Scorecard

Northchurch II v Aldenham Cricket Club on Sat 03 Jun 2023 at 13.00
Aldenham Cricket Club Lost by 2 runs

Match report What a day for some bat and ball. The parishioners rocked up to a picturesque Northchurch ground full of confidence having started their league campaign faultless thus far….what could go wrong?

Skipper of the day Itty decided it would be best to bowl first having 10 players at the ground and a pitch that looked a belter to bat on. Nonetheless the sun was out so energy and enthusiasm were sky high…

‘Where is the King?’ No Maj, no match!! Luckily for the visitors Mikey ‘just get me out the house’ Ward had just arrived and had his kit with him so 13th man of the day helped until his MAJisty turned up. Cheers Mikey!!

Char did some bowling but was playing second fiddle to league specialist Raj Chandel bowling immaculately picking up a wicket in his 8 overs. The only entertaining part about Chars spell was when one of his in-duckers tickled the batsmans pad and was met by the umpire slowly raising his finger only to itch the top of his head!!!! Must have been just sliding down leg I suppose. Thankfully the next ball was virtually middled then brushed the batsman pad so of course a massive appeal followed and the batsman was triggered.

Dipen was next in line and was surely going to carry on from where he picked up from his last match (6fer)….4 overs for 40 suggests otherwise but did manage to bowl a delicious leggy that actually pitched and got their best batsman out.

The coach had his turn (replacing a sick Barry Letts) bowled a Coach like line and length giving nothing away and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket.

Drifting through those middle overs, the fielding team needed a lift so skipper Haque turned towards Golden arm and the King. A education of bowling proceeded which included plenty of grunts to stimulate all involved and some economically bowling meant the hosts were working their way to a chasable 150-160…..

Char picked up some lower order victims with a variety of paced deliveries meaning phantom Michelle puns were being shared and the excitement was building. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Amit decided to bowl the 39th over too straight and the innings was over after the 3rd LBW of the innings was given.

163 to win on a flat deck….

10-3 off 4 overs says otherwise. Openers Sach and Simon were done by deliveries ‘too good for me’ and it was left to the middle/lower order batters yet again to win the game.

A brief steadying of the ship from Andy T and Char meant hope was being restored. Reality hit a couple of overs later when Char decided to plough a half volley to 2nd slip and that was the end of his game. 24-4.

Almost 20 overs later Andy T was playing like Trescothick and all rounder Ubaid ‘who needs notes anymore’ Khaliq were still their and the WinViz was nearing 50%. Some delightful strokes and decent running between the wickets but the earlier damage meant the run rate was always creeping around a run a ball meaning bigger shots were needed and the latter was back in the hutch retrieving his camera.

Amit came and went having been run out accidently by the bowlers boot so Itty was next to bat. 2 balls later Itty was getting changed and all hope was dwindling. WinViz probably at a generous 10% now. Thankfully the visitors batted all the way down so King Maj was tasked with staying with Andy T who was starting to smash everything is slight. 67 off 60 was then 29 off 30 and the belief started the grow. Its never plane sailing with Aldenham though as Andy played one shot too many finishing with a memorable 69……..

Swinging from the hip Dipen came but persished due to some confusing calling with his batting partner so he was soon run out. It was left to Maj and Raj to either ‘bat the overs’ or get us over the line. A couple of near misses with run outs and a couple of drop catches meant Aldenham needed 3 off the last ball. All fielders were pathetically on the boundary meaning Ma’js valiant effort of a straight drive meant the visitors were left 2 runs short of their target.

Being so close meant we look back on where those 2 runs could have been saved/gained…..

Simo – playing a 50% due to a Triathlon the next day

Sach – arriving in an alice band meaning lots of energy from his team mates were spent ridiculing him pre match

Pichy – confused his innings with the fielding sides catching practice. Also, dropped a dolly that ended up going for 6

Andy T – Faultless throughout, if anything too enthusiastic when fielding meaning other fielders were probably jealous. Excused

Char – suffering from jet lag after his journey from Liverpool and having too many kids to look after. Excused

Ubaid – not enough wides given in the last over

Amit – Ran 6k the morning of a game. Better prep from all future 12th men please

Itty – batted like Itty….when will you learn?!

Maj – turned up late and had to start with 10

Dipen – 3 full tosses an over

Raj – should have ben run out 3 times but then when needing 3 off the last decided to run 1 then gave up



Barry Letts – pulling out the morning of a game because of sickness then coming to watch

Another classic Aldenham match for the archive but Cricket is always the winner.

Everyone got a game and that’s all that matters 😊

Northchurch II Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 9w 4b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
16
163 (39.0 overs)
     
  lbw  Cha. Munroe 1
  b  Chandel 24
  st  Haque b D. Sanghvi 34
  lbw  Khaliq 13
  b  Khaliq 34
  lbw  M. Fadra 16
  b  Cha. Munroe 10
  b  Cha. Munroe 13
  ct  D. Sanghvi b Cha. Munroe 0
  Not Out  2
  lbw  Chakrawarti 0

Aldenham Cricket Club Aldenham Cricket Club Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Raj Chandel8.0114114.001.75
Charlie Munroe7.012546.253.57
Dipen Sanghvi6.0050150.008.33
Amit Chakrawarti7.0028128.004.00
Ubaid Khaliq8.0321210.502.63
Majidahmed Mohammadali3.0119119.006.33

Aldenham Cricket Club Aldenham Cricket Club Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
7w 1b 3lb 
for 10 wickets
11
161
        
Simon Letts b  Dawson 4 11 1 36.36
Sachin Sanghvi b  Painter 0 4 0
Steve Pich ct  Painter 4 5 1 80.0
Andy Tyrer ct  Durani 69 83 9 1 83.13
Charlie Munroe ct  Dawson 7 15 1 46.67
Ubaid Khaliq ct  Vila 23 60 1 38.33
Amit Chakrawarti Run out  2 7 28.57
Itty Haque ct  James 1 2 50.0 1
Majidahmed Mohammadali Not Out  33 31 2 106.45
Dipen Sanghvi Run out  2 10 20.0 1
Raj Chandel Run out  5 10 50.0

Northchurch II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Dawson8.0124212.003.00
Painter8.0041220.505.13
Durani8.0040140.005.00
Vila8.0017117.002.13
James8.0135135.004.38