Guess who?

Overheard in the pavilion after tea this afternoon when Matt hit a four: Justin, could you go out onto the verandah and applaud for me?

Harpsden vs Old Josephians

Harpsden entertained Old Josephians to a 35 over match and although they lost Tom Hancock in the third over, Jack Broome and Will Stevens managed to push the run rate along at nearly 6 an over before the latter fell to on-loan Harspden junior, Johnny Wright. After Rod Birkett succumbed to a leading edge, his 14 year old son came to the wicket to join the increasingly rampant Broome. Broome and Adam Birkett put on 107 before Jack unselfishly decided to retire in the 27th over following a chanceless knock of 120 which included 3 sixes and 17 fours. The departure of Broome brought no respite for the London-based team as Ben Hancock wasted no time in making a quickfire and hard-hitting 46. All that was left was for Harpsden to set the visitors a massive 277 to win in 35 overs and Dan Hayden to coax Adam Birkett to his second Harpsden 50.

Harpsden, opening with the leg-spin of 15 year old James Thomson and the speed of 14 year old Tom Nugent, caused significant problems for the Old Josephian openers putting them well behind the required rate in the early overs as they both bowled with great control. The loss of both De Cruz and Mitcher brought about a significant change in the game as Bennett and Kitchener batted with real confidence and started to go about chasing down Harpsden's massive total. Tight bowling from Miles Hodgkiss, Will Stevens and his younger brother Toby, meant the touring side were always well behind the required rate, and despite some big hitting late on by Bennett, they were never in the hunt.

Harpsden

T.Hancock Caught Peacock b. O’Donnahoe 6
J.Broome Retired 120
W.Stevens Caught Kitchener b. Wright 19
R.Birkett Caught Mitcher b. Kitchener 17
A.Birkett Not Out 51
B.Hancock Caught De Cruz b. Grinrod 46
T.Nugent Caught Bennett b. Kitchener 0
D.Hayden Not Out 7
Extras 10
Total: for 5 wkts 276
Best Bowling: Kitchener 2 for 41

Old Josephians

De Cruz lbw Thomson 7
Mithcer Caught T. Stevens b. T.Nugent 15
Bennett Not Out 151
Kitchener Not Out 50
Extras 12
Total: for 2wkts 235

Best Bowling: Nugent 1 for 25

Harpsden v United Warriors - 23rd May 2009

Ian Nugent Shines in Harpsden Loss

United Warriors
Keyar ct Farmar b Butler 93
Ammars ct Birkett b Hodgkiss 17
Mohammed lbw b Farmar 11
Bilal ct Harris b Wright 60
Wajih ct Hepburn b Hancock 1
Ali Run Out (Nugent) 16
Ammar Not Out 3

Extras: 36
TOTAL 237-6

Harpsden
R Harris b Dilo 5
A Grimmer ct Bilal b Dilo 23
A Birkett ct Ammars b Dilo 0
T Nugent lbw b Dilo 0
I Nugent ct Thiru b Harsham 56
M Hodgkiss ct Mohammed b Amal 2
G Hepburn ct Ali b Amal 0
B Hancock b Harsham 38
J Wright ct Amal b Harsh 2
M Farmar b Harsh 7
J Butler Not Out 1

Extras : 46
TOTAL 180 All Out


Harpsden kindly allowed United Warriors to bat on a lovely spring day, due to a lack of players from the opposition. This proved to be a mistake as United Warriors piled on the runs throughout their innings, with Keyar and Bilal, who at times provided an exhibition of clean hitting to the Harpsden youngsters. This allowed United Warriors to post a formidable total of 237-6 from their 35 overs.
Harpsden’s task became even tougher when they lost 3 wickets in the first ten overs. This brought Ian Nugent to the crease to join Grimmer, both batsmen played fluently before Grimmer was caught for 23. Nugent then saw Hepburn and Hodgkiss lose their wickets to leave Harpsden in real trouble at 75-6. Ben Hancock then came to the crease, and decided to take the attack to the bowlers, smashing the ball all around the park for a quick fire 38 which included six fours and one six. After Hancock had departed, hopes of a Harpsden win had faded. However, Nugent kept looking forward, and completed a superb 50, which resulted in a barrage of applause from the Harpsden supporters. But it wasn’t to be, as Nugent was caught for 56. Leaving Harpsden 57 runs short of the target.

