Harpsden vs Old Josephians - 29th May

On a cloudy and damp afternoon, Harpsden won the toss and put the Old Joesphians into bat on what seemed to be a slow and sticky wicket. With the clouds the opening bowlers were rubbing their hands together in the thought of a swinging ball. 15 year olds Christian Whittaker and Ed Birkett opened the bowling with enthusiasm and pace, and frequently beating the bat. Ed broke the 50 run opening partnership with a fine edge to a great away swinger to the safe hands of father Rod behind the stumps. Tom Hancock came on to bowl a fabulous spell of 4 for 33 which included 3 very good catches by the young teenagers. From the other end our newcomer, Ben Rinck, bowled an exceptional spell taking 4 for 13 off 7.4 overs. The clouds started to darken with the threat of heavy rain. Fortunately they passed over with only a few minutes of rain. At 5 O’clock the players took tea with the Old Joesphians all out for 101.

The Harspden openers, Kit Stormont and Mark Thomas, got off to a rapid start with Kit hitting a very quick 20. The first wicket to fall was the run out of Thomas with some fine fielding from backward point. Matt Shannahan was unfortunately bowled first ball by a stunner from Patel. This brought Tom Rose out from the dressing room with Harpsden on 24 for 2. An excellent caught and bowled by Hill to dismiss Stormont brought in Huysinga on his debut. He started off solidly in partnership with Rose before some more great fielding ended the partnership. At 36 for 4, Rod Birkett came in and with Huysinga steadied the ship moving the score on promisingly towards the total. But the Old Joesphians, fielding like tigers, put their bodies on the line. Harspden’s 5th wicket fell at 72 with a wonderful ball by O’ Donohue. Aggressive stroke play from the incoming Christian Whittaker ended the match swiftly with Huysinga finishing on 29 and Whittaker on 25.


Old Josephians

McGuire Ct Birkett.R b Birkett.E 20
Daniels Ct Stormont b Rinck 39
Mitchener.P Ct Rinck b Hancock.T 1
Mitchener.J Ct C.Whittaker b Hancock.T 2
Patel Ct Birkett. E. b Hancock.T 2
De Giovanni b Rinck 3
Ahern b Hodgkiss 2
Grindrod.P b Rinck 4
Grindrod.R Ct Hancock.T b Rinck 1
Hill Ct Stormont b Hancock.T 1
O'Donohue Not Out 6

Extras 20
Total All Out 101


Best Bowling; Rinck 4-13, Hancock T 4-33


Harpsden

Stormont C&B Hill 20
Thomas Run Out 4
Shannanhan b Patel 0
Rose Run Out 8
Huysinga Not Out 29
Birkett.R b O' Donohue 20
Whittaker.C Not Out 25

Extras 11
Total 5 Wickets 107


Best Bowling; O'Donohue 1-14








photos by Alfred Cary

Harpsden CC v Wall CC Sat 26th May 2007

Harpsden miss out in tight game.

Harpsden entertained tourists Wall CC from Lichfield in Staffordshire on an overcast afternoon and after losing the toss (again) Harpsden were put into bat on a slow wicket. Kit Stormont in his first game of the season made batting look deceptively easy, making a rapid 50, and Harpsden raced to 88 for 2 in the first hour’s play. The introduction of Ali and Caddick to the attack resulted in a dramatic collapse from the Harpsden middle order and they only managed to add a further 20 runs before being bowled out for 108.
After tea the visitors made extremely hard work of getting the required runs. This was due in the main to some tight and accurate bowling by Mick Greenwood and a marathon spell from Miles Hodgkiss, bowling 17 overs, and returning impressive figures of 5 for 39. However, the low total posted by the home side was never going to be enough and the visitors eased to victory with two wickets to spare.

Harpsden

K Stormont c Craig b Caddick50
J Bradley lbw b Birch 6
R Harris b Ali 10
M Hodgkiss c Stokes b Ali 9
T Sampson c Stokes b Ali 0
M Shanahan c Ali b Caddick 1
M Greenwood st Craig b Foxley 9
S Bradley c Stokes b Caddick 0
B Hancock c Clarke b Foulds 4
J Butler Not Out 0
R Moyle lbw b Foulds 0
Extras 19
TOTAL 108

Bowling

B Stokes 5-1-26-0, D Birch 6-1-27-1, Ali 6-1-11-3, Caddick 5-1-21-3, Foxley 5-4-4-1, Foulds 5-2-5-2.

