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MATCH REPORT
21st August 2010 – North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Shepherds Bush CC.
Do You Believe In Legends?
The 4th XI side to face the “Mighty South Africa – sorry should that be Shepherds Bush” was as strong as ever, travelling to the Douglas Eyre ground, Walthamstow, on a rather overcast Saturday morning.
Fearful of the weather, but having full confidence in his bowling attack, the “general” (Bootsy if you didn’t know) – self proclaimed – asked the bush to bat first.
This tactic bared fruit forthwith, with Hasan picking up two early scalps.
However, things didn’t get any easier for our bowlers and the bush pushed on to a meagre yet worthy 168 for 8 off 50 overs, leaving us with just over 40 overs to chase the runs.
The North Midd bowling attack in general was effective, but not great (I know I’m gonna get some stick for writing that last sentence). Boots bagged a lazy “tommy tuckers little brother”, (if you don’t know what that actually means, I’m getting old). Plus, effective work from Bennoir, Benny Hawkins, as well as great work from Arthur behind the sticks made it an impressive North Midd performance on the field.
Now for the batting...........................................
Ali and I opened up with one thing in mind – “see it out ‘til drinks son and the game is ours” were my wise words. Then (myself) out 3rd over – the words “the best wicket outside county cricket” ringing in my ears - GI Joe’s judgement once again proved to be fatal. Almost as fatal as the incident at tea where I thought an ambulance may have had to be called for Hasan or our “superb” groundsman. After the end of the bush innings, we proceeded as usual to our dressing room only to be hastily accosted by GI Joe, who was of firm belief, we had blatantly ignored his instruction not to wear spikes indoors. I duly removed my footwear, but Has hadn’t heard our man and was reprimanded by said GI (Brett had to calm the whole incident down – that’s man management for you, it could have got ugly!).
So after my dismissal, Ali and Mark went on to build a great foundation until two of the old legends arrived at the crease.
R. Nicoll : 51 not out
R.Kent : 15 not out
Simple. Richie, batting in true Lancastrian fashion – perfect.
Robbie, lazily hitting 1s and 2s to ensure Richie kept the strike.
Conclusion:
Another awesome 10 points. At the time of writing this narrative, it’s quite possible we have been promoted, and who could question that?
Final word though – Do You Believe In Legends?
If you’ve got Bootsy’s bowling and Richie Nic’s batting, I do.
Cheers M
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Highgate CC (Away) 24 July 2010
‘4s had topsy turvey game v H.gate on Sat at Wilf Slack. We inserted on what looked a greenish top. Decision vindicated as we took regular wickets to reduce the Gateeers to 70 for 7 – Hassan took 3, Jonny Bennett and Ben Magnin 2 each. 2 cracking catches from Tin Legs and one from Glaze plus run outs from Dani and Jonny. Thoughts of early pints curtailed as Rohit (class bat from Mumbai) returning from injury came in at 9 and hit a quality and unbeaten 114 to take his team to 258 for 7 off 48. Advantage H.gate.
Some concern when Rohit opened attack bowling big in duckers which did too much for Stevie E. Jonny B fell early as well but then the advantage shifted. Ali (22) started the onslaught, Nicoll pushed his ones and watched the carnage at the other end – Dave Shields batted brilliantly for 78 before being run out after a risky call from stand in Capt. Was by a distance Dave’s best knock of the Season so far – tremendous power and variety of shots – he turned the game but at drinks were still needing around 10 an over. After Dave fell Danni Balchin lived up to his reputation to hit a coruscating 38 and the Gaters’ heads were well and truly down. When he was bowled in the 36th Midd needed another 50 to win. In comes Glaze to use his experience and play a series of cracking cuts, pulls and glances. It was all North Midd by now and we cruised to target in the 41st of our 44th over. Glazebrook 30 not out and Nicoll 60 not out. Fantastic win and the pints tasted a lot better than the tea! This one’s for you Boots‘
Richard
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Shepherds Bush CC (Away) 19 June 2010
I used the word 'easy' last week, this week,........Simple,
10 points - win- best team in the club - fact - we have not lost - fact - hope are you reading old friend (in San Fransisco), simple.
Batted first with no guns but the man who should be nominated for 'Lancastrian of the year' was Mr Nicoll( I can never remember how to spell his name!), but not myself or Benoir.
As I said simple -
Batting:
Lazy, with the exception of Richie.
Bowling:
As I said simple -
19 th June 2010
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| Bowler
| Overs
| Maidens
| Runs
| Wickets
| Average
| I.Bennett
| 9
| 0
| 45
| 0
| NA
| B.Booth
| 22
| 5
| 48
| 8
| 6
| H. Kahn
| 5
| 1
| 25
| 0
| NA
| B.Hawkins
| 7
| 1
| 30
| 1
| 30
| R. Verity
| 2
| 0
| 14
| 0
| NA
|
Give Boots the ball at any level (when he is on this form) and expect great things. That's exactly what we got - great things.
8 for 48 says it all.
Conclusion
Awesome.....................
Makes my move to Catford CC next year even easier.
Mustard
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Hanwell CC (Home) 12 June 2010
Writing this report on the morning after 4 senior team victories in one saturday should be far from a chore. However, after reading this morning's papers and taking in the result from Rustenburg for our national football team, I feel slightly deflated.
Enough of the football (it's bound to dominate your life for the next four weeks whether Capello's men win it or not), on to more important matters.
NMCC 4th XL travelled to the Douglas Eyre ground on a pleasant Saturday morning with an air of trepidation - only 8 men turned up at 11am that morning, other players were arriving later than the arranged start time (due to last minute call ups), our skipper was sure to want to bat first, plus we were playing against the league leaders (Hanwell CC).
At 1pm we had 10 men and Boots went out to toss up, confident that the mecurial Robbie Kent would be at the ground on time to take a number 5 spot.
We lost the toss and luckily were put into bat.
Up step Mustard and Crackers - batting well until 5th over when Mr Coleman played the shot he has got out (for 3) to every innings this season - the 'swish outside off'. Oh drat!
Crackers was then joined by 'newman' Ali who bladed a lazy 50 by despatching the Hanwell bowlers with beautiful on and off drives 'over the top'. Lovely work.
Then came the old guard (sorry Dave!):
R. Nicoll 57
D. Sheilds 22
S. Edwards 3
Brilliant batting from Richie held this dominant innings together, with the Hanwell bowlers struggling to contain both our shot playing and excellent running between the wickets - that's experience for you.
Robbie Kent had been due to be 'hanging doors in the new gaff with the Mrs' today, but gave in to Boots' nagging and arrived just in time to take the no. 7 spot. Hanging doors was obviously on Richie Nic's mind when calling for a ridiculous single that saw Robbie's innings cut short for 1. C'est la vie.
Then came the newly self-promoted 'best all-rounder' in the club.
To be fair I slept through most of his innings, therefore can't comment on shots played with great elegance and ease, but from what Ian told me after the game, it was a beautiful innings, only to be cut short by the skipper declaring when Ian was on 47!
'Typical Booth captaincy, he once declared when I was on 49 not out' were the only words of comfort I could muster for Mr Bennett.
47 not out Mr Bennett finished on, with good work from Ben Magnin helping NMCC 4s finish the innings on 228 for 8 off 46 overs.
Then we took the field.............
Easy, easy, easy ;
Read for yourself:
Bowler
| Overs
| Maidens
| Runs
| Wickets
| Average
| B.Booth
| 16
| 6
| 36
| 2
| 18
| I.Bennett
| 12
| 2
| 39
| 3
| 13
| W.Cracknell
| 4
| 2
| 14
| 1
| 14
| A.Glazebrook
| 0.2
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 1
|
Oh the joys of excel!
Boots and I.J. Bennett (the only name his new agent ((myself)) will allow him to respond to forthwith both on the pitch and in the bar) bowled brilliantly.
Then Crackers and Glazebrook Jnr (congratulations Andrew on first senior wicket for the Midd) polished off the league leaders' batting line up.
This was a convincing victory over a team that was threatening to run away with an impressive first half season lead, and the scary thing is, if we bat like this going forward and conitnue to be as aggressive and positive in the field, no team can stand in our way of promotion, even though not every player fired on all cylinders.
Things are looking very good.
