Scorecard

Falkland v Radlett CC 1st XI on Sat 01 Sep 2007 at 10.30 a.m.
Radlett CC Lost By 31 runs

Match report Sommers UK HCPL Division 1

Falkland 201 all out
Radlett 170 all out

Falkland won by 31 runs



Radlett's first ever visit to the picturesque ground at Falkland ended in crushing disappointment as a winning position was frittered away to leave the Hertfordshire club thinking of what might have been. With the top 2 faltering elsewhere, the opportunity was there for 3rd placed Radlett to put themselves in with a great chance of bagging their first HCPL Division 1 title on the final day of the season next week, and they appeared to be doing just that , reaching 151-4 in reply to Falkland's 201 all out before losing their final 6 wickets for just 19 runs inside 6 overs, as the hosts claimed a vital 25 pts in their battle against relegation.

Put into bat, Falkland made a good start against Radlett pacemen Gareth Berg and Shane Burger, as the slow low pitch neutralised their threat. Indeed it was apparent from an early stage that the conditions would create an attritional type of game, and inside 10 overs Radlett skipper Dan Chippeck had replaced his pace attack with the veteran medium pacer Stuart Browne and off spinner Rob Crocker. Having started in positive fashion, Will Challoner was becalmed by the bowling changes, nonetheless along with his opening partner Dan Shivlock, the score was taken past 50 before Browne struck the opening blows, dismissing both openers bowled for 26 a piece and following up with the wicket of James Morris. Crocker got into the action when Richard Morris was well caught by keeper Tom Jenkins to reduce Falkland to 63-4.

With Crocker finding some turn, and Browne unerring in his accuracy, batting was tough, but Ben Chapman dug in whilst Rauf Akbar counter attacked either side of lunch, the pair adding 59 for the 5th wicket before Browne dismissed Akbar for 45 to trigger another mini collapse, 4 wickets falling for 27, as Crocker bowled Chapman round his legs and Browne collected 2 more victims, left handers John Chandler and Neil Gunter both bowled through the gate. However, David Balcombe combined with Khalid Zafar to add a vital 38 runs, Zafar eventually run out for a battling 19, whilst Balcombe was the last man dismissed in the final over of the allocation for a crucial 34. Browne completed a marathon 28 over spell, featuring 12 maidens, to finish with thoroughly deserved figures of 6-68, whilst Crocker turned in his best stint of the season to claim 3-55 off 18.3 overs.

Unsurprisingly given the prevailing conditions, Falkland used the old ball with immediate effect, as Kabir Toor glanced the first ball of the innings from Zafar straight into the hands of Shivlock at leg slip. James Lewis, promoted up the order to take the attack to the old ball, played some fine shots through the off side, and in company with Matt Evans moved the score to 30 before Evans clipped Zafar gently to mid wicket. Zafar then struck a vital blow bowling Shane Burger, before Lewis drove Akbar straight to cover to leave Radlett in trouble at 45-4.

However, under pressure, Gareth Berg and Rob Smith dug in to build the games best partnership, initally working the ball around, but then expanding their strokeplay against pace and spin alike. From 75-4 at tea, the pair moved the score to 150 at a rate of 5 an over after the interval, leaving just 50 to get from 17 overs. Falkland skipper Mark Foster had by then taken the new ball with no immediate effect, but the break through eventually came when Berg (61) was early on an attempted pull shot and flat batted hard to mid off where Akbar took a fine catch. This triggered a collapse of note, as in the following over Akbar dismissed Rob Smith for a fine 54 and Haydn Smith. Jenkins fell in Akbar's next over and Crocker was immediately yorked by Balcombe, before Browne's run out completed Radlett's dramatic demise as he was sent back looking for a second run to third man, skipper Chippeck left stranded and his teams title hopes in tatters.

Afterwards, Chippeck commented: " We blew this match, and a great chance to play for the HCPL title on the final day, and those chances dont come around too often. Obviously it was a very dissappointed dressing room there, and having bemoaned our luck at various stages through the season, we only have ourselves to blame for throwing away a winning position. We have performed to a high standard consistently through the season, so to let ourselves down in the fashion we did with so much at stake was massively disappointing."



Radlett CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
170
(0.0 overs)		    
Kabir Toor Caught  0
Matt Evans Caught  9
James Lewis Caught  24
Shane Burger Bowled  2
Gareth Berg Caught  61
Rob Smith Caught  54
Tom Jenkins Bowled  8 1
Haydn Smith Caught  0 1
Dan Chippeck Not Out  3
Robbie Crocker Bowled  0
Stuart Browne Run out  1

Falkland Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Falkland Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
201 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gareth Berg12.023600.003.00
Shane Burger4.011600.004.00
Stuart Browne28.01268611.332.43
Robbie Crocker18.3055318.332.97
Kabir Toor2.00700.003.50
Haydn Smith1.00900.009.00

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Doreen Browne