06/05/2013

Match reports 2013

v Hatfield Heath. Rain....no game.....

Game 20, v Richmond Anchors. Our local oppo, 2 weeks running...We won, but played in a great spirit for which must surely be the final game of the season?..


19 v Richmond Anchors. The wicket was a little soggy, the conditions overcast, yet very humid. Won toss, batted. Steve, Shaz, Adam all retiring on the agreed 25. Paul chipped in with 18 later down the order. Rick and Mike ran each other out, HL finishing up on 135/7 from the 20. 2 wickets (both c+b) for Shaz in the first over, immediately put RA on the back foot, but despite a couple of 25s retired, we reached the last over with RA needing 21, Knobby bestowed with the responsibility of not conceding, 6 balls later HL winning by 14 runs. 2 wickets for Shaz/ Rick. Everyone batted, and those who wanted to bowled, so an all round team performance for the last mid week game of the season. Here is HL keeping legend Mike. We've lost count of the stumpings, catches, run outs and saved byes....



18 v AC LBH. Hastily arranged home game against a new team, albeit with many familiar faces. Won toss, and into bat, Hitesh not lasting long, bowled to a peashooter. Ash knocked up his 30 retired, Paul weighed in with 26 (bowled by Wendel), and Rick 21. Extras top scored with 52 (2 runs for a wide etc), HL finishing on a rather light 145 from the 20. LBH looked like they had a few good batters, the top 4 all getting 20's and 30's, and were always there abouts with the run rate, crossing the line to win with 6 balls remaining, just 4 men down, Adam and Wendel not even needing to bat. 2 wickets for Paul, including a young Sachin. 

HL and LBH, August 2013...



17 v Elmbridge. The home fixture, having met earlier in the season. Humid evening in Sunbury, the afternoon rain having blown away by the time we met at the ground. Into bat and by the 7th ball of the innings we were 2 down having lost both openers, Shaz having just removed his helmet, went to pull and got a top edge, on to his head and into the hands of the slip. Alex and Adam both hit a few, including a six each. Paul hit 20 off 5 balls before gloving it behind. Don hit 24 and Wendel smashed a quick fire 57no, HL finishing on a healthy 168/7. Elm were 70 odd before losing their first wicket, Aubury stumped to a Paul floater. On loan Dipesh hit 55 until he was bowled by Don. Hardeep, finally, took his first catch to much jubilation, especially after the previous weeks drop. Rick took a couple and Elm were left needing 25 off the last over. HL winning by 21 runs. Adam, cooking the books....



16 v GSK. This fixture is fast becoming to HL what Windsor GP is to Magdalen. GSK are strong, we haven't beaten them for a while now, but they don't really play it in quite the right way, maybe more Sat league stuff than mid week friendly. Despite all HL best efforts, GSK racked up188 for 3, 5 runs less than last time, but still much more than we wanted. One chap scoring 80odd and another who should have walked first ball, knocking up a 50 (birthday boy Wendel, being the disappointed bowler). Apart from Dipesh (39) and Swain (28) our response faltered, all out in the Northfields dusk to their returning opening bowler in the last over, for just 130. Here is Not Out Steve...



15 v Occc. Generously put occcs into bat on a very pleasant evening in Ewell for our 2nd fixture of the season. Brisk start by their openers, it took until the 12th over before, perhaps our youngest ever wicket taker, Luke Buchan, made the breakthrough, a leading edge to swain at mid wicket to dismiss Watson. That was it wicket wise for the innings as Occcs made 144/1. Steve(19) and Chris Burton(34) made a bright start, but wickets steadily fell as we finished up on 102/8, no one else making double figures, Ians only runs being a 6, his first ever, flicked over sq leg....The biggest Knobby in Hounslow..



Man of the Month for July: Wendel, 220 runs, ave 55, 3 catches, 5 wickets, including his 100th wicket for HLCC. Magdalen CC, with Paul, Steve, Wendel, Ian, Alex in the ranks, play the fabulous setting of Windsor Great Park this Sunday, hoping for their first win in 10 attempts. Wendel, keeping his balls shinny...




