Scorecard

Cove v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 14 May 2005 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report Thatcham travelled to Cove on Saturday and came away with a morale boosting draw and 13 points to lift themselves up the TVL Div 1 and gain some much needed confidence ahead of the visit of high flying Chesham to Brownsfield this coming weekend.

Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson lost yet another toss and the visitors were inserted on a good looking Cove track, home captain Jeremy Jones obviously confident his strong batting line up could chase anything that Thatcham compiled.

Brad Ediriweera and James Ettridge opened up for the visitors and Ediriweera raced out of the blocks smashing the Cove opening attack of Short and A Audsley to all parts as 61 runs came from the first 10 overs without loss. Ediriweera reached his 50 off just 35 balls and home skipper Jones turned to the experience of spinner Joe Ashton to try and stop the run glut. He applied some much needed control and made the first breakthrough as Ettridge looked to lift him over mid on, only to find the safe hands of Zimbabwean Stanley Marisa lurking out in the deep and the opener departed for 22. Daniel Stone then looked to build a partnership with Ediriweera and a useful 36 runs were added before two Thatcham wickets fell in quick succession, Stone the first to go for 15, as he tried to flick Ashton behind square, only to chip it straight to Audsley and then the prize scalp of Ediriweera, tempted down the track by the spin of Marsh and beaten, keeper Neil Randall doing the rest as the Sri Lankan went for a fine 88, full of flowing drives and punishing pull shots. With two new men at the crease Cove looked to the spin of Marsh and Ashton to keep Thatcham on the backfoot as Chris Wright and Duncan Johnson looked to rebuild the visitors innings. Ashton was bowling a fine spell of off spin though, and his patience outlasted that of Wright, who had to got to 13 before an attempted hit ‘over the top’ found the safe hands of Marsh who took a good catch high to his left. A very healthy 56 run partnership between Johnson and Matt Denness came just at the right time for visitors though as they got after Ashton and Marsh and the boundaries started to flow, Denness in his unorthodox, but highly effective way, and Johnson unleashing some powerful drives and big straight hitting to take the score over the 200 mark in the 45th over, Johnson reaching a 2nd successive League 50 from 55 balls, before Denness succumbed lbw to the seam of Nick Randall for 24. Randall then took out Robb Fraser for 7 and Andy Harland joined his skipper to take Thatcham through to the finish, Johnson finding the time to hit a couple more 6’s as he finished with a well constructed 82 not out with Harland providing good support at the end, unbeaten on 5 as Thatcham closed their innings on 267-6 from the 52 overs.
Ashton was the pick of the home attack bowling 20 overs and finishing with 3-78 and he was backed up by Nick Randall who bowled well at the end to return 2-37 from 7 overs.

Although 267 looked a good total, it was belting track and Cove’s strength lay in the batting department with a top 4 as good as you’ll see in most Leagues and Marsh and skipper Jones came out all guns blazing as they put on 107 for the 1st wicket through 20 overs, although how different the story might have been if Jones had been taken at slip very early off Ediriweera as Thatcham desperately needed an early break and inroads into the Cove batting. Marsh looked absolutely superb, timing the ball beautifully as Johnson switched his bowlers in an attempt to stop the flow of runs and take a wicket. It was an inspirational piece of work by Chris Wright that provided the spark, as Pete Edgcombe fired one down the leg side and Wright, who was stood up, whipped the bails off before Marsh could move and he had to go for 45 and the old saying of ‘one brings two’ rang true as Jones followed 2 balls later for 64, Daniel Stone holding the catch, Edgcombe again the successful bowler. Thatcham knew if they could take out Neil Randall and Stanley Marisa as well, they would have a great chance of winning the game. Randall came out and signalled his intentions, smashing his 2nd ball straight back over the bowlers head for 4 and was intent on being the aggressor. When you play that game however it only takes a miscue and that’s exactly what happened as Randall looked to smash Andy Harland over mid-wicket only to find Chris Bird as he went for 19 off just 11 balls. Zimbabwean Marisa looked out of touch and the seam of Edgcombe soon had him back in the hut, a regulation snick to Wright and he was gone for 6 and Thatcham had got through the dangerous top order Cove batting in 28 overs with the score at 142-4. Cove needed another 126 runs off 20 overs at just over a run a ball and it was still anybody’s game to win. Tomsett and S Audsley struggled to keep up with the rate though and as the game wore on, only 2 results were ever likely, a Thatcham win or a draw. Audsley was tempted by Bird to go for it , only to find Johnson out at long-on and he went for 24 and Tomsett then looked to hang on for the draw and with good support from Nick Randall the game petered out, although there was time for Robb Fraser to produce a stunning catch at short leg off Andy Harland to dismiss the stubborn Tomsett for 24, which was to be the last act of the game, Cove settling for 213-6 in reply and 8 points, while Thatcham claimed 13 points for a good afternoons work.
Pete Edgcombe was the pick of the visiting attack returning 3-48 from 12 overs and he had good support from Andy Harland, 2-18 from 7 overs.

Thatcham entertain newly promoted Chesham next who currently lie in 2nd spot with two 20 point wins under their belt and boasting Kenyan ODI player Hitesh Modi in their ranks, fresh from 104 not out in their 1st game to successfully chase Harefield’s 211 and 7-54 this last week to bowl High Wycombe 2’s out for 152. Batter Graham Rance also has two 50’s to his name and ex-Hungerford all rounder Rob Maier will also make a welcome return to West Berkshire to face some former team mates in Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson and opening bat Jim Ettridge. Berkshire’s cricket development office Steve Ayres also plays his cricket at Chesham, so the Bucks side bring with them a stern test.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
267		        
Bradman Ediriweera Stumped  88
James Ettridge Caught  22
Dan Stone Caught  15 1
Chris Wright Caught  13 1 1
Duncan Johnson Not Out  82 1
Matthew Denness Lbw  24
Robb Fraser Bowled  7 1
Andy Harland Not Out  5
Chris Bird   1
Chris Bird  
Peter Edgcombe  

Cove Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Cove Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
213 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Bradman Ediriweera11.005200.004.73
Nick Bishop6.012600.004.33
Peter Edgcombe12.0248316.004.00
Chris Bird8.0248148.006.00
Andy Harland7.011829.002.57
Duncan Johnson4.001500.003.75

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Moyz