Scorecard

NPL v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 10 Jun 2006 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report Thatcham travelled to nearest rivals NPL Teddington on a baking hot day in South West London and came away with a draw, but only 6 points compared with the home side's 14 due to the double batting points on offer for batting first and getting 200+.

There was never any doubt the moment that NPL skipper Stuart Garvie won the toss that Thatcham would be in the field, as the temperature was around 30 degrees in the middle, so it was vital that runs were contained in order to chase a gettable total.

Fit again Faisal Ali opened up with Raheel Zaman and the two 16 year old's bowled well, Ali striking immediately in the first over to dismiss Singh for a duck and then following that up by bowling Wooster for 5 and finishing his 1st spell of 6 overs with 2 for 9. Chris Churchman and overseas Shoaib Laghari, fresh from 166 the previous week at Amersham, put on 59 before Churchman fell lbw to Edgcombe bang in front playing across the line for 34.
Edgcombe then picked up Darby for 3, caught by Johnson at mid-wicket, but then came a match turning moment as Laghari tried to hit Chris Bird over long-on, didnt connect cleanly, but the chance was put downand he lived to fight another day. Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson replaced Bird and immediately had his opposite number Garvie stumped by Chris Wright for 26 and then Klimcke was well caught by Matt Denness for 11 also off Johnson. Laghari had reached the 90's with a combination of some super shots and a fair slice of luck before he smashed Johnson out to deep mid-wicket, but again the chance was grounded and Laghari went on to take full advantage reaching his 100 of 91 balls and then smashing another quick 50 as the Thatcham attack found it hard to contain him, leaking 88 runs from the last 10 overs, NPL declaring at
50 overs with a massive 275-6, Laghari unbeaten on 169 and Thomas not out 12.

Faisal Ali was the pick of the visiting attack with figures of 12-2-36-2, and he was backed up by Pete Edgcombe 13-2-48-2 and Duncan Johnson 6-0-46-2 also among the wickets.

It was vital the visitors got a good start in the chase after tea but Thomlinson had other ideas as Gavin McDonald nicked one to keeper Thomas for 4 and then James Ettridge was clean bowled for 12 and inside the first 6 overs Thatcham were 2 down. Duncan Johnson and Paul Jenkins tried to rebuild and added 30 before Jenkins was bowled by a good delivery from Rutt for 18. The partnership of the match then developed between Johnson and his vice captain Matt Denness as they added 70 in good time to get their side ahead of the rate at the half way stage, Thatcham 124-3 compared with NPL's 97-4.

Denness had reached 18 and looked comfortable until Laghari got one to really spin and it beat Denness' attempt to run it down to 3rd man and he was bowled. It was now a vital partnership between Rakesh Patel and Johnson that would decide the game, the Thatcham skipper
reached a chanceless half century from 54 balls and cut loose slog sweeping Laghari for one huge six over square leg followed with a vicious straight drive for four and with the destructive Patel at the other end, anything was possible.

Johnson then hit Laghari for another six over long off, but on 77 he fell lbw to a quicker delivery from the spinner and it was now down to Patel and Chris Wright. Wright lasted just 3 balls however, as a shorter one from Laghari crept along the floor and hit the Thatcham keeper bang in front and he was on his way without troubling the scorers.

The visitors were now 145-6 through 30 overs, still ahead of NPL's 125-4 at the comparison, but wickets were a problem and when May trapped Patel lbw for 20, Thatcham's last big hope had gone and it was now time to try and get maximum batting points without letting NPL take the victory for a maximum 25 points. Faisal Ali hit 8 before holing out at long off to Laghari, but then a good stand of 53 between the experience of Pete Edgcombe and the youthful exuberance of Raheel Zaman took Thatcham over 200, upto 229 before Zaman was clean bowled trying to smash Rutt out of the ground. Chris Bird and Pete Edgcombe then played out the last 4 overs of the game with no further cause for concern as Thatcham closed on 232-9.

Laghari took 4-54 from his 13 overs to go with his 169 not out, with Rutt 2-43 from 13 and Thomlinson 2-49 from 10 also in the wickets for the home side.

Thatcham slip from 1st to 4th in the table with this result, but only 7 points separate the top 4 sides, NPL, Harefield, Kew and Thatcham and the smart money is on these 4 sides to battle it out through the season.

Thatcham entertain 2nd bottom High Wycombe 2's this weekend, who are yet to win a game, with a record of 2 defeats and 2 draws with one game rained out, and it's a fixture Thatcham must look to take advantage of and get back to winning ways.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
232		        
Gavin McDonald Caught  4
James Ettridge Bowled  12
Paul Jenkins Bowled  18
Duncan Johnson Lbw  77 1
Matthew Denness Bowled  18 1
Rakesh Patel Lbw  20
Chris Wright Lbw  0 1
Faisal Ali Caught  8
Raheel Zaman Bowled  24
Peter Edgcombe Not Out  21
Chris Bird Not Out  0

NPL Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

NPL Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
275 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Faisal Ali12.0236218.003.00
Raheel Zaman9.016100.006.78
Peter Edgcombe13.0248224.003.69
Paul Jenkins4.002800.007.00
Chris Bird6.004100.006.83
Duncan Johnson6.0046223.007.67

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Moira Fraser