Mustard
Easy as I said,
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Uxbridge CC (Home) 29 May 2010
Having lost three players to the 3s, and Ali Somerville to the 2s, Bootsy was forced to embark on a quick player hunt before we set off. He returned with Ben Owen and Seb Carr from the U14s, and we all piled into cars, destination Walthamstow, in the rain, not sure if we’d even get a game. Boots considered calling the match on the way down, but decided to let them arrive from Uxbridge before doing so. This took some time - they eventually rolled up at 1:50, twenty minutes after play was due to begin. Still the rain poured down. However, their skip insisted on going ahead and even made Bootsy make the 400m (and rather damp) trek from the changing room to the pitch to toss up, which Boots, no real surprise here, lost. The match was reduced to 80 overs, and at two thirty, with the rain clearing but light fading, Crackers and Dave Shields went out to bat.
The light obviously affected Dave’s shot selection, as he went fishing for one well outside the off-peg, and was caught at point third ball of the day. Ollie Hughes, on his Mid debut, joined Will at the crease for what turned out to be a quality partnership of 125, Crackers pushing the singles and Ollie dispatching bowlers to the boundary. Ollie eventually snicked one to the keeper in the 22nd over for 54, and Will followed soon after in the 25th, top-edging a hook to square-leg for 64. This left us 125-3, and set fair. However, Boots was bowled by a good in-swinger for 1, which left Glazer and Tin Legs to smash it around for the last 10 overs. It was clear Glaze didn’t fancy doing much running today, and finished on a solid 51* with 9 fours, after being mercifully dropped on 49 off the last ball. Bootsy declared on 40 overs, leaving us on a defendable 189-4.
Confident of the 10 points, and with Glazer’s pockets brimming with well-deserved Penguins after his efforts with the bat, we walked out to field in almost sunshine. Bootsy took the new ball, and with Benny Hawkins, opened up well with few runs coming off the first overs. Benny trapped the opener plum in front early doors, before dismissing the number 2 as Crackers took a tumbling catch in the gully. Bootsy got the number 3, who top-edged a shortish ball to Shieldsy behind (As Glaze said afterwards, “the only decent thing Shieldsy did all day”). At 45-3 after 12, we looked to be on top.
However, their numbers 4 and 5 settled down, and some sloppy fielding and dropped catches saw the odds swing back in their favour. To make things worse, the rain returned. Hard. With a few cries of “call it off” from the boundary from some of the younger Uxbridge lads, Hassan eventually got the breakthrough, as the number 5 skied one on the leg-side, which was taken well by Ben Owen. Crackers was brought on, but his ‘moon-balls’ reached new heights, as gripping the ball became nigh-on impossible in the wet. Benny cleaned up the number 4 with a corker, and Crackers did like-wise to the number 6 – except this one bowled him on the second bounce. C’est la vie - the worst ones always get the wickets - trust me.
As we approached the last 5 overs, it was getting pretty close. More sloppy fielding and ‘questionable’ wides, (as Glaze pointed out to the umpire, “this ain’t bloody twenty20 mate”), left Uxbridge needing eight from Ben Hawkins’s last over for victory. Our hopes of a winning draw were dampened as the first ball was cracked over mid-wickets’ head for four, followed by a two. Benny responded brilliantly, bowling three dot balls in a row, and subsequently running out the number 7 off the last ball. Uxbridge finished on 188, giving us the winning draw by a solitary run.
Great match boys, but we could’ve lost it in the field towards the end. Remember the good bits, and roll on Mill Hill next Saturday!
Crackers.
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Highgate CC (Home) 22 May 2010
With our first taste of possible things to come for the year, we had our first Saturday Morning Pullout of the year, meaning that Mustard was drafted into the 3s and Jonnie Bass was given an eleventh hour call up. Out at Douglas Eyre ground, Walthamstow, we were looking at a warm day with a gentle breeze blowing and a lovely looking field to spend our Saturday afternoon.
Winning the toss, Bootsy decided our strength lay in sending them in and bowling them out under the heat, having a nice tea, then coming back out and knocking off the runs, and as such, he sent them in. Bootsy and Benny took the new cherub on a pitch which was showing the inconsistent bounce we know and love out at East 17, one batsman being hit in the chest from a decent length delivery from Benny and others keeping very low and making the batsmen think about their shot selection carefully.
