Scorecard

Chesham v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 16 May 2009 at 1.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report Thatcham made the long journey up to Chesham on Saturday looking to continue the promising start to the new Thames Valley Division 1 campaign and came away with a creditable draw in difficult circumstances once again.

Having travelled up with just one recognised seamer in 17 year old Daniel Stephenson it was always going to be a big ask to win the game, so having won the toss, Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson inserted Chesham in the hope of keeping them to a gettable total and relying on the batting to once again try and win the game. Johnson himself took the new ball with Stephenson and the Chesham opening pair of, one time Hungerford all rounder, Rob Maier and ex-Thatcham overseas star Sri Lankan Brad Ediriweera filled their boots and put the visitors to the sword. It didn’t matter who Johnson turned to, Edirtweera, in particular, was savage and anxious to prove a point to his former colleagues and only Nick Bishop came out of the session with figures to be proud of. Both batsmen passed 50 with ease, and Ediriweera reached a hundred soon after as Chesham piled on the misery for the visitors. It was to Thatcham’s credit that heads never dropped and the impressive Bishop picked up the wicket of Maier, lbw for 85 and also claimed the prize scalp of Ediriweera, caught by Rakesh Patel for a brilliant 125. Turnbull and Goddard then enjoyed themselves for the final few overs, playing with a freedom and license given to them by the opening stand. Chesham declared their innings on 266-2 after 49 overs, giving the visitors 51 overs to get the runs. Nick Bishop bowled beautifully and was suitably rewarded with figures of 2-63 from 17 overs, but the support from the other bowlers was lacking on the day and the seam options available to Johnson are just not there at the moment.

Thatcham are not a side to go down without a fight however and their intention going out to bat was to win the game and nothing else, until such a time came when it was no longer possible. Rakesh Patel was given a license at the top of the order to get his side off to a flyer and together with James Ettridge, raced out of the blocks posting 42 off the first 7 overs before Patel was bowled by Hitesh Modi for 22. Daniel Stone joined Ettridge and still Thatcham continued to pressure the home bowling, scoring freely with both players looking in good touch and settled. The pair added 59 in quick time, the 100 coming up for Thatcham in the 19th over for the loss of just the one wicket. Spinner Porter then got one to turn and spit and Stone could only succeed in looping a simple catch to Maier at slip and he departed for 26. A lot then depended on James Ettridge and the incoming Duncan Johnson, with Ettridge looking in sublime form and Johnson in good nick, fresh off an unbeaten 99 the week before. Porter had other ideas though and Ettridge chipped a catch to Latif who was patrolling the short leg side boundary for 44 which bought Matt Denness in to join his skipper. Denness though could only make 1 as Ediriweera got him with a beautiful away swinger which turned him round and he edged to Rance at second slip. Johnson then took the attack to Chesham, hitting Porter for two big 6’s, but the minute he came to face Ediriweera, the Sri Lankan nailed him, another big inswinger and the Thatcham skipper played all round it and saw his leg stump pinned back for 18. Steve Bartholomew and Nick Monger also succumbed, Bartholomew bowled by Porter for 5 and Monger caught at the wicket off Ahmed for 4. At 136-7 from 34 overs, Chesham smelt a victory with 17 overs still to bowl and just the 3 wickets needed. Johnson though had kept Chris Rochfort back until 8 in the order and together with Nick Bishop were tasked with firstly making sure Thatcham didn’t lose the game and secondly trying to get their side up to 200 to get the maximum batting points available. The pair mixed stout defence and attacked when the opportunities presented them and both batted beautifully for the cause as Chesham rang the bowling changes with alarming regularity and really seemed to run out of ideas. Rochfort and Bishop held out comfortably in the end, although 200 just evaded them as Thatcham closed their reply at 193-7 from 51 overs, Bishop unbeaten on 36 and Rochfort 16 not out.

It was important that Thatcham didn’t hand their opponents an easy 25 points and this was the case. The backbone of this Thatcham side proving strong in the wake of adversity and there is a real team ethic amongst the players now. Everyone is giving 110%, knowing that they have to perform and hope that in the weeks ahead some of the injuries and availability issues with the seam bowlers resolve themselves.

Thatcham travel to Tring Park 2’s next week and Johnson will hope to have Steve Wyatt, Pete Edgcombe, Jack Andrews and maybe Paul Jenkins back in contention for selection which will ease the headaches in selecting for the week ahead.

Chesham Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
266 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Duncan Johnson15.008200.005.47
Daniel Stephenson5.003400.006.80
Nick Bishop17.0363231.503.71
Chris Bird6.013900.006.50
Nick Monger2.002200.0011.00
Dan Stone4.002200.005.50

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 7 wickets
0
193		        
Rakesh Patel Bowled  22 1
James Ettridge Caught  44
Dan Stone Caught  26
Duncan Johnson Bowled  18
Matthew Denness Caught  1
Steve Bartholomew Bowled  5
Nick Monger Caught  4
Chris Rochfort Not Out  16
Nick Bishop Not Out  36
Chris Bird  
Daniel Stephenson  

Chesham Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    TBC