Monday, June 29, 2009

Hancock makes the President Proud

The weather could hardly have been better for Harpsden’s annual President’s XI vs. Chairman’s XI 40 over fixture. The President’s XI batted first on a firm track and got off to a great start with Andy Grimmer (44) and former mayor Ian Reissman (47) putting on 82 for the first wicket. Foster’s 3 wickets brought the Chairman’s XI back into a good position, although wicketkeeper and Chairman Rod Birkett was always kept busy by his bowlers, who gave away 35 wides and a total of fifty extras. Jack Broome held the innings together in the latter stages, taking the attack to the bowlers, scoring 4 fours and 2 majestic sixes in a hard hitting 46, only to be dismissed by a great catch from Nelson De Souza in the gully.

After tea the Chairman’s XI batsmen knew they had a lot to do chasing 228, and when they were reduced to 22 for 3, the task looked almost impossible; Andy Bryan and Sam Imlay steadied the ship, taking the score past 100 before Imlay was dismissed for 33 by a great piece of deception from Horatio Cary. Andy Bryan had spectators ducking as he smashed his way to 55, but it was the introduction of President’s XI skipper Tom Hancock that changed the game. He ripped through the middle and lower order, taking 5 wickets including Bryan, Birkett, and that of his younger brother Ben. Mick Greenwood and Johnny Wright showed some great resilience for the final wicket, putting on 40 runs, although the Chairman’s XI finished on 182, 47 runs short of victory leaving Julian Burtt, the Harpsden President, as proud as punch.

President’s XI

A.Grimmer ct. J.Bradley b. B.Hancock 44
I.Reissman b. A.Bryan 47
R.Harris b. W.Foster 1
H.Cary ct. M.Greenwood b. W.Foster 2
J.Broome ct. De Souza b. W.Foster 46
T.Hancock Not Out 26
M.Hodgkiss Not Out 12
Sub Total 178
Extras 50
Grand Total (5wkts) 228
Best Bowling: W.Foster 3 for 35

Chairman's XI

J.Bradley ct. J.Broome b. T.Ham 15
N.De Souza ct. T.Hancock b. M.Hodgkiss 0
N.Sweet ct. J.Broome b. M.Hodgkiss 6
S.Imlay ct. M.Farmar b. H.Cary 33
A.Bryan b. T.Hancock 55
R.Birkett b. T.Hancock 0
B.Hancock b. T.Hancock 19
W.Foster b. T.Hancock 0
W.Stevens ct. T.Ham b. T.Hancock 5
M.Greenwood b. J.Thomson 25
J.Wright Not Out 20
Sub Total 178
Extras 4
Grand Total (all out) 182

Best bowling: T. Hancock 5 for 23

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Students hand back certain victory

Harpsden Sun Vs Friends of Oxford University

Harpsden Sun 1st Innings
A Bryan+ b S Halliday 20
N Sweet b S Halliday 5
A Warner Run Out 7
A Norton* c Hill b A Cary 17
A Grimmer c ? b Gilmore 16
W Stevens c Gilmore b Case 34
M Hodgkiss c Gilmore b J Schneider 13
T Hancock c Cary b S Halliday 42
O Heath c ? b S Halliday 0
T Sampson Not Out 4
C Welford b H Richards 4
Extras (b2 lb1 w6 nb1) 10
TOTAL 10 wickets for 172

Friends of Oxford University
Mclellan lbw b C Welford 45
Gilmore Run Out 43
A Cary c A Bryan b W Stevens 4
Stefanowiz+ b W Stevens 8
H Cary c Norton b C Welford 21
H Richards b T Hancock 8
C Hill lbw b M Hodgkiss 4
J Schneider b T Hancock 2
Case c&b M Hodgkiss 2
S Halliday b T Hancock 1
W Lough Not Out 0
Extras (b9 lb8 w3 nb5) 25
TOTAL 10 wickets for 163

On an overcast Sunday afternoon Friends of Oxford University won the toss and asked Harpsden to Bat first. This proved to be a good decision as Harpsden lost regular wickets Halliday doing the majority of the damage including taking the key wicket of Bryan. With just over a hundred on the scoreboard Harpsden had already lost 6 wickets and an early tea look inevitable. But number eight, Tom Hancock arrived at the crease to join Stevens and the pair set about repairing some of the damage. The pair managed to add 50 runs before Stevens departed, unfortunately Harpsden were unable to add many more runs to the total as the returning Halliday wrapped up the tail.