With both openers getting early breakthroughs and having them at 2 for 15, Highgate’s remaining opening batsman was looking good with some lovely stylish batting and he and the number 4 took them out of immediate danger before Boots picked up said number 4. Highgate battled on and soon had gotten themselves into a good position at 3 for 85 after 18 overs before the Openers were given a rest after an excellent effort under the Walthamstow heat (Bootsy 2 for 31 and Benny 1 for 53 both off 9 overs) and the Closers, Hassan and Pistol, came on to finish the job.
Hassan picked up their number 5 in his one over before drinks and at 4 for 87 things looked pretty even as Bootsy rallied the troops for a big push over a sip of orange juice. Things changed quickly after that.
Immediately after the break, their opener edged Pistol straight to Timmy in the office, though no one was completely sure the sitter catch was indeed in the bank until it was firmly in his hands, after shelling two last week.
As Glaze often reminds us, “Drinks always brings one”, but this wasn’t exactly true on this day as two balls later Pistol had nipped one past the Highgate skipper’s defences and knocked off stump back, then had their next man sent back plumb LBW and on a hat trick, all in the first over back. The hat track wasn’t to be, but next over Hassan had the next man bowled and Highgate had lost 5 wickets for two runs (also 4 for nothing) in the space of 10 balls and their tilt at Walthamstow glory seemed to be coming off the rails. The last three Highgate men battled on for a few overs before Hassan picked up a great caught and bowled then bowled the number 11 and Highgate were all out for 108 after 29.1 overs with Hassan picking up 4 for 9 from 5.1 overs and Pistol 3 for 13 after 6.
With tea not yet ready, it was decided that we should head straight back out, so Timmy and Bootsy (he opens the batting AND the bowling now!!) took guard against the Highgate new ball and after a careful but becoming more and more dominant start, North Midd were no wicket for 30 after 8 overs when they came off for something to eat.
And after a delightful lunch and the news that Blackpool were looking like they were headed for the premiership, our two openers headed back to the middle to continue the push toward victory in the local derby. With Timmy starting to cut loose and Bootsy adding valuable stability in the top order, the boys guided their way to 48 runs before Bootsy hit a long hop firmly to cover, only for the Highgate fielder to take a brilliant diving catch and dismiss the skipper for 13.
Enter the illustrious Robbie Kent, making his debut for the North Midd 4s. With North Midd already in a string position, Robbie completely took the game away a possible Highgate comeback, hitting his first ball for four then onto a brisk 26 (5 fours and 3 twos – not even a single!!) before going down swinging.
With a few close, contentious decisions threatening to turn a good game slightly ugly and the quick wickets of Richie Nic and Dave Shields getting the lads on the sideline quickly pulling on their whites again for a possible bat, the ever reliable Timmy, with 45 not out, and Glaze got us over the line and ensured us the 10 points.
Sadly it was another TFC for Tin Legs, but it was a great team effort from all of the boys including some excellent fielding by the energetic Jonnie Bass that got us the win, all in time to get back for an early beer at the Midd to cheer on the 1s in the end of their match.
Well done boys. Lets keep the momentum going for what should be a tough match against Uxbridge back out at Douglas Eyre next week.
Pistol Pete
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Ealing CC (Away) 15th May 2010
North midd 4s took on the might of Ealing on a hard, flat pitch and even harder outfield under the runway out Heathrow way on Saturday afternoon. In the field after losing the toss, we were forced to chase leather from the bat of their opener who combined a mixture of French cuts, edges over and through the slips, squirted yorkers, shots just dropping short of the fielders and a ball rolling onto the stumps but not knocking the bails off, interspersed with some lovely timed and hard hit drives and pulls. Tight bowling from one end off Bootsy (1 for 42 from 19) was offset by the start of a forgettable day for Pistol (0 for 52 from eight overs), until ben (0 for 14 from 7) and Jamie (1 for 25 from 7) were brought on to tighten up proceedings. Benoire’s return to form followed with 4 good wickets, before our friend was run out for 99 running a second to the deadly arm of Bootsy and Ealing finally declared at 50 overs having mustered a total of 209 for 7 wickets.
