Scorecard

Radlett CC 3rd XI v Ampthill Town II on Sat 23 Jun 2007 at 1.30 p.m.
Match was Abandoned

Match report It is the mark of a strong side that when they are under pressure, they fight back. Radlett were looking at a big score to chase when Ampthill were 111 for 1, but showed great character in bowling them out for 168. Another factor was a remarkable bowling performance from Shabbir Foyez.

Foyez came on to bowl with the score on 59-0, and the scoring rate at 4 per over. Smithers brought him on to “nick a wicket”. Foyez nicked the next five wickets and ended up with figures of 18.1-3-53-8. This was a staggering return from this likeable player who loves his cricket.

Unfortunately the weather had the last word, and this excellent showing in the field, the third in succession, was not rewarded with the win that would surely have ensued.

Ampthill, a friendly village side who play with a smile, won the toss and batted. Josh Rose and debutant Louie Wentzel opened the bowling without luck. On a slightly damp but good wicket a couple of chances went begging, and mistimed lobbed shots found the gaps, and Ampthill built up a score that would certainly have led to a total well in excess of two hundred against a less determined fielding side. Shabbir's fairy-tale achievement had to have been supported, and indeed made possible by some excellent bowling from the other end that went unrewarded.

Zed Gitay bowled very well to pick up a couple of wickets, and there were three catches that must be mentioned. Mike Crocker, keeping wicket for the first time in a while, interspersed some rustiness with some deft touches, including a classic keeper's catch from a snick following a waft that often diverts the attention, but Mikey kept his concentration and the ball in hand for a fine catch. The second involved Crocker chasing a high top edge and running towards it at the same time as Richard Hardy. Hardy showed courage and skill taking the catch while running into Crocker simultaneously.

If the first catch was often dropped, and the second nearly always dropped, the catch by Simon Randall was the type hardly ever caught. Simon has fielded brilliantly this season and been a revelation to everybody except himself. He clung on to a quarter chance one-handed from a crisply hit full toss by the Ampthill captain, the still overweight Richard Haxell. Haxell is his team's top scorer this year, and has the talent to turn the game by himself. This was not just a superb catch, but a killer blow for Radlett.

Radlett came out to bat and lost Mike Crocker early on to a good ball, well caught by the keeper. The rain came at 10 for 1 and an hour was lost. On the return, following a calculation involving the Duckboard-Lewis-Armstrong system, 159 were required from 23 overs. Rain came at 48 for 2 from 13 overs, with Hardy entertaining the crowd with his unconventional batting tactics, and Ingram slogging and snicking his way to 31 not out.

The rain ruined another promising situation for Radlett, but it was a performance they can be proud of, and which Shabbir Foyez will never forget.

Radlett CC 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
48
(0.0 overs)		    
Dominic Ingram Not Out  31 1
Mike Crocker Caught  0 1
Simon Randall Caught  9 1
Richard Hardy Not Out  5 1
Nick Fielden   1
Tim Smithers  
Shabbir Foyez  
Zahur Gitay  
Iain Edwards  
Louis Wentzel  
Josh Rose   1

Ampthill Town II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Ampthill Town II Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
168 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Josh Rose10.004000.004.00
Louis Wentzel9.002800.003.11
Shabbir Foyez18.115486.752.97
Zahur Gitay15.0235217.502.33

  • Umpire :
    Geoff Bird
  • Scorer :
    Tony Cohen