Scorecard

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 4XI- Saturday v Aldershot III on Sat 12 Jul 2008 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report In a game delayed and then further interrupted by heavy showers, Thatcham 4th XI came within one wicket of claiming another 25 point win but had to settle for 15 points as the Aldershot last wicket pair hung on for a draw.

Put into bat on a wet wicket the Thatcham openers Mickey Stone and Kieran Lynch made light of the conditions to post an opening stand of 79 to see off the Aldershot opening attack, before Stone was bowled by Bossom for 20. Darren Sopp fell to a juggling catch by the keeper in the same over as the momentum swung Aldershot’s way.

However Tommy Burch and Kieran Lynch steadied the ship before Lynch was caught on the boundary trying his luck once too often with the outfield, but not before reaching a well deserved half century. Burch followed soon afterwards and with a break for rain reducing the game to 92 overs, Ravi Merchandani and Dave Taylor set about reaching the 200 mark to ensure maximum batting points. A rapid stand of 49 was broken when Mirchandani was out for 34, but the target was reached with ease as Taylor and Gavin Ansell set about the attack to allow a declaration after 47 overs with the total on 226 for 6. Ansell hit a rapid 28 and Taylor ended on 45 not out.

In reply the Aldershot openers batted with ominous ease before inexplicably attempting a second run to Dave Wells whose direct hit from just behind square sent a surprised and disgruntled Fraser back to the pavilion with the score on 37. Two quick wickets from Ravi Mirchadani and one from Ansell put Thatcham in charge at 52 for 4. However G Dates and V Newcombe put together the stand of the match with a tremendous partnership of 129 runs. Both were dropped before they had scored and Thatcham were rueing these missed chances when a torrential shower allowed them to regroup.

The speed in which the Aldershot players rushed out with the sheeting to cover the wicket showed how dominant Aldershot were at that point. The break however meant the batsmen had to start again and the introduction of Bromhead into the attack brought the breakthrough Thatcham desperately needed, as he clean bowled Newcombe for 58. When Mirchandani produced a jaffa to bowl Dates (38) Thatcham were right back into the game and wickets continued to fall as both sides pressed for a victory.

Only with two overs remaining and 9 wickets down did caution prevail and the last pair batted out for a draw - Aldershot finishing 26 runs short and Thatcham one wicket way from victory.

Ravi Mirchandani was the only seamer who consistently found the correct length to bowl in the conditions, bowling unchanged from one end to take 4 for 79 in a superb spell of 23 overs. He was admirably backed up by Adrian Bromhead, who in conditions far from ideal for spin bowling, took 3 for 35 in a top quality spell of 9 overs. Considering the conditions a tremendous game of cricket.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 4XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
226		        
Mick Stone Bowled  20
Kieran Lynch Caught  59 1
Darren Sopp Caught  0 1
Tom Burch Bowled  14
Ravi Mirchandani Bowled  34
David Taylor Not Out  45
Gavin Ansell Caught  28
Adrian Bromhead  
Andy Stephenson   1
Dave Wells   1
Matt Taylor  

Aldershot III Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Aldershot III Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
200 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 4XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ravi Mirchandani23.0179419.753.43
Matt Taylor5.002000.004.00
Gavin Ansell5.0029129.005.80
Andy Stephenson3.001700.005.67
Adrian Bromhead9.0035311.673.89