Wildcard Watfa secures place in Aldenham record books with landmark ton
by Chris Hewett
Beastly Aldenham pinch-hitter Tanios Watfa secured a landmark 1,000 runs for the season in a rain-affected victory over Frogmore at the home of cricket on Sunday.
The Lebanese all-rounder blasted a quick-fire 107* in just 47 deliveries to become the second player this season, along with Indian cut-shot supremo Karan Barot, to pass the coveted total – the first pair in the club’s history to reach the achievement in the same season.
Frogmore got off to a rapid start chasing 245 but ended well short to gift Aldenham an overs victory despite failing to topple the final two wickets.
Heavy downpours delayed the start of the match by more than one hour and a subsequent rain delay forced a change in format to 30 overs per side.
Aldenham, batting first having lost the toss, were already nine overs into their innings when the change in format was forced, but following a steady 23 from Basil Letts, who was eventually bowled, the talismanic and dishevelled Watfa joined Sachin Sanghvi at the crease.
Following ducks from Matt Bazeley and Simon Letts, Sangvhi immediately picked up the run-rate with some quick-fire singles and clever placement, aided by the formidable Watfa who pounded the Frogmore fodder to the boundary in testing damp conditions.
The folicly endowed former bowler needed 90 runs at the start of the day to bring up his thousand, and cheers erupted from the pavilion as he swept yet another full-toss down the leg side across the boundary to reach his target.
Sanghvi was eventually stumped on 46 – ending a fantastic supporting innings that helped drag Aldenham from 34 off ten overs to 174 off 24 – before Chris Munroe came in and dispatched some filthy bowling to finish on 41 off just 17 balls soon after Watfa reached his century.
With light sure to become an issue later in the evening, off-the-wall skipper Chris Hewett declared with one over remaining, giving the home side an extra ten minutes of light in the later gloom.
A stunning tea by ‘Yes Chef’ Munroe had been enjoyed during the earlier rain delay so Hewett and Charlie ‘Can I Call Rita?’ Munroe opened the bowling following a straight turnaround.
Hewett secured his qualification in the bowling averages by taking his tenth wicket in what has been an injury-plagued season before following up with two more to finish with tidy figures of 7-2-3-25.
Munroe Jnr, perhaps mentally affected by a 3am phone call to his 58-year-old Hendon love interest Rita, was getting some tap at the other end but finally had Frogmore’s only dangerman caught on the boundary by Sanghvi for 52, finishing with a useful three wickets that went for 51 off eight overs.
With the required run rate soaring and another wicket down courtesy of Michael ‘The Skidder’ Ward, Frogmore’s lower order shut up shop.
The young James Bazeley produced a good but unrewarded late spell of 0-29 off six and Basil Letts completed a tempered all-round performance by picking up a late wicket in his four overs that went for an economical 11 runs.
Victory was secured despite Aldenham just unable to get the final two wickets in what was a historic and enjoyable afternoon at the chilly village ground.
Catches: Sanghvi (2), M Bazeley, Watfa
Drops: M Bazeley (2).
Aldenham: 245-4 Dec.
Frogmore: 134-8
Aldenham win by 111 runs.