Scorecard

Radlett CC 3rd XI v Holtwhites Trinibis on Sat 09 Sep 2006 at 12:30
Radlett CC Won 4 wickets

Match report The last game of the season, and 11 points required for promotion. The plan was to bat first, make 200 and secure 10 of the 11, then get a wicket to make it to the promised land of division 4.

As in most real life stories, it didn't work out at all like that. For a start, (or an end), it didn't matter a jot. The only side that could have overtaken Radlett 3rds lost, and we didn't need a single point, and could have stayed at home and done our homework instead.

But we stayed, won the match, repaired to the bar, and celebrated with the other teams until clocks.

Tim Smithers lost the toss, and Holtwhites, having only eight players present at 12:30, were forced to bat. And bat they did. Their top four batsmen were as good a top order as any in the division. Josh Rose produced a beauty in his first over to dismiss their top batsman, who needed twenty to get his 1,000 for the season, and the next wicket came 100 runs later, courtesy of Mark Silva, who bowled a magnificent long hop that was hit extremely hard to Olly Robertson, who just doesn't drop catches.

But at 137 for 2, Smithers confided in me “this isn't going to plan!”. Silva then took his second wicket, and Holtwhites were all out nine runs later.

This demonstrates the strength of this side, which has been to dig in and work for their wickets. A score of well in excess of 200 seemed probable, but the fielding was of a high standard, all the wickets falling to catches, three by keeper Smithers, and I can't remember one being dropped, but then I can't remember anything at all after 7 pm.

Dümmer took three wickets, Silva three, and Rose and Robertson gave excellent support.

The chase began without taking tea, and with Holtwhites three fielders short, the runs were made at a run a ball, but not without some difficulty. The opening bowlers attacked with skill and heart. Ingram was caught behind off a beauty early on, and Nick Tune, Paul Windmill and Ben Thornhill all got into double figures but perished to some decent bowling. Mark Silva and Ollie Robertson finished it off with four wickets and some 36 overs left, but it was again Matt Soffia who looked a very complete batsman, topscoring with 43, and at the age of only sixteen a great prospect.

Holtwhites have half of a very good side, and it would have certainly have been challenging to play against their whole side. But three of them didn't turn up, which is poor, so they bloody well deserve to lose.

This has been an excellent season for the Third XI and indeed for the Club. Many congratulations to all the sides that got promotion, and for the Fourth XI for punching way above their weight, this has been an heroic effort from them.

The Thirds have always had good team spirit and worked together. There has never in my memory been any backbiting or jealousy, and games have never been less than enjoyable, win or lose. This season has involved all these elements, but with two added factors.

The first is the excellent availability, so we have always had a choice, and very few players had cried off from a game. This has been true for all the sides. What has therefore been apparent is that the Thirds have never had “passengers” in their team. Every player has had a role, and every player has been a proper cricketer who has added value to the team. As we saw last Saturday, the opposition have not always had that luxury.

The second, more important factor has been quality of our captaincy. Always a difficult job, and not one to aid popularity, Tim Smithers has managed to make it look easy and remain massively respected and liked. This has been achieved by a selflessness and fierce pride in his team.

When Smithers talks, his side listen, because it's worth listening to, and the side know it comes from a deep knowledge of the game.

At the end of last season we missed promotion by three points. We were not too bothered, because we felt we might struggle a division above. This season the signs are right. There have been one or two new players, and young players coming through who have fitted straight in, and it is my belief that division four will be a worthwhile challenge that Radlett 3rds will face head on, and successfully.

Division four will contain four 2nd XIs, fifteen 1st XIs, plus Radlett 3rd XI. This is the current strength of Radlett cricket.

Just seven months until the first game.

DI



Radlett CC 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
148
(0.0 overs)		    
Dominic Ingram Caught  4 1
Matthew Soffair Caught  43
Nick Tune Caught  12 1
Paul Windmill Bowled  15
Ben Thornhill Bowled  17
Tim Smithers Caught  6 3
Mark Silva Not Out  16
Oliver Robertson Not Out  10 1
Josh Rose   1
Josh Rose  
Brian Dümmer  

Holtwhites Trinibis Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Holtwhites Trinibis Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
146 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Brian Dümmer12.032839.332.33
Josh Rose5.0127127.005.40
Oliver Robertson10.005500.005.50
Mark Silva11.0034311.333.09

  • Umpire :
    G Bird
  • Scorer :