Harpsden v Hambleden 17/05/08

Grimmer Steers Harpsden To Finish Line In Nail Biter

Hambleden

Francis Run Out 17

G Mattingley b Tapan 0

Bradford Not Out 78

Rosier ct Hodgkiss b Grimmer 58

Stopps ct Greenwood b Boobala 2

Hollingway b Greenwood 2

S Mattingley Not Out 0

TOTAL 178-5

Best Bowling: Hodgkiss 1-13, Boobala 1-9

Harpsden

Bradley LBW b G Mattingley 0

Rajeev b S Mattingley 33

Harris ct Bradford b Holloway 35

Tapan b O’Shea 12

Boobala Run Out 5

Greenwood b G Mattingley 14

Fitzimons c & b Bradford 2

Stevens ct Bradford b G Mattingley 8

Grimmer Not Out 28

Hancock Run Out 11

Hodgkiss Not Out 3

TOTAL 182-9

Best Bowling: G Mattingley 3-30, O’Shea 2-26

Harpsden travelled to Hambleden on a very dull and wet day. Harpsden put Hambleden into bat, and got their reward in the first over, Tapan bowling Mattingley for 0. This brought Bradford to the crease to join Francis, they started cautiously, but gradually built themselves an innings, only for Francis to be run out for 17. Bradford was then joined by Rosier, both batsmen were timing the ball beautifully, and both deservedly passed fifty. Rosier was then removed for 58 by Grimmer. Bradford continued for the latter part of the innings, with some lusty blows, bringing Hambleden up to a good total of 178.

Harpsden started disastrously, with Bradley given out leg before wicket in the first over. Rajeev and Harris built a solid partnership, taking Harpsden to 79 off 19 overs, before Harris fell to Holloway. Harpsden then collapsed, and skipper Hodgkiss had written off his team. Greenwood chipped in with a useful 14, when Hancock came to the crease, Harpsden were 8 wickets down, still needing 35 to win. Grimmer and Hancock built a partnership, and it looked as if Harpsden were home and dry, but then they tried one quick single to many, and Hancock was run out for a quickfire 11. This ensured the game was going to go to the wire. But Harpsden finished the game off, with Grimmer finishing on a match saving 28 not out.

Cary and Birkett shine for Harpsden

Sonning

R. Pownell ct. Hodgkiss b. Ham 0
P. Collier ct. Cary b. Sampson 12
W. Ward ct. Ham b. Williams 20
D. Pethybridge ct. Williams b. Cary 9
A. Foley ct. A. Birkett b. Cary 17
C. Woodhouse st. R. Birkett b. Cary 2
A. Horstburgh-Wade ct. A Birkett b. Cary 0
B. Simmons b. Stevens 11
F. Spry ct. Norton b. Balaji 6
G. Powwall b. Balaji 1
H. Wilding not out 3

Extras 17

TOTAL 98

Best bowling: Cary 4 for 25, Balaji 2 for 4

Harpsden

A. Grimmer b. Foley 36
A. Birkett not out 51
T. Ham not out 9

Extras 6

TOTAL for 1 wicket 102

Best bowling: Foley 1 for 23

Sonning won the toss and batted first in this 40 over contest against Harpsden, although the tone was set as early as the second over when Miles Hodgkiss took a sharp catch at slip off Tom Ham to dismiss Sonning skipper, Rory Pownell, for a duck. Harpsden were to bowl a good line and length all day and not put down a single chance. Ward and Foley both managed to make good starts but weren’t able to carry on to the sort of scores that would set Harpsden a challenging target – Ward in particular showing great skill and patience. The Harspden bowling attack always looked dangerous with Harry Williams and Tom Sampson very economical, going for around 2 an over in their 6 and 5 overs respectively. 12 year old Toby Stevens always looked likely to take a wicket, and got rid of the dangerous Simmons although the bowling plaudits really need to go to young spinner Alfred Cary who bowled with tremendous control and finished with 4 for 25 in his 8 overs. Balaji polished off the tail in just over 2 overs, aided by a smart catch at slip by skipper Andrew Norton.

The target of 99 was only going to be difficult for Harspden on a sticky pitch if they lost early wickets to a strong Sonning opening attack of Spry and Wilding. Both of them bowled a tremendous line and length, which made it extremely difficult for Harspden to put runs on the board, although fortunately for the batting side the target only required them to score at two and a half runs an over. Harspden did well to survive the first 15 overs of the opening pair although they were somewhat behind the asking rate at 25 for none. Openers Andy Grimmer and 13 year old Adam Birkett had, however, shown great concentration and sound technique to see off the opening bowlers and were able to start playing their shots as the change bowlers came on. Grimmer hit 7 fours before finally falling to a corker from Wilding in the 20th over. Tom Ham came in to join Birkett and they scored at a much faster rate, finishing the contest in the 27th with Birkett hitting 3 boundaries in 4 balls. Adam Birkett’s maiden 50 for Harspden included 8 boundaries.

