Scorecard

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday v North Maidenhead on Sat 05 Jun 2004 at 1.30pm
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Lost 5 wickets

Match report MATCH REPORT : THATCHAM v NORTH MAIDENHEAD
MATCH RESULT : NORTH MAIDENHEAD WON BY 5 WICKETS

Thatcham lost their unbeaten record as North Maidenhead celebrated a 5 wicket victory to top the Thames Valley Div 1 by 4 points from 2nd placed Windsor at Brownsfield on Saturday.

Duncan Johnson won the toss, decided to bat and a fluent start from openers Jim Ettridge and Bradman Ediriweera resulted in a fine opening partnership of 76 in good time before Ediriweera was dismissed by former Berkshire spinner Leigh Atkinson in his 2nd over for 45. With South African Free State star Jaco Du Plessis keeping a tight rein on things, it was tough going for the home side, and things took a turn when Ettridge, who had reached 45 and looked in ominously good touch, was given out LBW to Du Plessis, when an inside egde was quite clearly heard. It was tough luck on the tall left handed opener, although at 104-2 from 24 overs, Thatcham were well placed to post a good total.
The runs then dried up as Matt Denness and Steve Wyatt were kept under the cosh by Du Plessis and Atkinson, in a fine spell for the visitors. Denness had reached 19, when Atkinson lured him down the track, and keeper Carter did the rest and Thatcham’s number 3 was on his way with the score at 121-3 from 32 overs. A total of just 31 runs were added for the next 10 overs which would eventually to lead to Thatcham’s downfall and put paid to them posting a total of around 230, which would have ultimately made a big difference. Chris Wright was bowled by Du Plessis for 4 and Duncan Johnson hit a quick 14, but paid the price for trying to force the pace as he was caught by Rudd, also off Du Plessis. Andy Harland added 39 with Wyatt, before the latter was dismissed by Dozell for 41 and then Robb Fraser and James Theunissen both fell to Du Plessis without scoring, quickly followed by Harland for 15, Dozell the successful bowler.
It was left to Chris Bird and Nick Bishop put push the total up to 209-9 from the 52 overs but the total left a bad taste in the home side’s mouth after being so well placed at the half way stage. 109-2 from 26 overs was a great start, but to only score a further 100 runs from the last 26 overs was inexcusable and lessons must be learnt, even though the visitors bowled very well with Du Plessis the pick of the bunch, bowling unchanged for 26 overs and picking up 5-79 for his reward, although surely the introduction of bowling restrictions into the Thames Valley League cannot be far away, to stop sides from adopting this tactic.

Targets were set after the tea interval, and Thatcham needed to keep a tight lid on things early doors and this is precisely what Nick Bishop and James Theunissen did, with just 27 runs coming from a tight first 10 overs. Wickets were not easy to come by though and the visitors reached 81 before Chris Bird achieved a welcome breakthrough as Marpass was caught by Ediriweera for 31. This bought Du Plessis to the crease and together with Morley they created the partnership to give the visitors the platform for which to push on for victory. They finally caught up with Thatcham’s run rate at 35 overs, both teams at 130, although Thatcham had lost one more wicket at this stage. Duncan Johnson then picked up the crucial wicket of Du Plessis, LBW for 27 and when Morley followed 9 runs later, caught by Ettridge for 88, also off Johnson, Thatcham sensed a chance of a draw, but Dave Shaw had other idea’s as he came in and hit his 1st delivery to the cover boundary and then repeated the shot 2 balls later. The intention was clear from the visitor’s and the foot was on the floor to get to the target. The home side did pick up 2 more wickets, Johnson bowled Shaw for 27 and Ediriweera had Rudd well caught by Nick Bishop for 17 as the game boiled down to the last 2 overs, 9 runs needed for the win. Ediriweera bowled the 47th and just 3 runs came from the first 5 deliveries, but when Broom snicked the ball past Wright, stood up, off a quicker delivery from the Sri Lankan, the game was almost up with just 2 required and Carter finished in style, hoisting Johnson for six over long on to leave the visitors 214-5 from 47.1 overs and heading off back down the M4 20 points better off. Thatcham picked up 12 points from the loss though and are just 13 points off the top spot.
Skipper Duncan Johnson was the pick of the home attack, finishing with 3-50 from his 12 overs, with Chris Bird 1-35 from 9 and Bradman Ediriweera 1-46 from 8 also in the wickets. Nick Bishop bowled a super opening spell of 8 overs 0-24, with James Theunissen unlucky to finish wicketless, 0-48 from his 9 overs.

Thatcham now look to next weeks trip to Cove and put this early loss behind them in their quest for promotion from the Thames Valley League, with skipper Duncan Johnson looking set to keep faith with the same side, although Robb Fraser (shoulder), Steve Wyatt (knee) and Andy Harland (shoulder) all face fitness questions during the week.
Pete Edgcombe still looks a good few weeks away as he continues his recovery from the fractured hand he received at Windsor.

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
209		        
Bradman Ediriweera Caught  45 1
James Ettridge Lbw  45 1
Matthew Denness Stumped  19
Steve Wyatt Stumped  41
Chris Wright Bowled  4
Duncan Johnson Caught  14
Andy Harland Caught  15
Robb Fraser Caught  0
James Theunissen Bowled  0
Nick Bishop Not Out  7 1
Chris Bird Not Out  2

North Maidenhead Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

North Maidenhead Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
214 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Theunissen9.014800.005.33
Nick Bishop8.012400.003.00
Bradman Ediriweera8.0046146.005.75
Chris Bird9.0135135.003.89
Duncan Johnson12.1250316.674.11

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :