Scorecard

Cookham Dean 2 v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday on Sat 11 Jul 2015 at 1.00
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Lost By 1 wicket

Match report Thatcham Town Cricket Club 2nd XI v Cookham Dean 2nd XI

Thames Valley League Division 4B

Saturday 11th 2015

Summary

Thatcham: 220 all out (Stephen Bird 54, Eddie Wylie 60)

Cookham Dean: 224 for 9

Thatcham Lost by 1 Wicket

Thatcham Town Cricket Club 2nd XI nearly joined the legendarily likes of Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough and James Coburn as they narrowly missed out on a starting role in the Great Escape on Saturday with a frustrating 1 wicket defeat away at Cookham Dean.

A hot sunny day and a grassless compacted wicket coupled with the previous two results meant skipper Steve Bird had little hesitation in electing to bat as the toss came up tails, however his knowledge of the game and ability to read the pitch were put the test as Cookham Dean opened up with medium pace and spin, a tactic unheard of in this level of cricket.

As Thatcham’s players pondered Cookham Dean’s unusual approach from the sideline their batsmen on the pitch were in no doubt of why this tactic had been applied as the ball seamed, turned and bounced from the off. With no reply to the pitches demons, Thatcham soon found themselves at the bottom of the mother of all holes as the first 5 wickets fell within the first 11 overs and the score only on 22.

As the Cookham players contemplated an early drink, Thatcham began to orchestrate a plan that even Houdini would have been proud of as Bird and Wylie came together at the wicket. With the shine and hardness of the ball fading quickly, the away side’s batsmen found the confidence to go on the attack, taking the total from 22 to 113 over the next 14 overs. Bird (54) was first to reach his half century with a glorious cover drive but soon came to rue the pitch as he mistimed a looping short delivery to gully which was gratefully taken by Mangrat at the second attempt.

With Bird now back in the pavilion and the score on 133 for 5 it was Wylie’s time to shine and after some well selected hefty blows he soon passed his maiden 2nd XI fifty. With support from the lower order and runs now coming at a good rate Thatcham soon started to believe a total of over 200 was obtainable. Wylie now in the full flow tried one to many big shots and skied a simple catch back at the bowler for a well-made 60.

The away sides bowlers then took over the mantle to help move the score from 152 for 7 to 220 all out as each, Moore (37), Bishop (15), Armstrong (14*) and Mahoney (13) made vital contributions to the first stage of the great escape plan.

Thatcham started the second innings with spin hoping the reliable partnership of Bishop and Moore could make the sort of inroads into the home sides batting that was needed, and Bishop soon obliged his captain request as he removed ‘pinch hitter’ O’Donoghue for 0 and danger man Richardson for 21 within the first 5 overs.

A change of bowling furthered Thatcham’s search for victory as Armstrong (2-25) produced another mature display with the ball as he removed Kanwar for 14 in his first over and then with a near perfect delivery removed Mangat’s leg stump bail for 17. The home side now reduced to 61 for 4 required a period of stability and this was duly proved by Lucas and Green (24) as they amassed a stand of 111 over the next 22 overs, with Lucas being particularly positive on anything loose. Green, after surviving a tantalisingly close stumping chance on 0, finally lost concentration as the impressive Harland bowled him for 24 and thus re-igniting Thatcham’s fight back.

With Lucas still at the crease and nearing his century Cookham Dean felt the game was still comfortably theirs for the taking. However an inspirational bowling change from the away side saw the reintroduction of Mahoney who immediately induced several false strokes and with the final ball of his return over got Lucas caught by skipper Bird at short cover 5 runs short of his century.

Bishop (3-78) rejoined Harland (3-27) to provide the final bowling partnership and as Cookham Dean searched for the win wickets started to fall, as 187 for 6 soon became 214 for 9 with only one over remaining. Both sides sensed a chance of victory but it was the home side that took the biggest step forward as Dardenne, attempting to hit big, inside edged the delivery past his leg stump down to fine long leg for four. This bit of fortune put the home side in the driving seat and as Thatcham readjusted their field to minimize any easy singles Dardenee took one more lusty swing of the bat and hit the ball to the boundary for win.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 7w 4b 4lb 
for 10 wickets
16
220		        
Andy Harland ct O'Donoghue 6
Alex Wood ct Gandesha 0
Simon Gale ct O'Donoghue 3
Jamie Young b Gandesha 0 1
Michael Hobbs lbw O'Donoghue 2
Stephen Bird ct Slater 54 2
Eddie Wylie ct Kanwar 60 2
Perry Moore b D'ardenne 37
Nick Bishop lbw D'ardenne 15 1
George Armstrong Not Out  14 1
Tim Mahoney ct Lucas 13

Cookham Dean 2 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
O'Donoghue9.0132310.673.56
S Gandesha13.0065232.505.00
C Slater5.0025125.005.00
A Brar4.012300.005.75
S D'Ardenne10.0139219.503.90
Kanwar9.0227127.003.00
R Lucas0.40111.001.50

Cookham Dean 2 Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
5b 2lb 
for 9 wickets
7
224 (48.5 overs)		     
J richarson st Bishop 21
O'Donoghue ct Bishop 0
P Mangat b Armstrong 17
S Kanwar ct Armstrong 14
R Lucas ct Mahoney 94
B Green b Harland 24
A Brar ct Harland 19
M Davis ct Bishop 2
S D'Ardenne Not Out  19
S Gandesha ct Harland 7
C Slayer Not Out  0

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 2XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Nick Bishop17.5378326.004.37
Perry Moore10.004800.004.80
George Armstrong6.0225212.504.17
Tim Mahoney7.0139139.005.57
Andy Harland7.002739.003.86

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Paul Armstrong