Harpsden v Catchiteers 24/05/08

Pohl and Hodgkiss Anchor Superb Run Chase For Harpsden

Catchiteers

Pallister LBW b Farmar 49

Hunter Run Out 60

Battersby b Greenwood 17

Meeke ct S.Imlay b Farmar 12

Tufnell b Pohl 6

Read Retired 51

Perry ct I.Nugent b Welford 11

Read Jnr Run Out 5

Malpas Not Out 3

TOTAL 244

Best Bowling: M.Farmar 2-36, M Greenwood 1-20

Harpsden

S.Imlay ct Read b Meeke 1

Pohl ct Hunter b Meeke 99

Hodgkiss ct Hunter b Meeke 79

Wright LBW Malpas 1

T.Nugent Not Out 22

I.Nugent ct Malpas b Meeke 3

Welford Not Out 8

TOTAL 246

Best Bowling: Meeke 4-57, Malpas 1-60

Harpsden locked horns with Catchiteers on a warm, overcast day. Catchiteers made a brisk start, reaching 52-0 after 10 overs. It was a lacklustre day in the field for Harpsden, with dropped catches and a few misfields. However, Harpsden did pick up wickets in the latter stage of the innings, with Farmar, Greenwood and Welford all chipping in. Credit must be given to Catchiteers, for some powerful hitting, which brought them up to a very competitive 244.

Harpsden came to the crease knowing that chasing 244 was a very tough ask. And there cause wasn’t helped with Imlay caught behind in the second over. This brought Hodgkiss to the crease to join Pohl. They never looked back, building a massive partnership of 166. With Hodgkiss scoring a quick, well crafted 79. Pohl went on to score 99, before he holed out to deep mid off, with Hunter taking a great catch, unfortunately, breaking his finger in the process. Pohl deserved the three figures after a brilliant innings, that took the game away from Catchiteers at times. Tom Nugent then batted with great control for just a 13 year old. He was supported by Welford, with Harpsden finishing off one the best run chases in recent memory.

Williams seals win for Harpsden in tight finish

HARPSDEN met CRANBOURNE on another fine May afternoon, and with Harpsden winning the toss a big score was possible. Harpsden started well with Bryan and Norton's opening partnership of 45 setting the tone. Both Andy Bryan and 14 year old Matt Thomas reached their fifties, with Thomas going big on several occasions. Some strong hitting from Rod Birkett and Tom Hancock got Harpsden up to 210 all out, but 6 wickets for Vikash resulted in Harpsden setting a challenging but not unattainable score.

CRANBOURNE came out strongly after tea, with Nilesh and Kirton putting on an opening stand of 46 in double quick time. A triple wicket maiden from Harry Williams with another wicket in his following over completely changed the game, and Cranbourne were on the back foot from then on. Chris Welford's economical and controlled spell of 8 overs for 14 runs meant Cranbourne would be unable to reach the target within the remaining overs. Nevertheless, very good bowling from Tom Ham, and a great reflex catch from Miles Hodgkiss left Cranbourne 9 down with 10 overs of play remaining in the day. Great resistance from Spencer and Kirton brought the game down to the penultimate ball when Williams, who had tormented the batsmen all day, took the final wicket.

Harpsden

Bryan c. Nilesh b. Alliston 50
Norton LBW b. Spencer 17
Matt Thomas LBW b. Vikash 66
Hodgkiss LBW b. Vikash 7
Birkett R. c. Rose b. Spencer 26
Birkett E. b. Vikash 6
Hancock T. LBW b. Spencer 13
Balaji b. Vikash 5
Williams c. & b. Vikash 2
Ham c. Alliston`b. Vikash 4
Welford NOT OUT 1
Total 210 all out

Best Bowling: Vikash 6-49, Spencer 3-33.

Cranbourne

Nilesh LBW b. Williams 29
Kirton c. Bryan b. Welford 18
Johnson LBW b. Williams 0
Alliston b. Williams 0
Patel b. Williams 3
Chislinni c. Hodgkiss b. Ham 16
Rose b. Ham 5
Castle b. Ham 0
Dainty c. Birkett R. b. Balaji 0
Kirton LBW b. Williams 1
Spencer NOT OUT 11
Total 109 all out
Best Bowling: Williams 5-36, Ham 3-6.