14 v Ealing. The decider! 1 each for the season, and both teams were well up for it. Apparently the hottest day in 10 years, it reached 34 degrees in London. For something a bit different, we put Ealing into bat. 40 with out loss off 5 wasn't the best of starts, but Paul made the break through in the 7th over and then wickets steadily fell. Both openers made 30's. Ragulan prodded about and mistimed one for a catch by Wendel at mid on for just 1, Ealing finishing up on what seemed a slightly below par 137, for 9 (3 wickets for Rick, 2 each for Paul and Wendel (and 2 catches)). Feeling confident HL went into bat. Ealings openers bowled quick and well, it was difficult to hit the boundaries with the wicket wearing, the heat and them fielding so deep.  At 10 overs we were just 52/1. Shaz (44) departed at 89 from 15, with 49 still needed. Don played a couple of trade mark shots though leg, before being run out. On form Wendel (63no) kept a cool head, even if the body was overheating, and lost 2 balls with 2 massive sixes. Last over needing 11, HL crossed the line with 1 ball remaining for an absolute nail bitter and the 2013 series sealed 2-1. The (king) Don, averaging 99.96, with the ball...



13 v Westminster. Slightly farcical start regarding wet and damaged wickets. It had been raining up until late lunch, but the sun came out and being Wandsworth common, the game was on. Injuries, holidays, late drop outs meant that for the 2nd week running we only had 6 regulars on the park. Not good, makes us look a little rubbish and actually puts a lot of pressure on those who do play. Thanks to the oppo, we borrowed 2 and played an 8 aside, 16 over game. Put into bat, Westminster scored 76/7 (all out) in 15.2 overs. HL, at 22 for 3, were beginning to look a little wobbly, despite the wicket holding up remarkably well, but enter Wendel who made it look easy and smashed 41no for HL(and 2 guests) to win in 10 overs. Wickets for Ian, Swain, Wendel, Paul and Rick, and 2 for guest John Walker. 

8 wins from 12 games. Must be the summer hols; Ian, Paul, Wendel, Rick, Alex are off on 3 game Magdalen CC tour to Dorset this weekend. 

Ian, padded up in Poole, Dorset...(for Mags)




12 v Wandsworth. Another hot hot evening on Wandsworth Park. Just 6 regulars on the park, made up to 9 with thanks to Mike, Paul and Matt. For one night only; Hounslow World of Adventures. Put into bat, we were reeling at 37/4 from 9 overs on a good old fashioned park wicket, having lost Mike, Paul, Swain and Wendel for just 16 runs between them. Steve held it together throughout the innings, for a thoughtful 60, backed up by Rick(17). Somehow we made it to 134/7, something to bowl at, but it was tough with just 9 players and the slope, despite the low sun behind the bowlers arm, used well by Ricks floaters. However, despite 2 50's, Wands needed 40 from 6, and went in to the last over with the scores level. A maiden was never going to be likely and we duly lost with 4 balls remaining. 2 wickets for Paul, 2 catches for keeper Steve. We did well, considering, but we could have fielded a little better and perhaps won. Hardeep, just out, but still smiling...



11 v Ealing. Home. The hottest day of the year had been recorded in Hampton the previous day and today was well up there. What a scorcher. We could have been in Columbo. The field was straw. Won toss, batted, 59no from Shaz, 40 from extras, short but blazing innings from Ash18, Swain30 and Wendel16, took us to the total of 178/5. We had said 180, so quite happy with that. However, we knew Ealing had the batters to challenge, so we were going to have to bowl and field well. Don took a great catch long mid on 2nd over. We took them in to the last over with 22 needed. A tight over from Swain ensured that we won by 17 runs. A high scoring and intense, hot game. Their danger man Ragulan, from the previous game, started smacking it around a bit towards the end for a quick fire 37no. Fortunately, we were able to keep him off strike in that last over. 3 wickets for Paul. Wendel bowled fast. His wicket for the evening being his 100th for the club. Keeper Steve in the action with 2 catches, 2 stumpings and a run out. 1 each for HL and Ealing for the season and a decider maybe arranged.



10 v Harrow. Harrow came to Sunbury for our 34th meeting in 21 years. There's been a few classics. Disappointed to lose the the toss but for the 2nd time this year HL bowled Harrow out, for just 103 in 19.2 overs. On a blazing evening where 150 could have been a half decent score, we easily knocked off the total in 16 overs, 2 down. 3 wickets for Rick, 2 for Ian and Paul, a catch for debutant Dipesh, stylish 43no for ChrisH, and 19 for Steve.


9 v Chess WAO. Note to oneself: Do not go into the last over with the oppo needing just 9 to win. Yes, another loss with just 2 balls remaining. HLCC won toss, batted and scored 142/7. Shazza and Wendel scored 40's but after they had departed we only managed 40 from the last 8 overs. With tight bowling from Swain, Wendel and Shazza, we had Chess needing 52 from the last 4 overs. Somehow, they managed to do it (6 down, 2 wkts for Shaz), a couple of late dropped catches and misfields not helping. A game that ebbed and flowed, it got a little heated towards the end, and HL were disappointed to lose. 





