Scorecard

Marlow Park v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 02 Jul 2005 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report Thatcham travelled to Marlow Park on Saturday and came out much the better from a drawn game in which they were unlucky not to pick up a 25 point maximum haul.

Duncan Johnson lost the toss and the visitors were inserted on what looked a dampish green wicket and soon lost Sri Lankan Brad Ediriweera as he chased a wide one from Shoaib Khan and edged to keeper Slater for 5. Steve Bird and Paul Jenkins then batted very well together and repaired the early damage, Jenkins looking assured beyond his years as he drove and pulled the Marlow Park openers with confident authority before the introduction of Mohammed Jawed bought about his downfall as he edged to Khan in the gully for a fine 24. Johnson played a couple of good strokes before trying to impose himself on the spin of Hanif only to slice to Jawed who took a comfortable catch to dismiss the Thatcham skipper for 13. Bird had patiently made his way to a chanceless half century before he too fell to Hanif, caught by Roberts at backward point for 56 and when Matt Denness was lbw to Roberts for 16, after looking in sublime touch, Thatcham were in a spot of bother at 124-5 through 36 overs. Rakesh Patel and Andy Harland soon put that right, both playing some excellent strokes, Patel in particular relishing the spin of Hanif, despatching him out of the ground on 2 occasions and even when Javed dropped a little short, Patel rocked back and blazed him over square for a couple more maximums. Javed had the final word though trapping him lbw for an excellent 40 runs off just 36 balls, but Patel’s job had been done, adding 71 with Harland to push Thatcham up toward the 200 mark. With Patel gone, Harland then took up the baton and together with Robb Fraser added another 35 runs in the final overs to get the visitors to 230-6 from 52 overs, with Harland reaching his 50 in the final over and Fraser unbeaten on 17. It was an excellent effort from the Thatcham side and good to see the all round depth of the batting step up to the plate when required with Bird, Patel and Harland doing a fantastic job for their side.

With early wickets an absolute must, Ediriweera and Harland took the new ball and in the very first over Slater edged to Johnson who took as comfortable a slip catch as you could want and Ediriweera had got his side off to the perfect start. With both bowlers swinging the ball and getting good seam movement, the early overs were a real test and the Marlow Park batters could not cope. Howlin hit Ediriweera for a couple of cheap fours but perished to a great catch from Jenkins at mid on to give Ediriweera another wicket and then Harland got the vital wicket of overseas star Shoaib Khan, who looked all at sea trying to cope with the accuracy and movement, as he perished trying to hit the ball over mid on, only for Chris Bird to take a fine catch to send him on his way for 14. Javed then got together with Hanif and Thatcham knew this was a vital partnership, Javed looking his usual imperious self, playing some sublime cuts and drives, just patiently waiting for the bad ball and Hanif despatching anything pitched up to the rope as they put on 75. Johnson bought himself into the attack and with Javed hitting the first 2 balls from the Thatcham skipper to the boundary, things looked ominous, but Johnson got the ultimate reward as Javed looked to pull a quicker long hop and was well caught by Pete Edgcombe for 46.
It was a big wicket and it was then followed in the next Johnson over by Hanif, who fell straight into the trap at deep mid-wicket, Rakesh Patel taking a superb diving catch and Hanif had to go for 28. Johnson had his tail up now and with Chris Bird bowling beautifully at the other end and the pitch turning and bouncing, Marlow Park were there for the taking. Roberts edged Johnson to Patel in the gully for 0, skipper Shafaqat was bowled by a swinging arm ball for 4 and Khalid Khan became Johnson’s 5th victim, well caught by Steve Bird for 2 and Marlow Park were teetering on the brink at 127-8 after 41 overs and the visitors had 7 overs with which to take the 2 wickets required. Del Salina, often the scourge of Thatcham, was still there though and his task was to shepherd his side to safety and with Amjad Ali he did just that as Thatcham tried everything to get the required breakthrough. 3 really tough chances came and went for the visitors, the pace of Ediriweera and Harland failed and it was left to the final over from Chris Bird to try and seal the victory. Salina survived without further alarm though and Marlow Park closed at 159-8 leaving Thatcham feeling desperately frustrated.
Duncan Johnson picked up 5-19 from 9 overs and Ediriweera 2-32 and Harland 1-44 were the other bowlers in the wickets, although Chris Bird bowed 10 testing overs and was unlucky to finish without a wicket with 0-20.

Thatcham picked up 14 points for their efforts and Marlow Park 6 and Thatcham can take heart from the fact they played positive cricket and at the half way stage of the season, although lying 7th in the table, are only 27 points behind 2nd placed Cove.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
230		        
Bradman Ediriweera Caught  5
Stephen Bird Caught  56 1
Paul Jenkins Caught  24 1
Duncan Johnson Caught  13 1
Matthew Denness Lbw  16
Rakesh Patel Lbw  40 2
Andy Harland Not Out  50
Robb Fraser Not Out  17
Peter Edgcombe   1
Chris Bird   1
Chris Bird  

Marlow Park Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Marlow Park Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 8 wickets
0
159 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Bradman Ediriweera8.0132216.004.00
Andy Harland10.0344144.004.40
Peter Edgcombe7.031800.002.57
Nick Bishop4.002000.005.00
Duncan Johnson9.041953.802.11
Chris Bird10.032000.002.00

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Moira Fraser