Holyport Vs Harpsden 11/05/08

Harpsden Innings

Total 245-6 (40 overs)
J Broome ct behind b Hawkins 39
N Adley b Varney 12
J Bradley lbw Head 2
Balaji run out 18
A Norton ct Durry b Hawkins 32
M Hodgkiss ct behind b Hawkins 2
T Hancock not out 55
R Birkett not out 49
Extras 36

Varney 8-0-37-1
Head 7-0-51-1
Kirby 8-0-61-0
Hawkins 6-0-38-3
Hendy 8-0-24-0
Davis 3-1-12-0


Holyport Innings

Total 142 all out
C Cox c+b Welford 4
M Taylor ct Balaji b Welford 22
A Osinshi lbw Balaji 44
K Hendy b Hodgkiss 13
A Thompson c Hancock b Balaji 10
P Davies b Hodgkiss 5
T Head ct R Birkett b Balaji 2
A Hawkins b Hancock 12
D Varney ct Welford b Greenwood 7
A Kirby not out 0
Extras 23

M Greenwood 6-0-20-1
C Welford 8-0-34-2
M Hodgkiss 8-0-36-2
T Hancock 4-0-15-1
R Birkett 1-0-12-0
Balaji 6-0-15-3
N Adley 0.5-0-0-1

Harpsden batted first in this 40 over game and got off to a brisk start by scoring 31 runs in the first 4 overs. Adley and Balaji both made fast scores of 12 and 18 respectively whilst Broome and Norton made substantial contributions of 39 and 32. At the 20 over mark Harpsden had 104 runs in the bag but they were now 5 wickets down. Hawkins , who was the pick of the Holyport bowlers then claimed his 3rd wicket of the day to leave Harpsden in danger of not completing their 40 overs. However Tom Hancock and Rod Birkett built a strong partnership with Harpsden on 150-6 after 30 overs. The last 10 overs must have been demoralising for the Holyport fielders in the baking hot sun. Birkett struck two sixes on his way to 49 not out whilst Hancock never looked troubled on his way to 55 unbeaten. Harpsden's final total of 245 for six looked a formidable target.

Holyport gamely tried to score at the necessary run rate to reach the target. Chris Welford claimed the early wickets of both openers but Osinshi the No3 batsman looked very dangerous. Wickets kept on falling at the other end but Osinshi made it to 44 before being trapped lbw by Balaji. Balaji claimed a 2nd wicket on the very next delivery which was the last ball of the over. Unfortunately in the next Balaji over he could not claim the hat-trick but he still finished with 3 wickets and just 15 runs conceded from his 6 overs. Harpsden soon finished the task of bowling Holyport out with a total of 142 achieved by the home side.

Grimmer Sees Harpsden Through

Grimmer Carries Harpsden Through

HARPSDEN met RIVETS on another warm, sunny Saturday afternoon at Harpsden’s picturesque ground, and although the pitch seemed hard and good for batting Harpsden’s decision to bowl first seemed justified when Ed Birkett dismissed Qasim and Rymer in quick succession. Rivets continued to score freely throughout the afternoon, although they lost wickets at regular intervals, including three wickets from young leg spinner Ben Hancock who bowled with great control. At 78 for 6 it looked as if Rivets were in deep trouble, but what followed was anything but routine for Harpsden. Strong hitting from Kashif got him to a quick fifty with the assistance of Shahid’s 39, but it was the reintroduction of Birkett that eventually dismissed these two to leave Rivets 214 for 9 at tea. Other wickets came from Tom Sampson, who always looked dangerous, and Mike Farmar who also took a great catch, if not after a fair bit of juggling.

Harpsden came out to bat, staring at the daunting total of 214 and, with both openers being quickly removed by Travers, Rivets looked to be well on their way to victory. Andy Grimmer put up a great rear guard action and his well made 33 with the assistance of Birkett’s watchful 15, and also Boobala, seemed to be enough to carry Harpsden through for the draw. A double wicket maiden for Rymer made things interesting but resolute defence from number 9 Mike Farmar saw Harpsden through to 98 for 9 at the close.

Scorecard

RIVETS

Burnett Ct. Hodgkiss b. Farmar 10
Qasim b. Birkett 1
Rymer Ct. Farmar b. Birkett 2
Exton Ct. Hepburn b. Hancock 23
Fenty Ct. Sampson b. Hancock 23
Babar b. Hancock 11
Delaney b. Sampson 23
Kashif Ct. Hancock b. Birkett 50
Shahid Ct. Rajeev b. Birkett 39
Waqar NOT OUT 8
Travers NOT OUT 1
Subtotal 191
Extras 23
Total 214

Best Bowling: Birkett 4-23, Hancock, 3-31

HARPSDEN

Hodgkiss Ct. Burnett b. Travers 6
Reissman Ct. Fenty b. Travers 1
Hepburn b. Travers 13
Sampson b. Shahid 3
Rajeev RUN OUT 8
Grimmer b. Rymer 33
Birkett b. Kashif 15
Boobala LBW b. Travers 3
Farmar NOT OUT 1
Hancock St. b. Rymer 0
Moyle NOT OUT 1
Subtotal 84
Extras 14
Total 98

