Scorecard

Radlett CC 1st XI v Finchampstead on Sat 11 Aug 2007 at 11.00 a.m.
Radlett CC Won 9 wkts

Match report Finchampstead 79 all out
Radlett 80-1

Radlett won by 9 wkts

Radlett 25 pts Finchampstead 1 pt



Radlett responded to last weeks reverse at Henley to blast their way back into the title frame with a stunning demolition of Finchampstead at Cobden Hill. The match was done and dusted by 2.30pm, but to all intents and purposes it was as good as over by the drinks break midway through the morning session with Finchampstead having lost 6 wickets as Radletts pace attack exploited a hard bouncy pitch to strike early and often.

Indeed, Shane Burger, now fully fit after shoulder and knee problems, certainly found conditions very much to his liking as he revelled in a pitch that resembled the sort he has grown up with on the highveld of South Africa. Hitting the pitch hard, he extracted disconcerting bounce from just short of a length that immediately troubled the Finchampstead openers Lee Nurse and Tom Ansell, and it was the latter who was first to go as thick edge was superbly held low at gully by Steve Lowe.

There was no let up as new ball partner Gareth Berg, fresh from his debut for Middlesex 2s in midweek, struck the next blow in the following over , beating Nurse for pace and clean bowling the Finch skipper for 8. Berg, initially operating into the breeze, was on the spot from the first ball, constantly asking questions, probing an attacking line, and swinging the ball both ways at good pace.

With the score on 14, Burger was back in the action to dismiss Sam Cheetham, who edged a rising delivery to keeper Tom Jenkins, before Darren Augustus joined Hampshire keeper-bat Tom Burrows, who had notched a century in the reverse fixture between these sides to deny Radlett a victory. The pair saw off Berg's fiery spell, but veteran medium pacer Stuart Browne was brought into the attack and soon made the vital breakthrough, bowling Burrows (25) as he attempted to repeat a previous lofted on drive. 34-4 soon became 37-5 as Burger produced a superb leg cutter to dismiss Nick Denning, before Berg took over to slice through the lower order with a tremendous spell of aggressive pace bowling, dismissing Bloyce, Tonge and Bell to catches by Jenkins, one of which, a bottom edge from an attempted cut, was brilliantly held one handed inches from the ground. A well disguised Berg slower ball then accounted for Harper to give the paceman his third 5 wicket haul of the league season, before Burger replaced Browne to wrap up the innings as Parson miscued to cover, to leave Augustus stranded on a battling 20 not out. Burger finished with figures of 4-11, and Berg claimed 5-36, whilst Jenkins bagged 5 catches in another faultless display of wicket-keeping, as Finchampstead were bowled out for 79 before lunch in under 27 overs without conceding a single extra.

Radlett made short work of the target in the baking afternoon sunshine, openers Kabir Toor and Matt Evans posting a half century opening stand and seeing off a fiery spell from Antigua and West Indies A fast bowler Gavin Tonge, who worked up a serious head of steam. However, Evans flashed at a wide delivery from Bloyce to fall for 20, allowing Steve Lowe (18 not out) to crash 3 boundaries in wrapping up the 9 wicket win, Toor was there at the end to finish 28 not out.

Skipper Dan Chippeck was effusive in his praise of his bowlers, saying:" Gareth Berg and Shane Burger were outstanding for us today, turning in spells that would not be out of place in county cricket on a pretty good pitch for batting. In addition to bowling with pace skill and aggression they also used their heads to out think some of the batsmen. It was great to see Shane fully fit at last and showing what he can do with the ball on top of his outstanding contributions with the bat this season, whilst Gareth just goes from strength to strength and it is absolutely no surprise that Middlesex are taking a serious look at him now. With Stuart Browne providing such an excellent foil on Saturday, there was just no let up in the pressure exerted on Finchampstead , whilst Tom Jenkins and Steve Lowe took some excellent catches. It was pleasing to see us show a ruthless streak thats required to finish off quality opposition in HCPL cricket."


The win pushed Radlett up to third in the Sommers UK HCPL, however with top 2 Slough and Oxford defeating Henley and Farnham Royal respectively, they remain 24 points from top spot. Next Saturday, Radlett travel to fourth placed High Wycombe in a crucial match as both teams seek to stay in touch with the leaders.




Radlett CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 1 wickets
0
80
(0.0 overs)		    
Kabir Toor Not Out  28
Matt Evans Caught  20
Steve Lowe Not Out  18 2
Gareth Berg  
Robbie Crocker   1
Tom Jenkins   5
Dan Chippeck  
Shane Burger  
Stuart Browne  
Rob Smith  
James Lewis  

Finchampstead Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Finchampstead Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
79 (0.0 overs)
Nurse Bowled  8
Ansell Caught  0
Cheetham Caught  0
Burrows Bowled  25
Augustus Not Out  20
Denning Caught  3
Bloyce Caught  2
Tonge Caught  4
Bell Caught  10
Harper Caught  5
Parson Caught  2

Radlett CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gareth Berg10.043657.203.60
Shane Burger8.441142.751.27
Stuart Browne8.0232132.004.00

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Doreen Browne