Scorecard

Hertford iV v Radlett CC 5th XI on Sat 26 May 2007 at 1.30 p.m.
Match was Drawn

Match report This weeks match had possibility of intervention by weather but the untoward status of the second innings weather didn’t deter a match being incomplete either. Radlett took on the mighty Hertford outfit in their back yard with the charged up Captain Eric and youth players the onus was on Vikram to win the toss and do the needful. Vikram won the toss elected to bat and make the most of the conditions which meant playing on artificial track. Intially this felt like a blow but after a day’s play it really didn’t affect the entire outcome not having played on a grass strip.
Mike and Lloyd put the pads on and opened the innings. The opening bowlers were not much more than average and did not look mighty quick. The first boundary came in the 8th over when Mike hit successive strokes. Also the score doubled too. The run rate was 3 and continuously pushing for 4 ideally looking for 4.5 and a target of 220 in 47 overs. The fine start we did get was due to steady play by Mike who now played a support to the young talent of Lloyd who both saw balls very well timing was evenly good and strokeplay was excellent going right through the ball. Ground strokes and power was imminent and Lloyd will go much further. Again patience was the key and Lloyd dispatched 3 balls to the boundary with ferocity along the ground. The partnership ensued and this irritated the opposition who had to have so many on the boundary early in the innings. Unfortunately the opening partnership ended on 94 with Lloyd caught by the bowler for 57 having built both the team and individual foundation. Neel came to the rescue and he played himself in and got a tough decision for a poor shot for 9 being stumped. By this time Mike had reinforced the position and slowed events with score at 104 after 28 overs but out of character to him he ran a give single to the danger end and ran himself out. Now a rebuilding was required with Trevor Woolf 5th team debutant and the seasoned Tony Peck at the helm. With 4 overs of no runs it made the bowling look good. Trevor now opened up his blade to flash some boundaries a solid 6 and up the ante. Tony too hit powerfully and was keen to run singles. Trevor got bowled and Mark Turpin joined the crease to get out first ball playing the loose one on the up now we were 167 for 5 and nearing last 2 overs. The truth of the matter was Radlett batted beautifully set the tone by the openers and late middle order e.g 6,7,.8 had no time to play in and see the ball. The reduced overs requires quickfire scoring from the start of the innings rather than after 25 or 30 overs. Tony hit 25 not out and innings closed on 177. With the batting power we had the score seemed low but easily defendable.
Hertford commented as rain had started did not mean we had to go and field straightaway which showed a not entirely positive frame of mind of their team. Conditions would have to be evaluated and I don’t Radlett minded getting themselves dirty in the field with wet weather.
The field was taken by Radlett with eagerness the rain stopped. Matt took the new cherry which was going to able swing bowling especially with the freshness in air and slight gusty atmosphere. After 6 overs the score read 8 Vikram had also returned to opening slot with gusto and managed to beat the bat many a ball. Matt was bowling variety balls, cutters and quicker ones that just left them baffled. Already appeals were denied till the 7th over when Matt claimed his man. There were very few boundaries hit and the opposition were contained well. Vikram got joy in his swing bowling and was rested after 6 overs. Lloyd took over being a county player and developed to a fairly quick pace there was no rest for the batters. 4th ball he had a caught behind for his first wicket for the team. The batters found it hard to play him. Matt continued and got his 2nd wicket caught by Lloyd at gully and did well in his first spell. Lloyd also was in the wickets and he delivered his worth with his pace by answering with wickets not just bowling to outplay or frustrate. One was bowled cleanly and the other was caught by Mike Dexter at mid off. Mike has now held all catches in matches so far. No. 6 the indomitable sight of Eric Riddle their captain who carries a label of success was a key figure in our path for victory. The deep midwicket was set in place and Lloyd had him hooking unnecessarily for him to be caught by swooping young Ramesh this was the catch of the season and can go down in the ten list. It was poor light skied in the air plus dropped short that enough ground had to be made to his right for him to pull out the full dive and catch 2 inches above the ground was magnificent and only possible by Ramesh and the fielding abilities he has to offer. Now Radlett were truly in the driving set 5 wickets down for 54 runs in the 20th over. A lot of cricket was still left to be played. The left hander entered and the bowling changes of Ramesh with Spin and Brendan with seam suited him as the pace men were off. Ramesh seized opportunity and delivered a good spell on any other day with proper conditions and right field placings he will be a handful. Brendan didn’t get to grips after struggling for 3 overs required a change and he got his line going but at this stage of the match Hertford were looking to accelerate and pounce. Countering this Vikram returned in hope along with Matt to curb their efforts as the score from 20th to 30th over had doubled to 119. 13 overs left and 59 required at a rate of less than 5.
Matt bowled an excellent 4 overs to finish his second spell conceding only 5 runs. Vikram bowled better from 2nd over and from their on the next 3 overs took a wicket in each over. First one was stumping and Trevors consistent persevering paid off and one which only he could have pulled off this Vikram his first season wicket. Came a little late as a tough catch in the field had been missed but more joy was to follow. After 7 wickets down Hertford knew had a tough one as survival was their only chance winning was a long shot as both the left hander and established batters had departed. The ask was just too much at this stage. Again Vikram took wickets his 2nd and 3rd by clean bowling the tail enders for the score to read 137 for 9 at 37 overs. The ball was soggy and very tough condition all round. Appeals were being held and not given which meant the only way to succeed was bring down the timber. Vikram did not get the much needed wicket which had riding 15 points on and Lloyd too could not get the final crucial breakthrough.
There was no disappointment not to have won as we had tried our best to get a winning draw and played superb cricket. This was the best bowling display so far in the season and total commitment in the field as well helped. Example being Mark Turpins full side on dive and many other key instances that showed the teams talent and skill.

Man of the match: Lloyd Paternott for 57 runs, 1 catch, 4 for 19 from 7 overs – a very good all round contribution.

This still eludes Radlett from a win and bottom of the table the only way now is up.

Radlett CC 5th XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
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TOTAL :
 
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0
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Mike Dexter Run out  32 1
Lloyd Paternott Caught  57 1
Neel Malde Stumped  9
Trevor Woolf Bowled  35 1 1
Tony Peck Not Out  25
Mark Turpin Caught  0
Oliver (jnr) Jackson Caught  1
Ramesh Swaminathan Not Out  0 1
Vikram Rajput  
Matt Barrett  
Brendan Jones  

Hertford iV Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
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Hertford iV Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 0 wickets
0
0 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 5th XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Matt Barrett15.0333216.502.20
Vikram Rajput13.0335311.672.69
Lloyd Paternott7.001944.752.71
Ramesh Swaminathan5.002200.004.40
Brendan Jones3.002700.009.00