Scorecard

Radlett CC 1st XI v Banbury on Sat 28 Jul 2007 at 11.00 a.m.
Match was Drawn

Match report Sommers UK Home Counties Premier League

Radlett 267-6
Banbury 221-6

Match Drawn

Radlett 12 pts Banbury 8 pts




Radlett extended their unbeaten run in the Sommers UK HCPL to 9 matches as they gained the better of a hard fought draw against Banbury at Cobden Hill. It was another day of tough uncompromising cricket as both teams battled away on an excellent pitch with no quarter asked nor given, typical of this seasons extremely competitive league.

In the reverse fixture between these sides back in May, Banbury inflicted Radlett's last league defeat, romping home chasing 250, so it came as no surprise that on winning the toss, Banbury skipper Benji Hector again decided that a run chase would be the order of the day.

Matt Evans and Kabir Toor combined for Radlett's best opening stand of the season, seeing off the new ball threat of Ryan Newhook, and getting on top of the experienced former England international Paul Taylor. Toor led the way, punishing anything straying to his legs, and unfurling some well timed drives, whilst Evans, in a welcome return to form, took his time but began to find his touch the longer he stayed at the crease. The pair had taken the score to 105 off 32 overs, and were within 10 minutes of batting the entire morning session when Evans (42) holed out to midwicket off the left arm spin of Luke Ryan.

To his credit, Ryan was in the midst of a parsimonious spell either side of the interval, and his persistence was duly rewarded when Toor, unable to find his pre lunch fluency, chipped a gentle return catch to fall for a well made 59. Steve Lowe meanwhile, was in typically positive frame of mind, timing his legside strokes superbly and punishing anything short. He was joined by Shane Burger and they took the score to 152 and were building the foundations for a big total when Ed Smith found Lowe's edge. Thereafter, Burger settled into the anchor role, as Gareth Berg went after the spinners in typically aggressive fashion. The two all rounders have produced several excellent partnerships this season, this being worth 71 before Ryan, having switched ends, dismissed Burger (49). Tom Jenkins was run out shortly after, but Berg went on to complete his fifth half century of the league season having accelerated the scoring rate to take his team past the 250 mark. Berg (51)was caught on the midwicket boundary off Taylor, and some lusty blows from Haydn Smith took the score up to a final total of 267-6 from the 66 over allocation.

In reply, Banbury's opening pair of Benji Hector and Chris Smith began in positive fashion against the new ball being particularly severe on Burger's opening overs. But on a flat pitch and in perfect batting conditions Berg really bent his back to produce a fiery spell which unsettled both batsmen and shortly after taking a nasty blow on the glove Smith , stuck in the crease, edged through to keeper Jenkins. Veteran medium pacer Stuart Browne was as accurate and miserly as ever, and the scoring rate slowed either side of tea as Hector was becalmed and Craig Haupt settled in. They managed to see off Berg, but the introduction of Haydn Smith's left arm spin brought the vital breakthrough, as Haupt top edged an attempted sweep and was well caught by Rob Crocker, and when Jamie Noble flashed a square drive off Browne to Smith at point, Banbury were 103-3 and needing 7 an over for an unlikely victory.

Hector was joined by Oxfordshire skipper Ian Hawtin. and the pair grafted hard as the bowling changes were rung in search of more breakthroughs. They reduced the victory target steadily until 98 were required off the final 10 overs from which point they launched an assault. The partnership was worth 93 when Berg returned to the attack to bowl Hawtin (36), shortly before Hector went through to a well deserved century, his second of the season against Radlett. Steve Beck and Paul Taylor both fell to catches in the deep off Haydn Smith, before Banbury called a halt to the chase and played out the final 3 overs for a draw. Hector batted through the innings for a superb 119 not out, whilst Browne (1-46) , Smith (3-41) and in particular Berg (2-55) were the pick of the Radlett attack, who had to work hard for any reward on such a flat pitch.

Radlett skipper Dan Chippeck commented:" Banbury are one of the best teams in the league at executing their preferred gameplan, so we knew exactly what to expect and just how important it was that we struck the right balance with the bat between being positive but not reckless, and once again our batting responded to the task to post a really competitive total. Benji Hector played really well again, and whilst our bowling was a little inconsistent, Gareth Berg and Stuart Browne put in tremendous shifts on a superb pitch, whilst Haydn Smith showed his experience and skill with a fine spell. Overall, it was another strong performance to extend our unbeaten run and we are well in touch with the leaders in what is a very tight league"

The weekend fixtures threw up some shock results as leaders Slough were beaten by Reading whilst second placed High Wycombe lost to Oxford, to leave Slough leading with 162 points, followed by Oxford (161), Reading (156), Radlett (154) and High Wycombe (150) in what is shaping up to be the tightest title race since the HCPL was formed in 2000. Radlett travel to Henley this coming Saturday, and will be hoping that a week of sunshine and dry weather will have suitably dried out the Thames side ground after recent flooding in the area.


Radlett CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
267
(0.0 overs)		    
Kabir Toor Caught  59
Matt Evans Caught  42 1
Steve Lowe Caught  28
Shane Burger Caught  49 1
Gareth Berg Caught  51
Tom Jenkins Run out  6 1
Haydn Smith Not Out  12 1
James Lewis Not Out  1
Dan Chippeck  
Robbie Crocker   1
Stuart Browne  

Banbury Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Banbury Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
221 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gareth Berg16.0255227.503.44
Shane Burger2.001500.007.50
Stuart Browne17.0646146.002.71
Robbie Crocker4.001900.004.75
Haydn Smith10.0141313.674.10
Kabir Toor3.002200.007.33
James Lewis2.001500.007.50

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Doreen Browne