Wall CC

A Stokes b Greenwood 13
B Stokes b Greenwood 2
Foxley lbw b Hodgkiss 1
Venables c Stormont b Hodgkiss 17
Caddick lbw b Hodgkiss 24
Birch c Moyle b Hodgkiss 0
Foulds c Stormont b S Bradley 3
Ali retired hurt 27
Hatton Not Out 14
Craig b Hodgkiss 0
Clarke Not Out 0
Extras 8
TOTAL 109
For 8 wkts

Bowling. Greenwood 8-2-15-2, Hodgkiss 17-6-39-5, S Bradley 3-0-16-1, B Hancock 2-0-12-0, T Sampson 6-0-24-0.

Harpsden Vs Cranbourne on Sunday 20th of May 2007

Result: Draw

Cranbourne Innings

Total 158-9 declared
T Thorpe ct Hodgkiss b Stevens 16
D Crick lbw Whittaker 14
S Driscoll b Hodgkiss 20
Nilesh run out 34
L Johnson ct M Thomas b B Hancock 12
M Roe ct C Whittaker b Hodgkiss 1
D Daints ct Stevens b B Hancock 0
R Alleston ct Stevens b B Hancock 8
Parog ct Norton b Hodgkiss 13
D Quincey NO 13
D Spencer NO 14
Extras 11

T Hancock 7-5-9-0
N Adley 4-0-35-0
C Whittaker 7-2-13-1
W Stevens 5-1-19-1
T Sampson 4-0-21-0
M Hodgkiss 8-2-29-3
B Hancock 9-0-31-3

Harpsden Innings

Total 141-9
I Whittaker ct & b Quincey 5
C Whittaker ct Paray b Quincey 13
M Thomas run out 0
A Norton lbw Spencer 6
R Birkett b Spencer 0
N Adley b Parag 10
W Stevens NO 25
T Sampson lbw Spencer 1
M Hodgkiss ct Daints b Thorpe 45
T Hancock lbw D Spencer 0
B Hancock NO 0
Extras 36

D Spencer 10-2-25-4
D Quincey 5-0-24-2
Parag 5-0-14-1
Alleston 3-0-18-0
Crick 7-0-31-0
Thorpe 5-1-19-1

Harpsden won the toss and asked Cranbourne to bat. The conditions were initially sunny but became more and more overcast as the day progressed with the pitch playing slow due to recent heavy rainfall.

Cranbourne got their innings off to a solid start with each of the first 5 batsmen scoring in double figures. Nilesh looked particularly at ease with the conditions until he was run out for 34 whilst Driscoll made a useful 20.

Miles Hodgkiss and Ben Hancock were brought on to bowl for Harpsden and they helped to contain the flow of runs. Hodgkiss bowled his usual tight line and length to take three wickets. Hancock bamboozled the middle order batsmen with his leg spin and he was duly rewarded with three wickets as well. Crambourne upped the pace in the last five overs of their innings to give them a respectable total of 158-9 declared at tea.

Crambourne began magnificently in the field with Harpsden reduced to 56-7 after 14 overs. The bowlers bowled a tight line and a full length with Quincey taking two wickets and Spencer claiming four victims.

Miles Hodgkiss and Will Stevens helped to steady Harpsden putting on 76 for the 8th wicket. Hodgkiss fell caught for 45 when trying to force a boundary on the leg side, but his positive stroke play had left Harpsden with a sniff of victory.

Harpsden needed 30 runs for victory from the last five overs with two wickets remaining. For the first couple of overs they kept up with the required rate thanks to some quick running between the wickets. However the fall of Tom Hancock adjudged lbw to Spencer forced Harpsden to change tactics and they duly held on for the draw with Stevens not out on 25.

Harpsden vs Medmenham

HARPSDEN v MEDMENHAM, Sunday 6 May.

‘FATHERS,SONS,HAMSTRINGS and RUNNERS.’