At the turn the smart money seemed to be on the visitors knocking off the runs or at least taking the 4 points for the winning draw, and after a first over of 6 gentle full tosses from the opposition skipper, things looked even rosier. But the swing of the other opener soon accounted for Richie Burfitt before Timmy charged down the pitch and wasn’t even in the shot for the third umpire’s verdict for the stumping. Again Richie Nicoll and Glaze dug in for a while, but after Glaze was dismissed then a very brief innings from Pistol consisting solely of a wild swing and a miss then an attempted block of a straight one, Bootsy was at the crease trying to save the day. Rich Nic got a good one and edged to slip then humorously, even under the conditions, Bootsy left a massive long hop which finally came down and pummelled into his stumps and we were eight down with Ian Bennett and Jamie Davis at the crease with 17 overs of the day’s play remaining.
Well…17 overs later Jamie and Benioré were still at the crease fending off delivery after delivery to miraculously salvage a hard earned point and deny Ealing the victory which I am sure with an hour’s play remaining, they expected to walk in. Amazing patience and application from Ian and Jamie. Well done boys.
In a forgettable match for some, the shared points were reasonably deserved, though both teams would have left the ground thinking that this was a game they should have won, and our team certainly thinking we could have lost.
Chin up boys…let’s bounce back next week against Highgate and get back to our winning ways…
Pistol
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North Middlesex 4th XI Versus Kenton CC (Home) 8th May 2010
Foreword:
It was with confidence, Mr. Brett Booth (our new skipper) took his first 4th XI side to the Douglas Eyre ground, Walthamstow, on a rather overcast Saturday morning. Fearful of the weather, but having selected 6 "gun" bowlers (as the former skipper had put it), skipper was confident of a victory. This was the first step out of retirement for our new leader, but one that is expected to bear fruit come the end of the season.
With the exception of our former skipper (the Australian known as Pistol) being 20 minutes late for the team meet, all was going swimmingly - until we realised we were 30 minutes early for stumps - both current and former skipper blamed one another for this mishap.
As we were travelling to the ground, Richie Burfitt (who had driven directly from home) was being assured by a certain "GI Joe", or "The Gatekeeper" as some like to call him, that the wicket was (outside professional county grounds of course) one of the best in the country. Unfortunately for our ground keeping friend, it did not prove so - this gives you the first insight into what I might describe as "a bowlers wicket", but having said that I am supposedly biased as a batsman).
Narrative:
1st Innings: Lost the toss (considering Pete had only won it 3 times last season, it was no real surprise) and we were elected to bat.
Now, with the wicket the way it looked (best outside county cricket? I wasn't feeling too confident about GI Joe's judgement), the ball with overcast conditions bound to move in the air, and having no bat to use, I was feeling pretty nervous of "steadying the ship and seeing out the first 10 overs." Sure enough, I was out 2nd ball of the season. C'est La Vie. Lovely snick to 1st slip which Mr Way, Mr Hill, Mr Eckford, Mr Lake (Jnr)... (I could go on), would have taken with ease.
Fortunately, the next 40 overs proved far more fruitful. Both Richie Nich (33), in rather tempestuous times (probably the greatest over-40's batsmen and fielder to play for North Mid) and Glazer (36), did indeed steady the ship.
However, at 100 for 5, in stepped the skipper. A true captain's innings of 31 saw us through to 159 all out. A true captain's innings.
Then came the bowlers:
Boots and Pistol - was expecting the standard. Have them all out by 5pm and an early lime & soda for me in the bar.
Wrong: Ben and Jamie opened up: with the sort of swing, jazz, and pace that East London has not seen since (as our new skipper reminded us as he always will on the way back home from home games these days) East 17 or Thin Lizzy performed here at the club just outside Tottenham Hale station.
Beaut.
After the onslaught of our openers, then came Bennoir, Jacobs, and Pistol. The opposing captain (who was former league batsman of the year for this league, and at the same time was claiming he was in the 2nds league winning team last year) - was gone 3rd ball - for 0. Oh Drat!
Conclusion:
What an awesome start to the season - 10 points says it all - bring it on!!!!!
Mustard
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