8 v Ealing Parkmen. 
Denied victory last night by a shocking umpiring decision. Their inform bat run out by a whizzing Wendel throw in from 50 yards and run out by keeper Steve in the 19th over. We all saw it, only to be given not out. Said batter went on to hit the required 9 runs in the last over. HL scored 149/6, EP were 75 off 10, then needing 42 off 4, 30 off 3, 20 off 2, 9 off 1. All very exciting, but all the hard work undone by that match changing decision. Wendel 49, Shazza 34, Ash 30,  a golden duck for Alex (the first ball wide doesn't count!), and 2 wickets for Ian, 2 catches for Shazza. HL were fuming, but a cold beer in the club house together cooled things down. 




7 v Superstars. Back to winning ways with a low scoring home win on almost the longest day of the year. Superstars, 98/9 from 20, HL crossing the line, 6 down with 7 balls remaining for a win. Skipper for the evening Rick took an extremely rare hatrick amongst his five wickets (4 bowled, one stumped). Don batted for the oppo to an 8 man legside field, and still managed to get a couple through. Ian took one in the mouth in the slips. Hoggys ct and bld his maiden wicket for Leisure. HL into bat, and a share of runs from Steve, Swainy, Paul and the winning runs from a Wendel reverse sweep saw us comfortably home. Hatrick Rick!




6 v Beechams. To make it 6 wins from 6 games was always going to be tough. GSK won toss, batted and rattled along at 10 an over, finishing up on 193/3, Ian and Pauls 4 overs each in particular taking a bashing. The wind was up, the sky overcast and the pitch lightning quick. We were, however, confident with the HL big guns on show tonight, with Hoggy, Steve, Swainy, Wendel, Shazza, Paul and Alex the Goose in the top 7. We were there abouts after 10 overs, even ahead at one point, but a couple of quiet overs mid innings, and the regular loss of wickets, pegged us and we finished up on 171/8, a frustrating 22 runs short. Hoggy with 34, Shaz with 37. 

Man of the Month for May - only one contender; Shaz. 4 games, 217 runs, 3 50's, average of 108.5, 10 wickets for 43 runs, 4 catches and 1 direct throw run out...Watch out oppo...Here he is adding up his scores again...



5 v Old Californians. Lovely evening in Ewell, won toss and as OC always like to bat first, chose to bat! Steve got off to a flyer before treading on his stumps. Only Shaz with 69 demonstrated how to bat as the middle and lower order failed to grasp the slowness of the OC bowling. HL finishing up on a half decent 130/8. Regular wickets fell in OC's response. At 10 overs, OC were half way there with 65, but with just 35 runs in the last 10 overs, OC fell 30 runs short, 8 down, providing HL with its 5th win in 5 games. 3 wickets for Shaz, 2 for Ian, 2 catches for Wendel.

4 v Harrow. An overcast evening in Rayners Lane, the early day forecasts were telling us we would struggle to get a game. We did, and it turned out to be an old school thriller. 10 man HL bowled out Harrow for just 84 on a slow, sticky wicket, 4 wckts for Shazza, 2 for Ian, Ian getting their danger man Wiggan early with a direct throw run out. Runs had to be ground out in our response, but we eventually won in the last over, with 23 for Shazza, 22 for Swainy and Paul hitting the winning runs with 15no.

3 v Chessington Woa. Home. Won toss, and batted! A good start, 77 from 10, finished up on 132 from the 20. 40 from Steve and 22 from Paul. Chess never really got going and 4 wickets from Rick ripped out the middle order, Chess ending up all out in 19.2 overs for 106, for HL to win by 26 runs. Wendel on a hatrick for next game, and keeper Mike in the action with 2 catches, a stumping and 2 run outs.


2 v Elmbridge. Hersham. Lost toss but put into bat. A quick fire 39 from Wendel, caught in amazing fashion on the boundary and a steady 53no from Shazza, and 20's from Adam and Knobby took us to a good score of 159 off 20overs. Once we had removed the top 3, we were always in control, Elm finishing 24 runs short. 2 wickets for Paul and Shazza.


v Superstars - cancelled - rain

v RMC - cancelled - no oppo

1 v Richmond Anchors. Home. A glorious May evening for the first 2020 game of the season, lost toss (despite all the winter practice) and RA put themselves into bat. 20 overs later, all out with just 108 on the board, 3 wickets for Don, Paul, and 2 for Rick. Catches for Knobby, Paul and Steve. Shazza and Steve made light work with 72no and 32no respectively, Shazza being particularly brutal in pursuit to win in the 12th over, perhaps our only ever 10 wicket win? Played in good spirits, it was good to be back, but HL too strong for RA on this occasion.