Batting first Harpsden selected three ‘father and son’ combinations for their match against Medmenham on Sunday at the picturesque Harpsden ground.Seventeen year old Sam Imlay and his ageless father Andrew opened the batting and established a solid partnership before both fell with the total on 54.Fifteen year old Christian Whittaker anchored the innings with a patient 43,including two big sixes,and was ably assisted by Tom Hancock with an intelligent innings of 20 before being bowled by Dring.This brought Harpsden’s own Adam Gilchrist to the wicket,Rod Birkett,who accelerated rapidly to 65 in an innings that included eleven 4’s and two 6’s enabling Harpsden to post a total of 224 for 7 at tea.
In response Medmenham started solidly with Freeman and Richard Birkett (no relation) reaching 24 before young Harry Williams trapped Freeman lbw Fifteen year old Ed Birkett took the first of his two clean bowled wickets in a very sharp spell of genuine pace and bounce that saw him return figures of 2 for 18 off 8 overs.The veteran leg spinner,Ian Whittaker,whilst struggling against a crisp breeze,bowled his longest spell for many a decade and was amply rewarded with 3 for 40 off 8 overs including a wonderfully athletic catch by his son Christian to dismiss Horsten and a sharp reflex catch by the elder Imlay at first slip to dismiss Birkett, and his runner.At 48 for 5 it became apparent that Medmenham’s pre season net at the MCC indoor school last week had unfortunately taken its toll as at one stage they had four batsmen out in the middle,two runners and two batsmen,to support the fatigued and stretched hamstrings of their middle order.Despite some stoic resistance from Freeman,not out 18,the Medmenham innings closed at 88 all out ensuring a comfortable win for Harpsden’s young and old.

SCOREBOARD
HARPSDEN INNINGS.
S Imlay 23
A Imlay 24
C Whittaker 43
A Norton 3
O Heath 4
T Hancock 20
R Birkett 65
J Broome not out 2
I Whittaker not out 6
Total 224 for 7
Bowling.
Baxter 3 for 60 ,Tierney 1 for 77,Dring 1 for 38

MEDMENHAM INNINGS.
Freeman 8
Birkett 19
Tierney 5
Watson-Smith 5
Freeman 0
Horsten 10
Baxter0
Dring 2
Birkett 5
Freeman not out 18
Baxter 0
Total 88 all out.

Bowling. Williams 1 for 16,Ed Birkett 2 for 18,Ian Whittaker 3 for 40,Andrew Imlay 1 for 2,Christian Whittaker 0 for 2,Tom Hancock 1 for1

A potty idea ...

How to train yourself to avoid being caught at any part of the field, by W. Heath Robinson

Harspden vs Rivets - 12th May

HARPSDEN CC v RIVETS CC


After a rain delay which reduced the match to 30 overs per side, Harpsden batted first and began their innings in a considered manner. With a slow outfield, sluggish pitch and accurate bowling from Rivets the Harpsden openers, Matt Hayward and Justin Bradley struggled to score quickly. With the departure of the openers attempting to force the run rate Miles “away” Hodgkiss produced some elegant shots for a top score of 32 and was ably assisted by Matt Shanahan and Tom Rose with a cameo innings of 22. Chris Welford bludgeoned his first ball for six which helped Harpsden set a defendable target of 127. Rivets accurate bowling proved difficult to get on top of, Travers taking 1 for 6 off 6 overs and Steadman 4 for 20 off 6 overs.

Fortunately the rain abated as Rivets began their innings poorly, having opener Saunders caught in the first over off the bowling of Simon Bradley. Rivets other opener, Shamaj, quickly accustomed himself to the slow conditions and with some well executed back foot drives, pushed the scoring rate along. With a superb googly from Farmer, Shamaj’s innings ended on 37 and apart from Grey’s 28, Rivets were always just behind the run rate. Some fine fielding by Ord & Rose kept the squeeze on Rivets scoring. Still requiring 17 from the final over, a tidy 6 balls from Hodgkiss never allowed Rivets a chance. Mike Farmer produced the best bowling performance with 3 for 25 off 7 overs.

