump, but the edges were not found, Brown in particular looking all at sea and struggling to locate the leather with his willow. Nonetheless, the threat of the new ball was gradually being worn away, and as the seam movement and swing receded, Sikander began to unveil some attacking strokes to get the scoreboard moving. They took the score to 64 before Burger's persistence paid off and he yorked Brown with the first ball after the mid morning drinks break for a painstaking 15, and followed up this initial breakthrough soon after when Syed Kazmi flirted outside his off stump and was very well caught by keeper Steve Lowe. When Browne picked up Sikander, plumb LBW for 44 in the following over, Stevenage had been pegged back to 74-3 and Radlett were well on top. However, Naseer Ahmed was joined at the crease by Gareth Berg, and they embarked on the partnership that shaped the rest of the match, at first steadying things in the period up to the lunch break, and then taking the game away from Radlett in the afternoon session with a superb display of controlled hitting and aggressive running between the wickets, to the extent that they put on 162 for the 4th wicket until Berg fell for 81, and once the final charge had ensued they had led Stevenage to a mammoth 309-6 from their 60 over allocation, and 190 had been added in the 26 overs after lunch. Ahmed was particularly severe on the spinners but each and every bowler were subject to extreme punishment at times, and he finally fell for a magnficient 125 as Burger returned to pick up his third wicket for the day, his 33rd for the season so far.

In reply, Radlett set out in positive fashion requiring just over 6 an over to win, Graham Dill being particularly severe on anything loose, and the lightening fast outfield meaning anything through the field generally finding the boundary. His opening partner Haydn Smith was content to play the supporting role, but with the score on 55 in the 11th over Dill edged an attempted cut off Azhar Ali's left arm spin and edged behind for 34. Rob Smith joined his namesake and took over Dill's mantle, attacking the spinners, and driving through the offside with exquisite timing. Haydn Smith rode his luck but was playing the spinners in aggressive fashion as well and runs were coming at a good rate to the extent that Stevenage resorted to posting 6 and sometimes 7 deep fielders in an attempt to cut off the flow of boundaries. 111 were added by the 2nd wicket pair and at 166-1 with 18 overs to go the chase was well and truly on. However, frustration got the better of Rob Smith, caught at long off 65, and when Hutchings and Lowe were both run out, Gray caught at slip and Haydn Smith caught and bowled for 64, five wickets had fallen for 19 runs and at 185-6 any chance of a win was gone. When Burger and Fielden fell to pace of Gareth Berg, Radlett were in danger of defeat, but Chippeck and Hegarty batted out the final 4 overs to secure a draw, closing at 205-8 off 50 overs.

Radlett skipper Dan Chippeck commented: " I felt we bowled really well up front without any luck whatsoever, and showed persistence and patience to have them 3 down relatively cheaply. Thereafter though, their 4th wicket partnership never really gave us a sniff, and they took full advantage of superb conditions for batting. With 20 overs left and around 160 needed with 9 wickets in hand we definitely were in the hunt, but as is often the case on big chases, a couple of boundary catches and a couple of run outs and its a different game, and so it proved on this occasion. Still a draw was not a bad result for us from this fixture, Stevenage are a strong side with 3 or 4 outstanding individuals, and I expect them to chase us hard over the final 5 games, and so not losing to them was important for us."

As Chippeck referred to, the chase for the HCPL Division 2 East title is well and truly on, Radlett currently leading by 12 points from Welwyn Garden City, who drew with 4th placed Potters Bar. Stevenage are a further 13 points behind in third, but have the chance to leapfrog Welwyn Garden City on Saturday when the teams clash at Stevenage. Radlett meanwhile travel to local rivals North Mymms, hoping to return to winning ways, and consolidate top spot.

Radlett CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
205
(0.0 overs)		    
Graham Dill Caught  34
Haydn Smith Caught  64
Rob Smith Caught  65
Brenden Hutchings Run out  1
Steve Lowe Run out  3 1 1
Shane Burger Caught  7
Simon Gray Caught  1
Nick Fielden Caught  5
Dan Chippeck Not Out  5 1
David Hegarty Not Out  0
Stuart Browne  

Stevenage Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Stevenage Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
309 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Shane Burger20.0680326.674.00
Stuart Browne22.5790245.003.94
Haydn Smith5.005300.0010.60
Graham Dill4.002700.006.75
David Hegarty5.002800.005.60
Simon Gray 3.0025125.008.33

  • Umpire :
    Nick Hall & Marc Hewitson
  • Scorer :
    Doreen Browne