Scorecard

Aldenham Cricket Club v Fornax CC on Sun 18 Jul 2021 at 12:30
Aldenham Cricket Club Lost by 5 runs

Match report Aldenham CC v Fornax CC – 18/07/21

Aldenham CC returned to the home of cricket on a glorious day. Temperatures recorded at a record high of ridiculously hot.

The late change opposition were true to their status and arrived twenty minutes after the scheduled start time, forcing the format of the game to 35 overs per side. Aldenham won the toss and elected to bowl whilst the rest of the opposition arrived.

Basil Letts and Sheikh Ahmed opened the bowling in the sweltering heat. After a few loose opening overs, where the Fornax openers found the fence multiple times, Sheikh managed to prise a breakthrough - the opening left hander dragging on.

Skipper Itty Haque changed up the pace of the game with a double change after 8 overs by bringing on Richard Doughty and Ubaid Khaliq. The two batsmen continued to swing from the hip, splicing the ball over and out of reach of the infield multiple times. Ubaid claimed the next breakthrough, supported with a great catch from a diving Baz at cover.

Fornax continued to score at a good rate as Itty made a second double change with Mark (the) Bohm and Karan Barot being brought on for middle over spin. Both bowled better than figures suggest, with lovely moon ball flight (this reporter can appreciate that) and claimed a wicket apiece.

Basil and Sheikh returned to complete the overs at the death, both striking twice to restrict the opposition. Overall, it was a good fielding display in difficult conditions, with several good catches from Basil (2) Karan (2) and Andy Jackson (1). Fornax finishing 211-8 off of their 35 overs.

In response, the father/son Letts opening partnership kicked things off for Aldenham, but it was a short lived event with Simon chipping the ball to point for 0 in the first over. Even after the early setback, Basil started to put the pressure on the Fornax bowlers, picking up consistent boundaries and putting the fielders under pressure with plenty of quick singles. The next three partnerships helped keep the scoreboard ticking over whilst Basil continued to deposit the ball all around the parish. Matthew Anson (14), Robin Russell (9) and Andy (12) helping to provide solid partnerships of 49, 40 and 69 with him.

Racing through the gears, it was not long after the second drinks break when Basil picked up 4 to the wide of long-on to bring up a fantastic 100 off just 62 balls. A great, almost match-defining, knock in exhausting conditions.

In the end, a tired chip to cover ended a great innings as Basil made his way off the pitch in the unrelenting Aldenham sun for 107, and the game was advantage Fornax once more. From here, wickets started to tumble, with a chaotic run out between Karan and Ubaid, the latter departing for 1, followed by Itty being bowled also for 1, the target was now a tall ask.

Karan (26*) took the game to the end, clearing the fence in the penultimate over to reduce the target to 10 off six. But, after a tight final over, including a Sheikh run out, Karan was left with 6 needed to win off the last ball after a few wides and a Mark single. Sadly, with a ball tucking him up, he was unable to clear the cut strip. Aldenham lose by 5 runs.

Overall, a closely fought game on a flat deck (as prophesised from Basil Letts earlier in the week) made for a great match. Basil took man of match for the innings of the day, whilst Sheikh was the standout bowler with 3-37 on a batting friendly pitch. Congratulations also to Sheikh for also passing 100 Parish wickets recently!

Onto next week (after plenty of after sun…)!

Fornax CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
211 (35.0 overs)
     
Ali st  Haque b Bohm 61
Fareed b  Ahmed 21
Parvez ct  B. Letts b Khaliq 16
Syed ct  Jackson b B.Letts 53
Awaiz ct  B. Letts b Barot 7
Irshad lbw  B. Letts 33
Sana ct  Barot b Ahmed 2
Faraaz ct  Barot b Ahmed 1
Muaz Not Out  0
Mubeen Not Out  0
   

Aldenham Cricket Club Aldenham Cricket Club Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sheikh Ahmed7.0037312.335.29
Basil Letts7.0040220.005.71
Richard Doughty4.002200.005.50
Ubaid Khaliq4.0030130.007.50
Mark Bohm7.0044144.006.29
Karan Barot6.0038138.006.33

Aldenham Cricket Club Aldenham Cricket Club Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 25w 2b 5lb 
for 8 wickets
33
206
        
Simon Letts ct  Sand 0 4 0
Basil Letts ct  Faraz 107 68 11 3 157.35 2
Matthew Anson b  Parvez 14 41 1 34.15
Robin Russell b  Parvez 9 23 39.13
Andy Jackson b  Faraz 12 26 1 46.15 1
Karan Barot Not Out  26 32 2 1 81.25 2
Ubaid Khaliq Run out  1 1 100
Itty Haque b  Faraz 2 5 40.0 1
Sheikh Ahmed Run out  3 3 100
Mark Bohm Not Out  1 2 50.0
Richard Doughty  

Fornax CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sand5.0022122.004.40
Faraz8.0035311.674.38
Parvez6.0032216.005.33
Fareez5.003300.006.60
Irshad7.004400.006.29
Avez3.002300.007.67
Mubeen1.00700.007.00