Radlett CC 3rd XI v Baldock on Sat 10 Jun 2006 at 13:30

Scorecard

Radlett CC 3rd XI v Baldock on Sat 10 Jun 2006 at 13:30
Radlett CC Won 10 wickets

Match report Radlett's bowlers today owed a lot to our 5th XI captain Vikram Rajput. Vikram was on ground duty on the morning of the game, and entrusted with the task of rolling the 3rd XI wicket. Because he couldn't find reverse gear on the roller, stalled it three times (once is difficult) and performed a handbrake turn just on a good length, the wicket was, let us say quirky. It also created what has come to be known as “Rajput's Ridge”, which proved of some assistance to our opening bowlers.

On the hottest day of the year we would justifiably have batted if we won the toss. Tim Smithers lost the toss, so we had to field. From that moment on Radlett played powerfully and clinically, winning by ten wickets, a victory the magnitude of which has not been achieved for six years, and this on the back of last week's defeat.

But please do not get the impression that Baldock are a weak side because this was one our more difficult games. Baldock are above mid-table, and have an opening bat who has already scored nearly 300 runs.

Josh Rose came back into the side and immediately provided cutting edge to the bowling attack, having Baldock's prolific runscorer snaffled behind the stumps by the ebullient Ceri Luffman. At the other end Brian Dummer bowled with aggression, and used "Rajput's Ridge" effectively. With Olly Robertson coming on first change, and again bowling beautifully they took three wickets each (with Robertson having two catches put down), and Sudbery taking the other wicket with his spinners.

Before the pitched flattened out and played less menacingly, Baldock were 48 for 5, with Radlett fielding aggressively and on top throughout. The fielding, bar two straightforward catches being dropped, was of a high standard, epitomised by captain Tim Smithers' brilliant one-handed slip catch, and Radlett really looked a slick outfit, more especially in such high temperatures. The ground fielding, especially of Dummer and Rose, was excellent. This was important as conditions became easier for batting, but Radlett repelled the Baldock revival with a determined and professional approach.

Baldock were bowled out for 127 from 49.3 overs. They had the worse conditions, but Radlett can take much from their energy and determination in the field, choreographed by Luffman, who gave a cultured lead from behind the wicket, pouching two catches and having a close stumping turned down. Smithers did well to lose the toss, led from the front, and used attacking fields almost throughout.

As to chasing the runs, only two batsmen were needed. Mike Yeabsley and Dom Ingram helped themselves to unbeaten fifties, never gave a chance or looked like getting out, and of the 50 overs available, less than half were required. Yeabsley was really in a class of his own, hitting the ball cleanly and hard, and Ingram looked back in form, which is good for the side. The only down side of a game like this is that the rest of the batters did not get a bat.

Baldock are a decent side, and enjoyable company, and it must be said, had the worse of the luck in this game, not to mention Rajput's Ridge . But Radlett made the most of the conditions, and have sent a powerful message to the rest of this division.

There were, apart from the cricket, two other moments of joy. The first was the whoop of exuberance when England got their first goal of the World Cup campaign, which makes a Paraguyan England's top scorer (so far, one hopes).

The other was the wonderful news from across the Atlantic where the actor Brad Pitt has made my dreams come true by naming his child Shiloh. Will the Americans never understand the power of the Spoonerism?

Radlett CC 3rd XI Batting

Player Name		Runs	M	Ct
extras TOTAL :	for 0 wickets	0 129	(0.0 overs)
Mike Yeabsley	Not Out	59
Dominic Ingram	Not Out	56
Brian Dümmer				1
Tim Smithers				1
Ceri Luffman				2
Brian Dümmer
Tim Smithers
Oliver Robertson
Ian Sudbery
Ceri Luffman
Josh Rose

Baldock Bowling

Player name	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Average	Economy
No records to display.

Baldock Batting

Player name		Runs
extras TOTAL :	for 10 wickets	0 127 (0.0 overs)

Radlett CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player Name	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Average	Economy
Brian Dümmer	13.3	3	31	3	10.33	2.30
Josh Rose	16.0	1	35	3	11.67	2.19
Oliver Robertson	14.0	5	37	3	12.33	2.64
Ian Sudbery	6.0	4	15	1	15.00	2.50

Umpire :
G Bird
Scorer :

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