Harpsden 'catch' Cranbourne Cold

Harpsden Sun Vs Cranbourne

Cranbourne 1st Innings 74/10 All Out (Overs 31.3)
V Patel c W Stevens b J Paice 6
Kirtron c&b Hodgkiss 21
L Johnson c N Sweet b J Paice 5
R Sillis b T Stevens 0
R Alleston* c J Paice b T Stevens 1
D Crick c A Norton b T Stevens 5
Parog c R Birkett b M Hodgkiss 1
Watson c J Bradley b C Welford 7
D Daints+ c J Paice b W Stevens 1
Kirton Jnr lbw b W Stevens 5
D Spencer Not Out 9
extras (b0 lb1 w12 nb0) 13
TOTAL 10 wickets for 74

Harpsden Sun 1st Innings 75/0 Closed (Overs 15.4)
N Sweet Not Out 44
T Hancock Not Out 22
extras (b4 lb1 w4 nb0) 9
TOTAL 0 wickets for 75

Best bowling - T.Stevens 3-14, Hodgkiss 2-9

On a very damp track Cranbourne started their innings with caution but were soon under pressure from some very tight opening spells from James Paice and Will Stevens. Paice claimed two scalps in his six overs, and with Hodgkiss coming into the attack the runs dried up still further. The magic moment of the day was provided by Hodgkiss who, following a vicious drive from Kirton managed to keep the ball in the air with approximately six parts of his body before securing a stunning caught and bowled. With Kirton back in the pavilion it was time for 13 year old Toby Stevens to show his cricketing talents, starting with removing the Cranbourne number 4 with a beautiful away swinger. Toby went on to claim two more wickets to leave him the pick of the Harpsden bowling with 3-14 from his 5 overs. Cranbourne eventually folded having made just 74 runs, however if they bowled with the same discipline as the Harpsden bowlers they could expect to cause plenty of problems for the batsmen.

Unfortunately for Cranbourne the bowling was to full to make use of the helpful Harpsden pitch. Their bowlers also ran into two Harpsden batsmen determined to showcase their talents. Sweet and Hancock picked off any poor bowling and with Sweet {44*} the major aggressor the pair saw Harpsden to an early finish and a 10 wicket win.

Harpsden lower order crumbles

Holyport Vs Harpsden Sun

Holyport 1st Innings 192/8 Closed (Overs 40)
M Taylor+ b W Stevens 11
Cox b A Balaji 8
Price b T Ham 11
A Pyle c A Norton b Wright 42
M Fowler c Wright b T Hancock 48
G Rolls b W Stevens 33
Davies c N Sweet b T Hancock 4
Thompson b T Hancock 3
Kass not out 5
Hawkins not out 1
extras (b2 lb8 w6 nb10) 26
TOTAL 8 wickets for 192


Harpsden Sun 1st Innings 178/10 All Out (Overs 37.1)

N Sweet c ? b Kass 16
Matt Thomas b Kass 5
Mark Thomas lbw b Griffiths 2
A Norton*+ c&b Griffiths 28
W Stevens b Kass 81
T Hancock b Davies 27
Wright b Davies 0
A Balaji lbw b Davies 0
T Mitchell c Cox b Kass 2
T Ham run out 0
T Stevens not out 0
extras (b1 lb4 w11 nb1) 17
TOTAL 10 wickets for 178



Having watched the first ball of the game disappear over the boundary for six Harpsden may have felt as though it would be a long afternoon in the field. But fortunately for them their first three bowlers all chipped in with a wicket to stem the flow of runs. Balaji was particularly economical only going for 15 runs in his 6 overs. For Holyport a period of consolidation followed through the more than competent Pyle and Fowler, having reestablished their dominance these two started to pick off boundaries at regular intervals. The young Harpsden bowlers stuck to their task but ultimately did not have the penetration to do any damage. It was left to Tom Hancock still struggling with injury to pick up the key wicket of Fowler; he would go on to take two further wickets to end with 3-37. Harpsden could be happy with their effort in the field but a score of 192 was still going to require at least two of the senior Harpsden players to score big runs.

Unfortunately this was not to be as the Holyport openers took regular wickets to leave the score at 24-3. With Norton and W. Stevens at the crease Harpsden had hope but need more than the 55 run partnership that followed. Hancock came in to partner Stevens and the pair managed to get Harpsden close but were pressurized by the knowledge that Holyport only needed one wicket to expose the very inexperienced Harpsden lower order. This proved to be the case when Hancock was dismissed, Stevens saw partners come and go and when Ham was run out Harpsden’s chance had gone.

