Scorecard

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham XI- Wednesday v Harwell International on Thu 19 Jul 2012 at 6.10
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Won by 7 wickets

Match report Mighty Trouts Spin Harwell into Oblivion

Thatcham Mighty Trouts completed a comprehensive bowling-attack-led victory over Harwell International that puts them joint top with 2 games in hand.
On another bowler-friendly track, i.e. green, damp and soft, the Town youngsters enjoyed the responsibility of opening the bowling and looked deadly as well as economical, Will Rowsell and Ben Denton-Powell (BDP) conceding just 3 runs each in their first over. Rowsell in particular bowled with good pace and took the wicket of dangerman Smith in the first over, John Williams taking a good diving catch millimetres off the ground. When Rowsell (2-0-7-2) bowled opposition skipper Rick Tanner with a jaffer that straightened to take the top of off stump, their captain was full of admiration in a post-match conversation (“there was nothing I could have done to that delivery, I would have covered middle and leg if I were to play that ball 100 times over”). After that excellent start from the seamers and with the wicket looking conducive to spin it was to his 4-strong repetoire of spinners that Rochy turned to tighten the stranglehold.

Chris Bird showed the youngsters the sort of bowling they need to aspire to and collected a miserly 1/13 from his 3. At the other end, Jona Spriggs had Harwell in a trance with some excellent off-spin that yielded 2/14 from 3. And so the Trouts, led by our intimidating youngsters, prevented Harwell International from gaining any real momentum.
Nick Monger is emerging as the Downs League dangerman, the secret weapon, with impressive figures of 8 wickets off less than 6 overs in 2 matches. He was keen for more and tucked in again (3-0-11-3), his offies dismissing linchpin Fry (12) before claiming a further 2 scalps off the clueless lower middle-order.

Peter Spriggs, enjoying a rare foray in the field without gloves on, had earlier shelled a simple chance at mid on, but made amends with a calm direct hit run out of Pri (12), who had just mishit Mongman for 6 and was perhaps about to move up a gear. But when Peter started warming up as a hint that he was ready to bowl, he was greeted with a stern look by his skipper.
Willo let his teammates down and had to be taken off after 1 over, and instead BDP (3-0-16-0) took his 3rd over which, considering it was at the death, it was a herculean effort to concede just 2 from the 2’6” giant.
One need only look at the club website Downs League stats to see that the young bowlers have had a very successful year, not just with wickets but with the economy with which they have bowled that’s often triggered wickets at the other end.

With Harwell finishing their 15 overs 9-down for only 71 it was Town’s game to lose. Openers Peter Spriggs and Josh Winfield took on the responsibility and went about the run chase carefully. But after some interesting calling from Spriggsy (“yes!... wait!... no!”) a stranded Winfield (11) was run out with an excellent direct hit. Jamie Shields tried an expansive shot second ball and was plucked by the most unlikely of fielders to hold a catch, a “thanks for coming” who was wearing black tracksuit bottoms.
At no. 4, Andy Rishton, fresh from mid-week Hampshire action, had the opportunity to prove his critics wrong and when Spriggsy (12) was bowled playing an attacking sweep that I’m sure he regretted, skipper Chris Rochfort joined Rishton. With Rochy reigning in the talented youngster and urging him to put a higher price on his wicket, the pair mixed cheeky 1s in the ring and comfortable runs through the ring or to the deep fielders. Late arriving spectator Matthew Denness, upon observing a couple of overs of this, commented that Harwell were very village. “They’re not village” piped up Winfield, “they’re international”. International or otherwise, they couldn’t stop the promotion-pushing machine and the run chase was completed professionally with Rishton finishing 22* and Rochy 10*.

So a good win on home soil, £100 bar takings and the Mighty Trouts maintaining their promotion push. A good night’s work.

Harwell International Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 24w  
for 9 wickets
26
71 (15.0 overs)		     
Smith ct  (Williams) b. Rowsell 0
Hussain ct  (Bird) b. J. Spriggs 4
Tanner b  Rowsell 3
Fry b  Monger 12
Nutter b  J. Spriggs 7
Newton ct  & b. Bird 2
Pri run out  (P. Spriggs) 12
Warren b  Monger 4
Withers ct  (Rishton) b. Monger 0
Webb Not Out  0
Rishi  

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham XI- Wednesday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Will Rowsell2.00723.503.50
Ben Denton-Powell3.001600.005.33
Jona Spriggs3.001427.004.67
Chris Bird3.0013113.004.33
Nick Monger3.001133.673.67
John Williams1.001000.0010.00

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham XI- Wednesday Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
17w  
for 3 wickets
17
72		        
Josh Winfield Run out  11 2
Peter Spriggs Bowled  12 1 1
Jamie Shields Caught  0
Andy Rishton Not Out  22 1
Chris Rochfort Not Out  10
Nick Monger  
John Williams   1
Jona Spriggs  
Ben Denton-Powell  
Will Rowsell  
Chris Bird   2

Harwell International Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Withers3.0015115.005.00
Pri Talan3.002700.009.00
Webb3.0016116.005.33
Newton1.00700.007.00
Smith 0.50700.008.40