Best Bowling: Travers 4-17, Rymer 2-2

Harpsden v Medmenham 4th May 2008

Five Star Cary Shines In Superb Performance For Harpsden

Harpsden

N. Adley b Enderby 9

B Hancock b G Bagwell 17

H Cary ct Van Der Pant b Enderby 127

R Birkett st King b Robinson 12

J Thompson ct Enderby b Horslen 14

M Hodgkiss b Watson Smyth 18

A Cary ct ?? b Baxter 6

E Birkett c & b Enderby 1

T Nugent ct Watson Smyth b Enderby 4

A Birkett ct S Bagwell b Enderby 9

T Stevens Not Out 0

TOTAL 242

Best Bowling : Enderby 5-26, T Horslen 1-31

Medmenham

J Maher b Nugent 3

J Freeman b Stevens 0

J Enderby ct Stevens b A Cary 29

J King ct R Birkett b Stevens 5

S Bagwell b E Birkett 0

G Bagwell ct Hodgkiss b A Cary 11

A Robinson Run Out 8

T Horsman ct B Hancock b Nugent 4

M Watson Smyth ct Cary H b Stevens 1

G Van Der Pant b Thompson 0

S Baxter Not Out 0

TOTAL 71

Best Bowling: Stevens 3-11, A Cary 2-12

Harpsden fielded a very young team in this local match, with just three players above the age of twenty.

Harpsden lost a quick wicket, Adley getting bowled for 9. This brought Horatio Cary to the crease to join Hancock. They built a solid partnership of 39, before Hancock got bowled for a patient 17. Other players chipped in with Hodgkiss scoring 18, and youngster Thompson scoring 14. However, the performance of the day came from Cary who played an absolutely brilliantly crafted, and also very quick 127. The pick of the bowlers was Enderby, who picked up a decent 5-26. He was helped by good fielding throughout the Harpsden innings.

Medmenham started there batting performance disastrously, ending up on 5-2 after four overs. This was due to very accurate bowling from twelve year old Stevens, and thirteen year old Nugent. Enderby showed resistance hitting a well crafted 29. However, few Medmenham batsmen showed any other resistance. Ending up getting bowled out for 71.

This was a superb performance for Harpsden, showing good batting technique, and the youngsters really excelling with the ball. The future certainly looks bright for Harpsden!

Harpsden v London Erratics

Harpsden v London Erratics

Sat 3rd May 2008


The week’s heavy rain finally relented and the sun came out and shone over the picturesque Harpsden cricket ground on a humid spring afternoon. Harpsden captain Andy Bryan elected to bat against a depleted Erratics side. The openers got off to a cracking start with Rajeev hitting a couple of sixes by timing the ball beautifully off his legs. Justin Bradley failed to capitalise on his good start and was out caught for 10. Rajeev continued to play on despite a pulled hamstring scoring a commendable 32. Harpsden then suffered a middle order collapse with only Tom Sampson, who is in good form scoring the days top score of 45, and Mike Farmer, with 19, showing any resistance to the Erratic attack, particularly the accurate away swing of Prasad. Harpsden were all out 45 minutes short of tea for 126. They then took to the field rather than have an early tea and this was rewarded by 2 quick wickets keeping Erratics to 7 for 2 at tea. Erratics must have eaten far too much of a very splendid tea as they struggled for runs against the miserly bowling of Mick Greenwood and Miles Hodgkiss with only Berrigan and Neal making any significant score. Alfred Cary chipped in to the bowling attack with some accurate and turning off spin but it was Greenwood and Hodgkiss who had a strangle hold on the game. When Berrigan chased a wide one from Greenwood and was caught at gulley it was all but over. Miles Hodgkiss cleaned up the Erratics tail taking the season’s first 5 wicket haul and Harpsden won by 28 runs.

Harpsden CC

J Bradley c Rivington b Altringham 10
Rajeev c Berrigan b Altringham 32
R. Harris c Khawaj b Prasad 4
T. Sampson c Khawaj b Heller 45
A Bryan b Prasad 7
M. Hodgkiss b Prasad 0
M. Greenwood b Prasad 0
A. Cary c Khawaj b Berrigan 2
M. Farmer c Prasad b Neal 19
T. Mitchell not out 0
R.Moyle c Khawaj b Neal 0
extras 7
TOTAL 126
Best bowling Prasad 4 for 25

London Erratics
Rivington b Hodgkiss 2
Andrews c Farmer b Greenwood 13
Khawaj c Bradley b Hodgkiss 0
Berrigan c Farmer b Greenwood 36
Prasad c Bradley b Sampson 9
Neal c Cary b Hodgkiss 30
Eltringham c Bryan b Hodgkiss 0
Bush b Hodgkiss 0
Heller not out 1
extras 7
TOTAL 98
Best bowling Hodgkiss 5 for 35, Greenwood 2 for 18.