Harpsden CC Innings

M Hayward caught & bowled Steadman 27
J Bradley bowled Steadman 10
R Harris caught ? bowled Steadman 8
M Hodgkiss stumped? Bowled Waqar 32
D Ord bowled Steadman 0
M Shanahan bowled Waqar 11
T Rose caught & bowled Exton 22
C Welford bowled Travers 13
S Bradley not out 1
R Moyle not out 0

Extras 2

TOTAL 127
Bowling:
Travers 6-1-6-1, Shamaj 3-1-9-0, Mistry 4-1-7-0, Steadman 6-0-20-4,
Waqar 6-0-37-2, Harrison 3-0-15-0, Exton 2-0-19-1

Rivets CC Innings

M Saunders caught Farmer bowled S Bradley 0
Shamaj bowled Farmer 37
J Burnett caught J Bradley bowled Welford 9
M Long caught Ord bowled Farmer 4
D Grey bowled Hodgkiss 28
S Exton caught S Bradley bowled Farmer 5
C Harrison caught Moyle bowled Welford 7
M Steadman caught Ord bowled Hodgkiss 12
A Khan not out 11

Extras 7

TOTAL 120

Bowling:
S Bradley 4-0-15-1, C Welford 8-0-21-2, M Farmer 7-0-25-3,
M Hodgkiss 11-0-52-2

Result: Harpsden CC defeated Rivets CC by 7 runs.

photos of Erratics match

Alfred at the crease















Coming in for tea















Chris bowling















Alfred bowling















Ben bowling















The view from the boundary



















Matt in action



















Polishing the ball















Mike bowling

Harpsden v London Erratics Sat 5th May

Alfred the Great
by Mick Greenwood















The omens were not good for Harpsden, with the captain losing the important toss and then Ian Reissman capping off a bad week by getting hit in the eye during fielding practice. Even the return of last year’s top run scorer, Andy Bryan, did not help and Harpsden were reduced to a meagre 43 for 7, with the Erratics opening bowlers Prasad and Eltringham taking 3 and 4 wickets respectively. With backs to the wall, it required some heroics from the Harpsden tail to save them from the humiliation of losing before tea. That hero came in the form of 15 year old Alfred Cary, who ably supported by a captain’s innings from Mick Greenwood, set about the Erratics bowling with guile and tenacity reminiscent of the way his 9th Century namesake had dealt with the invading Danes. When Greenwood was bowled for 36 the pair had put on an eighth wicket stand of 97. Alfred was finally caught for 58 and Harpsden were all out for a respectable 165. After tea, containment was the aim and, after 23 overs, Erratics had only managed a paltry 68, with Chris Welford doing particularly well having been asked to bowl medium pace instead of his usual spin. Although keeping the runs down, Harpsden were struggling to see where a wicket would come from until up stepped Alfred Cary again to take a great catch off his own bowling and then having Rivington caught behind to remove the stubborn openers. Tight and accurate spin from Mike Farmer and Ben Hancock kept the pressure on and with Erratics losing a steady stream of wickets they never looked as though they would reach the total. The match was drawn with Erratics finishing on 155 for 8.

Harpsden

I Reissman lbw Eltringham 13
J Bradley c Eltringham 10
A Bryan c Eltringham 10
R Harris b Prasad 6
M Shanahan lbw Eltringham 0
C Welford c Prasad 0
M Farmer b Prasad 2
M Greenwood b Rivington 36
A Cary c Dunobin 58
B Hancock b Rivington 4
R Moyle not out 2
Extras 24

TOTAL 165

Best bowling: Eltringham 4 for 38

London Erratics

Rivington c Moyle, b Cary 27
Rowland c&b Cary 25
Prasad lbw, b Farmer 25
Berrigan c Moyle, b Greenwood 0
S Green c Moyle, b Hancock 26
Eltringham c Bryan, b Hancock 17
Davey run out 6
Dunobin not out 2
Green c Moyle, b Hancock 7
Bush not out 2
Extras 18

TOTAL (8 wkts) 155

Best bowling: Hancock 3 for 46
Cary 2 for 15

What you need to know if you're doing teas

As you can see, Marilyn and Mel have reached for new highs in presentation for teas this season (for Saturday's game vs Woodcote).















In case you're like me, and have to phone Jane every time, here's her list of what's needed if you're doing teas:

* 3 loaves with filling of choice (egg always the favourite)
* enough cake for everyone to have a couple, plus some for guests
* one large bottle orange squash
* 2 pts milk

Sugar and tea bags provided.
Expenses reimbursed.
Chaps seem to eat less in hot weather and wolf it down in cold.
Tea is always eagerly anticipated.

