Scorecard

Baldock v Radlett CC 3rd XI on Sat 29 May 2004 at 1:30
Radlett CC Lost 5 wickets

Match report What a splendid day we had at Baldock. Only thing wrong from our point of view was that we lost! We got was a warm welcome, a gentlemanly and humorous atmosphere, and an excellent wicket. This, coupled with a splendid game of cricket is what club cricket is all about.

This very interesting match was in the balance right up to the last five overs, when Baldock swung it decisively and conclusively their way.

Without our best batsman and bowler, Radlett needed everyone to contribute, which is exactly what happened. This, albeit in defeat, was a good team performance.

Radlett won the toss and batted on a true wicket that was hard but slow (like most 3rd XI team members), with a tendency for the ball to keep low. Wright batted with his customary explosiveness, while Ingram at the other end dropped anchor. Unfortunately, Wright went for 23, when another half an hour of his bluster would have given the innings a new dimension. As it was there were good contributions from Johnson, Hardy, who is having a solid season, and an elegant 27 from David Irwin. Ollie Robertson showed that he can bat with a resourceful 17 not out. In all it was a team effort, shown by the fact that the top score, from acting captain Dom Ingram, was only 32.

173 for 8 was respectable on a slow wicket against some very competent medium pace bowling from Baldock, with Jones deservedly taking a Michelle.

Radlett opened with the old ball, wielded by spinsters Ashley Tillett and Richard Hardy. These two bowled the first sixteen overs which produced one wicket and a miserly 30 runs. With runs coming slower than jokes at an umpires’ convention, the pressure was on Baldock. And in retrospect it might have been a good option not to take the new at all, because the old ball was coming slowly off both wicket and bat.

The medium pacers made no real impression apart from one pearl from Carpenter about which the batsman knew very little, and two good spells from Robertson.

Yet with ten overs to go sixty were still needed, and when the Soft Monkey Hardy took two more good wickets, five wickets were down, with 36 needed at a run a ball, and two new batters at the wicket.

At this stage Baldock boldly applied the long handle, and it worked. The runs, nurdled and worked for in the previous four hours, were blazed and battered, and the game was won with two overs to spare.

In retrospect, we were probably twenty runs light of a good total, and perhaps it would have been worth keeping the old ball to make the batsman try to hit it too hard. There was certainly very little swing or seam, just some low bounce.

Hardy was easily the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 38, fifteen of which came off his 16th over. The fielding was good, with Colin Warne outstanding behind the stumps.

Well done to the Radlett side for sticking at it, but also I must personally congratulate Baldock. Whilst both teams showed splendid spirit and combined effort which helped produce a match that contained most of what is good in British club cricket, Baldock managed to edge it in the end. We all wish them a happy summer.

Radlett CC 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
173
(0.0 overs)		    
Dominic Ingram Lbw  32
Paul Wright Caught  23 1
Tony Johnson Caught  15
Colin Warne Caught  4
Richard Hardy Bowled  28
David Irwin Bowled  27
John Crocker Bowled  9 1
Oliver Robertson Not Out  17
Ashley Tillett Bowled  0
Chris Brown Not Out  8
Ross Carpenter  

Baldock Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Baldock Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
174 (0.0 overs)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Radlett CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ashley Tillett8.002200.002.75
Richard Hardy16.0538312.672.37
Ross Carpenter7.0132132.004.57
Oliver Robertson11.5244144.003.72
Chris Brown3.011600.005.33

  • Umpire :
    Bird
  • Scorer :