Scorecard

Whitwell v Aldenham Cricket Club 1st XI on Sun 27 May 2012 at 14:00
Aldenham Cricket Club Won by 94 runs

Match report Sunday 27th May 2012

40 overs per side / 8 per bowler

A brand new fixture greeted the Aldenham heroes on another sweltering late May day, our hosts for the day Whitwell Cricket Club on the outskirts of Hitchin.

Charlie lost the toss and the A's were put in to bat in a 40 overs a side game, which is no way to introduce yourselves to the Old Man of Aldenham as fixtures secretary! Char went for the very attacking opening partnership of Chris Munroe and Baz Letts. The Gould family of Whitwell opened the bowling for the opposition, and after 3 steady overs the A's found themselves 14-0. Baz then attempted an ambitious pull stroke off the left arm seamer, only managing to find a top-edge straight up in the air towards mid-wicket, this was however shelved despite Baz being half way back to the pavilion. Baz's reprieve was however short-lived, trying to work a ball in to the leg side the following over found a leading edge and was caught & bowled.

Chris was joined by Simon, but Chris was soon to find himself following Baz back to the changing room, snicking a snorter to the keeper, the A's reeling at 26-2. Matt Bazeley came to the wicket and immediately dispatched a short & wide delivery to the boundary. A bowling change in the 14th over brought about Simons demise, having played some customary slaps to the leg side boundary was dismissed in unusual fashion by the keeper off of a leading edge. Itty came to the wicket, looking to avenge a lack of action the previous day. He however had to first witness Matt's wicket, cutting upishly to a deep backward point. Itty was then dismissed by a full toss which he somehow managed to shovel to the greatful hands of mid-wicket. Aldenham were now 67-5 and looking for some stability.

Richard 'President' Kirby and Charlie proceeded to go about this task, Char as ever looking busy at the wicket looking to pinch singles, which was perhaps ill-advised given his partnership with the 'Bionic Man' at the other end. Richard stuck with Char well, but soon found his off-stump up-rooted by the 2nd change seamer. Pete joined the youngest of the Munroe gentlemen at the wicket, however he was dismissed in un-characteristic fashion; 'I can't remember the last time I got bowled...'.

'The Lebanese Lip' that is Tanios Watfa came in at 9, the A's teetering on the brink at 105-7 after 24 overs. This was however to be a match-defining partnership, one full of patient play, good running, lusty blows and more mentions of a 'Captains Innings' than I care to write about. Charlie took a particular liking to the opposition captains seamers, striking solidly straight and off the legs down the hill. A 74 run partnership was brought to an end in the 35th over, not before Charlie Munroe could pass a well-deserved half century, Char bowled all ends up by the skipper. Mr Watfa soon followed, dismissed by a straight one from the tall left arm spinner LBW after amassing an excellent 41 off 33 balls. Rikaz came in at 11, and finished the innings well with some lusty hitting including a big six over square leg. Wardy was bowled going for a un-gainly hoik on the penultimate ball, the innings over.

Aldenham CC 210 all out Charlie Munroe 57 (61 balls), Tanios Watfa 41 (33 balls)

After a good fill of melon and bakewell tarts, the A's set about defending a good total. Charlie and Rikaz opened the bowling, Both were off colour to begin with, Rikaz in particular struggling with the hill causing him to spray around the ball. The opposition skipper played a couple of well timed drives off of Char straight down the ground, but singles were proving hard to come by for Whitwell. Rikaz made the breakthrough however, the second opener being trapped in front of all 3. Rikaz soon after picked up the captain also with a straight ball, this time hitting the stumps, gone for 14.

Tanios replaced Char at the top end, and started in customary erratic fashion, struggling to control his length. Rikaz picked up his third wicket at the other end, bowling their number 3 all ends up. Tanios thought took up the mantle, and was soon looking dangerous and pacey. His spell brought about good rewards, a short ball picking up the number 4 thanks to an excellent tumbling catch from Matt Bazeley at mid-wicket. He then picked up the number 5 with a wide delivery that was spooned to Chris Munroe at extra cover with another tumbling catch.

Wardy replaced Rikaz, and picked up the left handed number 7 with a straight ball, clipping the leg stump. A small rally for the 7th wicket for Whitwell then set about frustrating the A's, but Mr Watfa used the consistently inconsistent bounce of the unrolled pitch with shooter taking out off-stump of the number 6. Tanios was replaced by Richard Kirby bowling some gentle away swingers, and he soon got in to the wickets collaring the stodgy number 8 at extra-cover thanks to another excellent catch, this time from Slack Haque. The innings was winding down and Wardy kept up his good early season form by picking up the last 2 wickets, the second LBW of the innings and finally a sweep to the well-positioned Baz Letts at square leg snaffled comfortably.

Whitwell CC 116 all out Rikaz Nawaz 8-0-32-3, Tanios Watfa 7-1-21-3, Michael Ward 6.4-2-11-3

A special thanks to our hosts for the day who were a nice bunch, and I am sure we will be looking to continue the fixture next year (with our fixture secretary's blessing of course). Richard won the football scratch card in the Strathairne Arms (possibly made the name up...) with his pick of Port Vale, and many a cold Aspalls was consumed in the beer garden. A Good Day.

MoM: Charlie Munroe

Sorry if this is long, I babble...

Aldenham Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
26w 5b 8lb 
for 10 wickets
39
210		        
Basil Letts ct G. Gould 9 13 2 69.23 1
Chris Munroe ct G. Gould 13 26 3 50.0 1
Simon Letts ct Smith 11 26 2 42.31
Matt Bazeley ct Smith 20 24 4 83.33 1
Itty Haque ct Tanner 1 5 20.0 1
Rich Kirby b Tanner 4 16 1 25.00
Charlie Munroe b Bell 57 61 9 93.44
Pete Munroe b Smith 0 9 0
Tanios Watfa lbw Croft 41 33 8 124.24
Michael Ward b Croft 2 14 14.29
Rikaz Nawaz Not Out  13 13 1 1 100

Whitwell Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
G. Gould8.0039219.504.88
K. Gould8.002600.003.25
Smith6.0030310.005.00
Tanner8.0222211.002.75
Bell6.0143143.007.17
Croft3.5037218.509.65

Whitwell Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 24w 10b 7lb 
for 10 wickets
43
116 (28.4 overs)		     
Bell b Nawaz 14
Priestley lbw Nawaz 10
Wallis b Nawaz 0
Tanner ct Watfa 5
Ross-Hurst ct Watfa 4
James b Watfa 15
Croft b Ward 0
Whistance-Smith ct Kirby 14
Croft lbw Ward 6
Gould ct Ward 5
Gould Not Out  0

Aldenham Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Charlie Munroe4.001800.004.50
Rikaz Nawaz8.0032310.674.00
Tanios Watfa7.012137.003.00
Michael Ward6.421133.671.65
Rich Kirby3.0016116.005.33