On a beautiful spring morning your reporter together with Geoffrey struggled into the skippers car for the long trawl to Bedfordshire to play at the beautiful Ampthil Park. We arrive and cant park where we would normally get parked but the Club has had a major fit out and looks spectacular.

The week of sunshine has left the pitch green and Rahil calls correctly and decides to bat.
Young Sid now known by his correct name on PCS is striding to the wicket with Tej and they start confidently enough and bring up the 50 in 11 overs. They are making batting look easy and it is a surprise when Slawinsky bowls Sid playing the wrong line for a very good 38. Enter Tom Palmer for his league debut and he looked really good at Stanmore the week before. Tom cant get settled and is out caught at long on for 6 but there is more to come from this young man.

Tej nfollows soon after for 21 made in very unTej like manner in83 mins and 41 balls. Jas fresh from IPL duty returns and its a surprise when young Prestwich bowls him (Prestwich is Ampthills answer to our Embryos) . The rest of the innings cannot shake off the tight Ampthill bowling and Rahil 16 Tom McLean 1 and DSj Ross and Ruben cant help Nicky get the score past 161. Nicky batted really well for his 30.

161 is probably 25 light.

A fine tea courtesy of Wenzels was consumed and the boys looked focussed for the job in hand.

Ross and DSJ start with the new cherry and bowl very tight lines and after 11 overs they have a wicket each and its 21 for 2. What happened next was a blast from the past as Mlambo smashed 80 to take the game away from us although it wasnt a chanceless innings it was a very good example of counter attacking.

Rahil bowled well for 2 for 325 and Ruben finally bowled Ronnie Mlambo leaving Slawinsky to steer Ampthill home with 7 overs remaining. As I said 25 more runs would have made this very interesting.

Onwards and upwards as some youngsters learned about league life and this will do them the world of good. The future of Radlett looks good.

Man of the Match Nicky Elson
Champagne Moment Ruben reaction bowling Mlambo
TFC Tom McLean (unfortunately someone has to win it.

TC 18.05.2025