OC 117/4 18ov, HL 118/9 17.5ov WIN!

The sun was shinning, but traffic delays around Tolworth meant that Leisure took the field with only 5 men, having lost the toss and put out to field. Paul and Swain opening up the bowling. One by one Leisure turned up and by about the 6th over we were at the full 11. Game reduced to 18 overs due to the delayed start. Chris, Rick, Don and Wendel chipped in with tight overs, restricting OCCC to just 117/4 off 18. Jim taking a confidence boosting catch, Wendel giving a few over throws, Paul/ Mike taking a stumping that was out, but in the spirit of the game wasn't....

Into bat, Swain out from a good catch for a duck. Knobby and Jim keeping up with the run rate. Wickets started tumbling as the overs ticked by and the run rate increased. At 5 down, we needed 60 off the last 7. Steve, Wendel, Phil, Don, Paul all chipped in with brisk runs. 27 then needed off 4 overs. Suddenly 9 down with 13 needed off the last 2 with the light going quick. Tense stuff. Mike was dropped but got Rick on to strike. 4 needed off the last 2 balls, Rick doing the business with an almost 6, for HL to win with one ball to spare, and Rick ending up on 17no. Jim top scoring with 20.

That's two wins against OCCC this season. Yet another close game. We've had some thrillers over the last few years. In recent times (we used to play in the 90's at Kingston and Boston Manor, and then didn't play for about 10 years (apparently we weren't strong enough)), we've played 12 times; 5 loses, 5 wins and 2 ties. We almost always seem to bat 2nd (the two times we've batted first we've won). The loses have been generally big loses, collapsing in the chase for runs, but the wins have generally been close. Obviously the ties have been even closer, both batting second. Usually we bowl and field well, but then our batting response has been mixed. Chris and Rick have taken fifers and Wendel has had big knocks the few games he's played.

Young Luke came to watch HL play, and saw us win for the first time. Hopefully, he'll be pushing for a place in the next season or two.

Games left for 2009 season

11/8 at Ruxley (OCCC)
13/8 at Spelthorne (EEBC)
19/8 at Spelthorne v Thames Trains confirmed
27/8 at Spelthorne (EBC)
2/9 at Garrison
19/9 at Hatfield Heath

2009 recent results

14/7 v Harrow - match lost
Harrow 146/10 (Rawal 3/17, Chris 2/18, Rick 2/29, Joe 2/29)
HLCC 135/6 (Wendel44, Knobby27, Paul26no)

16/7 v Magdalen - match abandoned, rain.
Mags 188/6 (Paul2/31, Chris2/35)
HLCC 82/2 10ov (IanMc27no, Swain25., Wendel22)

22/7 v Parkmen - match lost
HLCC 142/5 (Adam57, Knobby33)
Parkmen 143/4 18ov (Chris2/10)

28/7 v Superstars - match won
HLCC 124/8 (Wendel34, Adam30, Don20)
Superstars 103/10 (Mike 4 stumpings, 2 catches, 1 runout, Paul2/9, Chris2/14, Swain2/21, Wendel2/21)

29/7 v Feltham Garrison - match won
HLCC 143/7 (Chris51no, Knobby19, Paul18no, Steve golden)
Garrison 140/8 (Adam2/18, Phil2/19, Paul2/23)

4/8 v Rowlands XI - friendly, 3 overs each, 25 and retire...
Row XI 168 20 ov
HLCC 148 20ov

6/8 v Westminster - Match abandoned
HLCC 93/4 12 ov
The forecast was correct...

2008 Season!!!

Played 20, won 16, tied 2.

Top batsmen Wendel 407, ave37, 4 50's, hs86no
Knobby 354, ave21, 1 50, hs53

Top bowlers Rick 38wckts, ave9, best 5/11
Paul 19wckts, ave13, best 4/16

Catches Paul10, Jim7. Mike11 stumpings

Champagne moment Wendel 2 direct hits v Garrison (2 games, same batsman)

Gold Award Paul undeafed captain.

Records 98 to 08

We have detailed stats for the last 11 seasons. Im currently hunting down previous score books that include a few current players figures.

In those 11 years, we have played 188 games, won 103, lost 79, tied 5 and 1 draw.

We've scored 22,602 runs and lost 870 wickets in the process. Weve taken 1,092 wickets for 21,871 runs. Oh yes. 2009 stats available soon. And maybe some mid 90's ones as well, eh Jim?

Paul has scored over 3000 runs, Wendel well over 2000. Adam, Brett, Chris, Jim, Knobby and, this season, Don and Phil have more than 1000 runs each. Paul and Rick, and this season Chris, have taken over 100 wickets. Mike has taken 85 keeper dismissals and taken 4 stumpings in a match at least twice. Jim and Adam have each taken a 4 outfield catches in a match. No hatricks! Maybe just Adam, who took one against us!

Chris, Rick and Paul have taken fifers, a feat not often achieved in 4 overs. 6 tons have been scored, Wendel with 5 of them, some going in 20 overs, and has also scored over 20 fifties.

The highest individual score: Wendel, 140no in 38balls, 14 6's, (5 in one over) to help Leisure score 204 in 12.2overs to beat ECT in 2006.

Best bowling: Chris, 5 for 12 off 3 overs, all bowled v OCCC in 2005.

We once scored 70 all out and managed to win by 21 runs v Hatfield Heath. Probably our lowest score to win, batting first.

Our highest score, 217 v Parkmen 2009, our lowest; well, depends how you look at it. 52 played in awful weather conditions at OCCC I guess, 2007.

We beat Three Bridges 3 times in 8, before deciding they were a little too serious, and good, and violent. Our last game ended in arguments, threats, pushing, chest beating and stumps being ripped from the ground in anger, before nobel peace prize winner Steve stepped in.

Jim was once run over on a duel carriage way, fetching a ball that had been hit over the fence, causing traffic gridlock mayhem around Ealing for hours. He missed about 10 games, only to return to the field as umpire, only to be hit in the face by a ball at square leg off the bat.

Our last tour to Monmouth, ended with the team being locked in the clubhouse and having the landlord buy us drinks until 3 in the morning. Thats how nice we are, landlords buy us drinks.

Ringer Richard, at OCCC in 2006, top scored with 20, despite never ever having actually batted before in a proper game. The rest of us only had at least 1000 games between us.