North Middlesex 3rd XI vs North London 3rd XI (Away)

Saturday 6 June 2009

The 3s continued their up and down form on Saturday with an eventually comfortable win over our local rivals.

After a delayed start because of the overnight rain and a wet track, the Skipper won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting the opposition on a deck that offered huge assistance to the bowlers.

Despite the conditions, London got off to a decent start and it was not until Beppo took two quick wickets that we started to make use of the conditions. Jeevs then struck to remove their dangerous Kiwi and we were well on top. However, despite a good containing spell from Amir, their 'small' Aussie was beginning to hit his strides and tucked into Pat 'Mr First Over' Parker's opening over to the extent of 20+ runs. Things were beginning to look ominous and we feared a repeat of the recent weeks, with the big man taking the game away from us.

Enter Dr Dre and a rejuvenated Pat who completed a match winning spell of great pressure bowling. Both bowlers bowled one side of the wicket and to the field set they were able to take 5 wickets between them. More importantly, however, was the fact that they only conceded 50 runs from the last twenty overs, despite not removing the Big Aussie. A run rate of such low proportions is a great achievement at any level; yet it is particularly remarkable given the postage stamp size of the Ferme Park ground, where an inside edge has a realistic chance of going for 6. It was a truly great spell of bowling and especially pleasing given our recent luck against big hitters. Additionally, the fielding was of a genuinely high standard and it was through a great team ethic that we managed to contain their batsman to such an extent.

Despite our good performance in the field, we were still set a challenging target of 207 in 42 overs on a pitch that was more reminiscent of a football field than a cricket wicket. We got off to a solid start and were always up with the run rate; however, we managed to lose a quick succession of wickets and were, at one point, in danger of throwing the game away. Yet, Rob Kent was batting brilliantly - combining hard hitting and good singles - to accumulate around the wicket and keep us well in front. It was a shame that Rob was unable to go beyond 70 to claim the hundred he deserved on such an unhelpful pitch. Rob was ably supported by Mick 'The Wrong Un' Abrahamson and Pat Parker with solid 30s and Tiger Tim who, upon his return to the UK, scored 22* to take us home. It was additionally pleasing to have Joseph James score the winning runs after a difficult start to the season.

All in all, this was a quality performance where everyone pulled together, in nasty conditions, to play as a unit to win a game against a good opposition. We will need plenty more performances like in what will be a long and tight season. Nonetheless, we are at least the equals of all the teams we've played and are not yet in top gear. There is a lot more to come and we should all be looking forward to a tough game against Winchmore Hill on Saturday.

Report : David Griffiths

North Middlesex 3rd XI vs Southgate 3rd XI (Away)

Saturday 23 May 2009

A much improved North Midd won their first league game of the season on Saturday.

Having lost the toss - a very good toss to lose as the Skipper had no idea what to do if he had won! - Southgate chose to bat on what looked to be a good deck. A great opening spell from Amir and Jeevs, who used the new ball well to gain some prodigious early movement, soon had Southgate in trouble and found themselves 3 down for not many.

Patrick replaced Amir after his compulsory 7 over spell and bowled a controlled medium pace to contain the batsman when they were trying to up the tempo. Beppo, on debut, replaced Jeevs from the Church End and - after a nervous opening - settled into a good rhythm. Mick was bought into the attack and bowled some genuine jaffas, drifting and ripping the ball from outside leg. His good balls were unplayable and he was unlucky not to get more than a single wicket. However, despite the great start, Southgate's big hitter was beginning to hit his strides and was proving difficult to bowl to.

The bowlers proved up to the task and contained him to good effect, before he played one shot too many shots and was caught by Jeevs off the bowling of Beppo. The Kiwi debutant and Amir then made short work of the tail to roll them for 161.

The bowling and fielding throughout their innings was of a high standard and everyone contributed to a much improved performance. All the bowlers played a part by bowling in partnerships. Beppo led the way taking 4 for not many in a marathon spell; Amir performed his duty as strike bolwer with 3 wickets; and Jeevs and Mick contributed 1 each. The highlight, however, was the way we bowled as a unit, building pressure by hitting consistent areas, and the sharp fielding which stopped them taking singles and didn't allow the batsman to settle. Special mention should also be made of Jeevs who took 4 good catches, including a skier to remove their danger man, and Doctor Dre who, despite not being given a bowl, fielded like an animal and was the epitome of the team spirit. 

The Midd's innings started positively with Mikey and Amir putting on 30 for the first wicket. Amir continued to play his shots but, after being given a couple of lives, should have gone on to get more than 27. Following a mini-collapse, the Midd were 100 - 5 and 162 was looking a difficult proposition, especially after the Captain decided to play all round a straight one and Jeevs had seen enough of the Doctor's defensive technique and ran him out. However, Jeevs played a majestic knock to see us home by 3 wickets. He played some superb drives and, after he got used to the pace and low bounced, played a sensible but aggressive innings to lead us home. It was a knock of real quality and demonstrated his all round ability against different styles of bowling.