Harpsden v Rivets 9th May 2009

Hancock and Hodgkiss Star For Harpsden

Rivets
K.Severin b Hodgkiss 66
J.Burnett b Paice 39
D.Grey ct Grimmer b Paice 0
S.Exton lbw b Hodgkiss 13
Kashif ct Foster b Hodgkiss 8
S.Delaney ct Devile b B.Hancock 4
Bilal Not Out 16
Qasim ct Grimmer b B.Hancock 0
M.Steadman Hit Wicket b B.Hancock 4
M.Travers ct Hodgkiss b B.Hancock 0

TOTAL 159 All Out

Best Bowling: B.Hancock 4-25, Hodgkiss 3-53

Harpsden
A.Grimmer ct Grey b Bilal 48
J.Bradley b Travers 8
C.Mitchell b Steadman 15
M.Hodgkiss Not Out 45
M.Greenwood ct Qasim b Bilal 5
Gireesh b Bilal 4
W.Foster Not Out 29

TOTAL 161-5

Best Bowling: Bilal 3-44, Travers 1-23

Harpsden won the toss and elected to put Rivets into bat on a dry, overcast day. Rivets made a superb start to the innings, smashing the first ball for four. The two openers continued the hard hitting, putting on a rapid 62 before Harpsden made the breakthrough, James Paice clean bowling Burnett. One wicket brought a second, with Paice forcing a rash shot from Grey, spooning the ball straight to Grimmer at cover. From then on, other than Severin, who provided some entertainment with his big hitting, no other batsmen really got going. This was in no small part due to Hancock and Hodgkiss, who both bowled with good accuracy and guile, Hancock finishing with excellent figures of 4-25 from his 6 overs, which also included a superb catch in close from Hodgkiss, and 3-53 from Hodgkiss himself. This restricted Rivets to 159 all out, a great all round effort from Harpsden.
Harpsden made a solid start to the innings, putting on 36 for the first wicket, before Bradley was unluckily bowled for 8. This brought Chris Mitchell to the crease to join Grimmer, both batsmen played well before Mitchell was bowled by Steadman. Harpsden then had a slight blip in their innings, with Grimmer falling just 2 short of a half century, and Gireesh falling for 4. This brought Hodgkiss and Foster together at the crease, with both batsmen hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, putting on 55 for the fifth wicket, to take Harpsden to a comfortable victory.

Erratic bowling dispatched

Harpsden Sat 1st Innings 228/3 Closed (Overs 33)
I Reissman lbw b Prasad 27
B Hancock b Berrigan 8
A Hurst Retired 100
J Bradley lbw b Eltringham 12
W Stevens Not Out 64
A Cary Not Out 11
extras (b0 lb2 w4 nb0) 6
TOTAL 3 wickets for 228

London Erratics 1st Innings 111/10 All Out (Overs 40.4)
Khawaj+ c A Cary b M Greenwood 10
Rivington b M Devile 2
Prasad b W Stevens 29
Neal b M Devile 0
Eltringham c J Bradley b B Hancock 27
Berrigan b W Stevens 0
Andrews lbw b B Hancock 16
Bush b B Hancock 3
Towers b W Stevens 3
Cobb Not Out 0
Heller c M Hodgkiss b B Hancock 1
extras (b11 lb2 w7 nb0) 20
TOTAL 10 wickets for 111


Having won the toss Harpsden chose to bat on what looked like a fine batting track. After an early break through by the Erratics this proved to be the case as Harpsden forged a solid start through Reissman and Hurst. Reissman departed having made 27, this seemed to spur Hurst on to greater things who brutalised the bowling and raced to his half century. When joined by Stevens the Harpsden scoring rate soared, allowing Hurst to complete a well deserved century and Stevens a half century. Some late hitting by Alfred Cary allowed Harpsden to declare before tea giving themselves the best possible chance to bowl the Erratics out.

The opening spells from Deville and Greenwood resulted in wicket for both bowlers and left the Erratics in a sorry state at 24-3. These spells were backed up by some crafty spin bowling by Farmer and Cary who were unlucky to be left without a wicket. With the required rate seeming to be beyond the opposition Harpsden were in desperate need of a wicket. This breakthrough came from Stevens with a beautiful ball which cut back off the seam to clip off stump. With Stevens and B.Hancock bowling well in tandem wickets fell at regular intervals but with two overs remaining and the last pair of Erratics batsmen standing firm, Harpsden moved all the fielders in around the bat. This proved to be decisive as a fine snick was expertly taken by Hodgkiss to give Harpsden a well deserved win.