Scorecard

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday v Maidenhead & Bray on Sat 24 Jun 2006 at 1.30pm
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Won 1 wicket

Match report Thatcham II moved into second place in Division 3B of the Thames Valley League with a one wicket win at home to Maidenhead & Bray on Saturday. Chasing 205 for victory Thatcham were cruising at 124-0 but a combination of some tight bowling and poor batting meant a nail biting finish.

Stephen Bird and Malcolm Bloor had begun circumspectly, taking until the fourth over to get Thatcham off the mark but them both found some fluency with Bloor in particular rolling back the years with some classical cover drives. The visitors didn’t help themselves by dropping several chances but the Thatcham pair still managed to take advantage of this. Both players passed fifty and with 22 overs left and only 81 to get a Thatcham win looked a foregone conclusion.

However, the introduction of Evans and Parker changed things as Bird (57) fell to fine catch in the gully and Neil Rider and Sean Huckins fell soon afterwards. While Bloor stayed in there didn’t seem to be a problem but when he finally departed for 73 things started to fall apart for the home side. Simon Rider, Robb Fraser and Martin Keep all fell quickly and at 172-7 Maidenhead & Bray sensed victory.

With only three an over needed however some sensible batting would still see Thatcham home but that is not their way. John Williams and captain Perry Moore decided the best way was to hit boundaries, Williams (18) deposited Parker for a six and two fours before Moore unleashed three spectacular cover drives and the icing on the cake a huge straight six off Evans to bring the scores level.

There was time for a final twist though as Williams was dismissed and with 3.2 overs left Tim Mahoney was trapped in front. Jamie Bishop survived the final ball of the over and Moore finished things with another boundary off the first ball of the next over. He ended 22 not out, all in boundaries, from only 13 balls. Evans (5-46) and Parker (4-55) were the pick of the bowlers.

Earlier in the day Maidenhead had made a solid start to their innings before Jamie Bishop made the breakthrough, having Evans caught in the gully for 19. Bishop bowled very well without any further luck and ended with 1-27 from 10 overs. Williams and Arjan then took the score to 95 before Moore broke through, having the former caught at slip for 36.

Spin was the key for Thatcham as Neil Rider was introduced for his first bowl of the season and he struck fourth ball, Arjan out for 47 and the fourth wicket fell soon afterwards as Huckins clung onto a stunning slip catch to dismiss Parker, also off Rider. Bidwell then had to retire hurt with damaged shoulder ligaments as he dived in going for a tight single and Taylor became Rider’s third victim, bowled by a quicker delivery.

Maidenhead’s captain, Dobson, and Dean then rebuilt with Dobson playing some powerful strokes. He survived one chance but Rider struck twice in four balls, taking a return catch to get rid of Dean and then tempting Dobson (46) into one big shot too many and Stephen Bird took a good catch. Moore then wrapped things up two overs later as the visitors lost their last four wickets for seven runs, Thatcham’s skipper finishing with 3-61 from 14.3 overs with Neil Rider returning 5-49 from 11.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
208		        
Stephen Bird Caught  57 1
Malcolm Bloor Caught  73 1
Neil Rider Bowled  1 1
Sean Huckins Bowled  0 2
Simon Rider Bowled  0
Robb Fraser Caught  8
Martin Keep Caught  4
John Williams Caught  18 1
Perry Moore Not Out  22 1
Tim Mahoney Lbw  0
Jamie Bishop Not Out  0

Maidenhead & Bray Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Maidenhead & Bray Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
204 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jamie Bishop10.0427127.002.70
Simon Rider8.013500.004.38
Tim Mahoney5.002700.005.40
Perry Moore14.3361320.334.21
Neil Rider11.014959.804.45

  • Umpire :
    Basil Wheeler
  • Scorer :
    John Keep