Scorecard

Potters Bar II v Radlett CC 2nd XI on Sat 29 Aug 2009 at 12.30 p.m.
Radlett CC Won by 7 wickets

Match report .
The weather for this match was dry, with intermittent shade provided by a large number of small clouds driven by a crossfield breeze. The pitch had been mown closely. It was dry, despite the very heavy downpour which drenched Potters Bar (and Radlett) on the previous evening.

PBCC won the toss, and decided to bat. The game began at 12:30 hr, with Johnson Mafa and Stuart Browne opening RCC's bowling. in his first over, Stuart had PBCC's No 1 LBW, and recorded his first wicket maiden of the day. James Lewis took a smart short-leg catch to dismiss PBCC's No 3 during Johnson's second over. PBCC's score was then 4 – 2. PBCC's No 2, Tom Pett, and No 4, Matt Evans, both left-handed batsmen, tried to hit RCC's bowlers off their length by stepping down the wicket as the ball was bowled. In Stuart's fourth over, Pett (22) hit a ball high to the deep midwicket boundary, where Johnson took a good catch. PBCC 34 – 3. In his fifth over, Stuart got a second wicket maiden, bagging PBCC's No 5 LBW to take his interim analysis to O 5 M 2 R 14 W 3. PBCC's score was 48 – 5, scored at nearly 5 runs an over, but at a heavy cost in wickets.

PBCC's batsmen continued to attack the bowling, following their policy of stepping out of their ground to try to drive. Their score reached 71 – 4 at the end of the 14th over, still at a creditable 5 runs per over. However, in over 15, Johnson had PBCC's No 6 caught by Lee Fortis off a high miss-hit off drive, while in over 16, Stuart was granted his third LBW of the day. These overs were the third and fourth wicket maidens of the innings, and PBCC's score was reduced to 71 – 6. In his tenth over, Johnson broke the back of PBCC's remaining resistance by diving to his right to hold a hard, low off drive from Evans (26) inches above the ground. PBCC 85 – 7. After another maiden over from Stuart, Johnson bowled his eleventh over. Off the fourth ball, Haydn Smith, fielding at gully, leapt high to hold an excellent catch from a slashed cut by PBCC's No 9. With his next ball, Johnson got PBCC's No 10 LBW for a golden duck, and the stage was set for a possible hat-trick. PBCC 85 – 9. Unfortunately, PBCC's No 11 played his first ball with the middle of his bat, scoring a single and denying Johnson his hat-trick. PBCC's last pair added four more runs before Stuart ended the innings by collecting another LBW decision at the expense of PBCC's No 11.

RCC obtained 10 bowling bonus points, but PBCC did not gain any batting bonus points. Since the PBCC innings had lasted for 23.3 overs, the permitted length of the RCC innings was increased from 47 overs to 47 + (53 – 24) overs, a total of 76 overs. Since the PBCC innings had lasted for only101 minutes or so, Atul Sachdeva and Nick Fielden began the RCC innings after a 10 minute interval, without the usual break for tea. Mark Ilott, ex Essex CCC, opened the PCC bowling with his brisk left-arm action. He achieved good economy and two early wickets, reducing RCC to 26 – 2 after 8.2 overs. John Barr, batting at No 4, played the two opening bowlers with respect before cutting loose after they were replaced. In total, he scored 40 runs from 48 balls, losing his wicket when only six runs were needed for victory. James Lewis and Nick egged the cake by reaching 90 – 3, then adding a further boundary with the winning shot. Nick carried his bat for 31 not out. The remaining six players in an exceptionally strong RCC batting line-up did not get a chance to show their paces. The RCC innings lasted for 87 minutes and 24.3 overs, leaving 51.3 overs unused.

A leisurely tea was then taken by both teams. This was followed by equally leisurely drinks. RCC took 30 points for their win, and PBCC collected three bowling bonus points.

RCC 2nd XI's win keeps them at the top of the League's Division 2, with only one more match left to play. They have the same number of points, 409, as Luton Town & Indians CC 1st XI, but have one more victory than them. Two teams will be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1. With a maximum of 30 points for a win in the last match, three other teams, LTCC&I 1st XI, Old Finchleians CC 1st XI and Cockfosters CC 1st XI could overtake RCC 2nd XI, but if RCC 2nd XI receive at least 16 points from their final game against Watford Town CC 1st XI, they will be sure of promotion. If they beat WTCC 1st XI, RCC 2nd XI will become Division 2 champions, whatever the results of the other contenders.

Since a maximum of only 20 bonus points can be obtained from one match, engineering 16 or more bonus points is quite difficult. It will probably be easier to aim for an outright win, and accept any bonus points gratefully. We must hope that all goes well with the team on Saturday.

WM
3.9.09
.

Potters Bar II Batting
Player name Runs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
90 (0.0 overs)
Adam Norman Lbw  Stuart Browne 1
Tom Pett Caught  Johnson Mafa Bowled Stuart Browne 22
Adam Titmuss Caught  James Lewis Bowled Johnson Mafa 0
Matt Evans Caught  and bowled Johnson Mafa 26
Mark Taylor Lbw  Stuart Browne 8
Luke Owers Caught  Lee Fortis Bowled Johnson Mafa 16
Paul Martin + Lbw  Stuart Browne 0
Haydn Rogers Not Out  0
Mark Ilott Caught  Haydn Smith Bowled Johnson Mafa 0
Tom Rowlands Lbw  Johnson Mafa 0
Greg Hodge * Lbw  Stuart Browne 5

Radlett CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Johnson Mafa12.0057511.404.75
Stuart Browne11.352955.802.52

Radlett CC 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 3 wickets
0
94
(0.0 overs)		    
Atul Sachdeva Lbw  Mark Ilott 12
Nick Fielden Not Out  31
David Robinson Bowled  Mark Ilott 0
John Barr Bowled  Luke Owers 40
James Lewis Not Out  5 1
Felix Walker   Did not bat
Nish Selvakumar   Did not bat
Lee Fortis   Did not bat 1
Haydn Smith   Did not bat 1
Johnson Mafa   Did not bat 2
Stuart Browne   Did not bat

Potters Bar II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mark Ilott10.0220210.002.00
Mark Taylor7.032300.003.29
Luke Owers5.0122122.004.40
Greg Hodge2.302300.009.20

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    B.Marshall