Harpsden v Wargrave, Sunday 29th April

Tight match goes Harpsden’s way
by Ollie Heath

Harspden won the toss on a warm day and decided to put Wargrave in to bat on what looked to be a good batting wicket. Harpsden bowled particularly well to keep the run rate down with opening bowler Mick Greenwood particularly economical and often beating the bat. Wargave batted steadily throughout and a patient knock of 53 from Woods anchored the innings. All the bowlers should be credited for a tight bowling display with young Ben Hancock being the pick of the Harpsden bowlers with 2-30 after frustrating the batsmen with consistently good line and length. A late flurry came from Johhny Rimmer and Clark to help Wargrave finish on 187-7.

Teenagers Sam Imlay and Mark Thomas opened the innings and started well but a very tight spell of bowling from Rimmer who collected a couple of wickets as well as bowling several maidens, kept the supply of runs to a minimum. This, however, did not last as Harpsden number 3 Tom Caston scored runs at regular intervals. Caston finished up on a hard-hitting 68 before succumbing to the spin of Owen. He was well supported by Matt Hayward with a well-crafted innings of 39. A quickfire 22 from Ollie Heath also helped Harpsden into the nerve-racking position of needing 8 runs off the last over. Mick Greenwood showed his intent with a thumping four over square-leg. Eventually one was needed from the final ball; a brilliant air-shot from Tom Hancock helped finish the innings off by distracting the wicket-keeper sufficiently for the ball to run for 4 byes and the win for Harpsden.


Wargrave CC vs Harpsden CC



Wargrave

Woods St Birkett R. b Hancock B. 53
McGlip lbw b Heath 20
Clark M. c Hancock T. b Greenwood 20
Clark K. Not Out 30
Rimmer P. Hit wkt b Hancock B. 0
Moss J. b Hayward 12
Tabraw T. b Hancock T. 1
Rimmer J. Run Out 24
Clark J. Not Out 2

Extras 25

Total 7 wickets 187
Best Bowling; Hancock B. 2-30




Harpsden

S. Imlay b Clark J. 16
M. Thomas c Clark K. b Rimmer J. 23
T. Caston c McGlip b Owen 68
M. Hayward Run Out 39
O. Heath b Rimmer J. 22
M. Greenwood Not Out 4
T. Hancock Not Out 0

Extras 19

Total 5 wickets 191

Harpsden Vs Woodcote 28/04/07

Harpsden Claim Draw Against Woodcote















Woodcote Innings

Total 281 -3
P Robert st Butler 4
D Knox ct Hancock 37
D Holder not out 107
J Clarke ct Welford 48
J Worsfield not out 66
Extras 19

T Hancock 12-2-67-1
M Shanahan 1-0-9-0
J Butler 9-1-40-1
M Thomas 4-0-25-0
M Farmer 5-0-58-0
C Welford 4-0-25-1
B Hancock 5-0-50-0


Harpsden Innings

Total 137-5
N Adley run out 21
J Bradley b Knox 25
R Harris ct Dillon 22
M Shanahan b Worsfield 6
T Hancock b Clarke 29
B Hancock not out 13
R Moyle not out 0
Extras 21

Best Bowling Dillon 12-0-3-1


Woodcote were put into bat and Harpsden began strongly with wicket keeper Richard Moyle executing an early stumping off the bowling of James Butler. Woodcote were unfazed by this early setback with Knox and Holder building a sizable partnership. When Knox fell caught behind for 37, Clarke continued the barrage of hefty stroke play making a quickfire 48.

By this time, Holder had long since passed the 50 mark and was batting with supreme confidence. Several sixes were dispatched out of the ground. His hundred looked an inevitability and the milestone was duly reached after just over two hours of batting. Worsfield was now partnering Holder at the crease and he notched up a rapid 66 not out to further punish Harpsden giving a total of 281-3 declared at tea.

Harpsden began their reply confidently on a fine batting surface. With the wicket playing a lot faster and bouncier than would usually be expected for an April pitch, the runs were relatively easy to accumulate. Openers Justin Bradley and Nick Adley notched up a 50 partnership before Adley attempted an ambitious quick single and was run out for 21. Woodcote then claimed another two wickets in quick succession including that of Bradley for 25.

At this stage Harpsden still had 20 overs to bat and Woodcote smelled a chance of victory. However Rob Harris, Tom Hancock and Ben Hancock ensured that Harpsden achieved a draw with innings of 22, 29 and 13 not out respectively.

Overall it was a promising start to the season for Harpsden.