THE GAME OF THE SUN SHINE Well FOR THE PHOTO ONLY!!!
On what promised to be a blisteringly hot but never came to fruition 11 men of Radlett prepared to face 11 men of Watford.
Skipper Rahil Thapar again won the toss and elected to bat with the old established openers Tej and Alex restored to the top.
Tej and Alex set off like steam trains and at 30 after 5 overs it looked like Watford could be chasing leather for a long time. It was a surprise when Sohail Khan won an appeal against ALEX that seemed to hit him on the thigh pad but the finger of doom was raised.
Chris Arul joined Tej and fair to say Chris was not his fluent self but Tej was scoring freely and runs were coming all round the wicket. It was lovely to watch 2 class batsmen at work.

At drinks it was 131 for 1 with me thinking we might make 300.

As is so often the case, after a break, whether Drinks or injury or lost ball, momentum changes and for the first time between them the calling was off and Tej was run out allowing big brother Neel to replace him. 30 overs 140 for 2 and Neel and Chris continue when Tej and Chris had left off. Chris is starting to get fluid and runs are coming without chances being taken.

The 40th over sees the end of Neel who is bowled Neck and Crop by Mahmood. 40 overs gone 192 for 3. Im thinking 8 an over 270 would be good. 300 would be better.

Abhijay came and went in Abhijay style and this time it didn’t come off as he was well caught by Hanif and the newly wed slimline Troy returned to the crease. Troy and Chris pushed the scores along easily until Troy succumbed at 213 for 5 in the 45th over, perhaps we were falling behind our anticipated score. Rahil and Rohan tried to lift the anti as Chris decided it was boom or die and started to get expansive without losing his shape.

Chris gets to a well deserved 100 and with NElson running like Usain Bolt we end up 262 for 7 from our 50 overs.
Slightly under par on a beautiful deck.

After the best tea of the year so far Rahil led his troops back to the pitch in determined Kelly’s heroes style.
So we know after 25 years bowling for the 2s, Ross Carpenter (the man with 9 nicknames) will open the bowling at the lower ground end, what was a surprise and again Rahil, thinking outside the box, Rohan “The Wiz” Francis was given the new cherry at the pavilion end rather than DSJ our Triple Threat.

2 steady opening overs and Ross bowls a long hop for 4 and a single but with the last ball of the over gets Jalali to edge one to Tej at gully who had been moved the ball before to Gully. Well Skippered skipper. 5 overs gone and Rohan has the cherry in his hand and produces a brute of a ball that NElson takes at chest height and its 20 for 2. This brings in Riahn Pieres a very gifted player from Australia and he will be difficult to dislodge. Rohan bowls a maiden and Ross 1 run and after 10 overs its 27 for 2 with Radlett’s ground fielding being brilliant, led by the skip and Alex.

Ross bowls his worst over in 3,723 overs and Rohan follows suit and its goodnight Vienna for the 2 of them after 12 overs as Troy and DSJ come into the attack. With his 5th ball having bowled a buffet ball before he bowls a beauty ay Pieres who is snaffled by the grateful NElson and its 61 for 3. I’m not sure what happened but the batsman seemed displeased with Nicky and the umpire and pointed his bat at Rahil.
Hanif has joined skipper Hussain and runs are hard to come by as DSJ and Troy bowl good line and length and then DSJ snares Hussain caught by Troy off a full blooded pull.

Majid joins Hanif at 75 for 4 (could this end quickly) and they bat carefully and watchfully against some fine Medium pace bowling from Troy and Daniel. 25 overs drinks 97 for 4. After drinks these 2 continue to accrue runs where they can when the bowling and fielding allow and Rahil who has replaced Troy settles into a good line and length with some quick spin and his famous faster ball. 30.5 have been bowled and the batsmen seemed set but they are not threatening our total as Hanif mishits a leggie from Skipper and Neel Malde (yes folks) took a very good catch running slightly back over his head. 125 for 5.

Ross is asked to bowl at the Pavilion end and the long trudge from Fine Leg begins. First ball slightly wide and it is slapped hard by Mahmood where Concorde in the shape of Rahil takes off and catches the ball parallel to the ground in his left hand (Mum did a lap of honour). Shahid comes in but Chippy despatches him in the same over. 132 for 7 after 34.

Rahil who has bowled really well doesn’t like being left out and induces a thick edge that Nicky holds very well indeed.137 for 8 after 35.
Ross 36th over boring 3 runs no chances. Ketan has by now made me feel terrible by telling me that Everton have thrown away a 2 goal cushion to lose 3 -2.

37th over the end is near as the clatter of stumps is heard as Rahil bowls Khan and its 140 for 9.
Abhijay begs Rahil for an over but no wicket

Rahil gets Latif caught by YES YOU GUESSED IT NICKY and he has snared 5. Started out with 6 and ends season with a Michelle.
A well deserved win and I notice that Troy makes us stronger and more combative but this was an exceptional team performance.

Man of the Match Chris Arul
TFC Abhijay Singh
Champagne Moment Rahils stunning catch