This was a great win against the league leaders and firmly puts to rest the nightmare of the previous week. Our fielding and overall team performance was of great encouragement and we should look to continue this form into next week. We have a really strong, balanced squad - perhaps the best 3rd XI squad in a number of years - and can beat anyone in the league.

Report : David Griffiths

North Middlesex 3rd XI vs Harrow 3rd XI (Home)

Saturday 16 May 2009

The 3s lost in extraordinary circumstances against Harrow on Saturday.

Having won the toss, the Skipper made an interesting call to bat first on a pitch that looked like it could only get worse. The decision looked for have paid off initially with the Midd posting a good 245 off 46 overs. The highlights on the innings included a welcome return to form for ‘veteran’ Sam Engineer, who played a cultured/agricultural knock of 91, and good 20s from Amir and Rob Kent opening up. Richard Nicoll also played sensibly in keeping the scoreboard ticking over during the middle overs before being unceremoniously run out by the Skipper. Yet, the joys of our hard work were to be short lived.  

After a good start, Harrow were struggling on 12-4 with Amir and Ali hitting their strides and removing the top order with little fuss. However, enter Harrow’s Captain - having collapsed once during a mammoth spell of 20 overs during our innings - who proceeded to smash 129* off about 50 balls and take them to victory within 25 overs. He also managed to lose 8 balls into Park Road and coach our younger bowlers after hitting them for 6 back over their heads!

Despite a couple of half chances we missed, Clint batted amazingly well and gave us few opportunities. The bowlers should try not to get too disheartened by his performance and should just put this down to being a one-off. Ultimately, there is no where you can bowl to someone who is in that mood and hitting balls over the houses and into Crouch End. Our game plan of bowling a foot outside off-stump once he got into his grove paid no dividends as he proceeded, it seemed, to grow his bat by a foot and hit them further. Likewise, our attempts to bowl at his toes did not work; nor did our tactic of placing everybody bar two fielders on the leg-side boundary. It is to Clint’s credit that he did not target the small boundary either, and seemed to relish the chance to hit passing cars passing on the main road!

However, we are now 2 games into the league season without a point and we need to pick ourselves up for our next game against Southgate. There were a number of positives from Saturday: the batting and running between the wickets – minus the Captain’s – were much better; Andre returned to form with the ball and was unlucky not have had a couple of wickets; Amir’s second spell clearly illustrated his huge potential; and we made few mistakes in the field (there is nothing you can do when someone hits it 10 metres over your head!!). Yet, we need to learn not to drop our heads as quickly as we did on Saturday, and our basics – especially bowling full and straight – still need a massive improvement.

In summary, however, it was just one of those days and we should not dwell on it for too long.  

Report : David Griffiths

North Middlesex 3rd XI vs Hornsey 3rd XI (Away)

Saturday 9 May 2009

The Midd’s 3rd XI lost their first game of the season in a close but very disappointing game at Hornsey.

Playing on a pitch with an outfield more reminiscent of a battlefield in Helmand Province, we started well with recently returned, and still jet-lagged, Adam ‘Shirley’ Holmes and Ed Lake putting on 150 for the first wicket. Both scored 80s and got us of to a flyer; yet neither was able to go on to a big 100. Shirley looked very good, however, and even managed to hit a 6 despite not middling a ball all day! After they departed, we tried to up the rate with Dr Dre and Amir playing useful cameos to take us up to 265. Despite being confident that this was more than enough, we could have put on an additional 30 – 40 runs, especially after the great opening stand, by improving our running between the wickets and putting pressure on the less than mobile fielders.

After a good tea of Mrs Patel’s curry and sausage sandwiches – of which there were still some for us despite Brucey’s best attempts to devour the entire serving before we got there! – we started with a confident but complacent attitude. After an early wicket to new boy Choudry, we became very casual in the field and lost concentration. Numerous dropped catches and some interesting bowling later, Hornsey  were 160 – 1 with their two Aussies - one with some lovely straight drives and a couple of interesting hits to cow, and the other who was hard hitting but less sophisticated – taking the game beyond us. Enter Jono and newboy Pat who bowled good spells – bowling straight and using the pitch – and took 6 wickets between them to put us right back into the game. However, again believing that victory was rightfully ours, our concentration dropped and we let them back into the game. Their skipper played a courageous knock – despite our best efforts to give him numerous lives - to take them within sight of victory, before being dismissed 8 runs short. A couple more dropped catches later and Hornsey were home for a tight but deserved victory.

Ultimately, our lacklustre fielding and expectant attitude cost us dearly. We will really need to improve our fielding and, with a relatively young side, we need to up our energy levels in both the field and in terms of our running between the wickets. We would have had another 30 runs on the board if we had attacked the fielders – especially considering the outfield – but there were virtually no singles in our innings. In the field, we expected an easy victory and failed to come together as a unit. Some of the bowling left a lot to be desired and, if we are serious about gaining promotion this year, we need a massive improvement on Saturday. We need to bowl in partnerships to put pressure on the batsman by bowling straight and to the field set. This was a game we should have won, but credit to Hornsey who played with spirit and deserved their victory.

Report : David Griffiths