Oxford University needing just 173 to win started as heavy favorites and in spite of quick opening spells from Hancock and Heath they made a solid start being 45 without loss after 10 overs. Oxford then set about applying further pressure as the scoring rate soared and as the opening pair were still at the crease with the score on 105, Harpsden could have been forgiven for thinking there was no way back. But after a calamitous run out, Harpsden managed to wrestle themselves back into the game with Stevens and Welford removing the top order. This included both Cary boys much to the delight of their Harpsden team mates.

As Oxford University crept towards the total Harpsden brought back Hancock which proved to be the match winning decision. Hancock ripped through the tail taking 3 wickets and carrying Harpsden to an unlikely victory by just 9 runs.

Monday, June 22, 2009

BBC Caversham Block, Block and Block again

Harpsden v BBC Caversham - 20th June 2009

Harpsden
I Reissman ct Townend b Quinn 0
R Harris b Moore 45
J Bradley ct Treder b Lavers 31
W Stevens ct Lavers b Quinn 56
Gireesh b Moore 0
J Paice ct Burton b Moore 6
B Hancock ct Lavers b Quinn 33
M Hodgkiss ct Townend b Watkins 0
G Hepburn ct Lavers b Quinn 4
J Butler ct Townend b Watkins 1
R Moyle Not Out 0

TOTAL 197 All out
Extras 21


BBC Caversham
Williams ct Bradley b Harris 19
Burton b Paice 5
Castle ct Moyle b Hodgkiss 10
Deeks b Harris 18
Treder ct Moyle b Gireesh 9
Lavers b Hodgkiss 21
Moore ct Stevens b Hodgkiss 9
Watkins b Hodgkiss 1
Townend Not Out 0
Quinn Not Out 0

TOTAL 107-8
Extras 15

Harpsden batted first in this timed match on a warm Saturday afternoon. Harpsden made the worst possible start, losing Reissman for a duck in the first over. Harpsden then recovered very well, with Harris and Bradley managing to knock around the singles, whilst dispatching the bad balls to the boundary. When Harris was bowled by Moore, Harpsden had climbed to 78-1 from 18 overs. Harpsden then lost 3 quick wickets, to leave them in trouble at 117-5. This brought Hancock to the crease to join Stevens, both batsmen decided to push the run rate on, this resulted in a rapid partnership of 72 coming from just 6 overs. When Hancock departed for a hard hitting 33, Harpsden had started to take the game away from BBC Caversham. However, Harpsden lost their last 4 wickets for just 8 runs, which meant that they posted 197 all out from 35 overs, leaving BBC Caversham an extra 5 overs to get the runs.

However, they never decided to make an effort to go for the total, simply blocking and nurdling throughout their innings. This was reflected with no batsmen scoring over 25 runs. Watkins in particular showed no signs of even trying to hit the ball, blocking most balls with his kidney, and then complaining when it hurt. On the other hand, this innings helped the bowlers averages, with Hodgkiss taking 4-13 from his 10 overs and Paice taking 1-7 from his 8 overs.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Funtime had by all!

Harpsden Sun Win by 117 runs

Harpsden Sun 1st Innings 262/7 Closed (Overs 40)
A Grimmer lbw b R Noyes 22
A Birkett c Searle b Rechner 29
T Hancock c Simpson b Montgomery 17
A Norton* c Boden b Montgomery 28
W Stevens Not Out 65
R Birkett c Hopkins b Montgomery 17
M Hodgkiss Run Out 27
J Broome+ c ? b Searle 0
W Foster Not Out 26
extras (b0 lb6 w21 nb4) 31
TOTAL 7 wickets for 262

Crazies Hill 1st Innings 145/10 All Out (Overs 35.5)
C Funtime + c J Broome b H Williams 45
Montgomery b W Foster 0
Simpson Run Out 3
Hopkins* c B Hancock b M Hodgkiss 2
Boden c B Hancock b A Birkett 52
Rechner c J Broome b R Birkett 1
R Noyes c&b A Grimmer 0
R Cash c J Broome b A Grimmer 0
S Hanton Not Out 14
R Lea c H Williams b W Foster 1
Searle b W Foster 0
extras (b11 lb3 w12 nb1) 27
TOTAL 10 wickets for 145


On a beautiful afternoon Harpsden won the toss and elected to bat in this 40 over game. Harpsden made a positive start through Grimmer and Birkett although both were helped by some poor fielding by Crazies Hill as 5 catches went down in the opening overs. Adam departed first and set the trend for our batsmen as most made starts but then got themselves out (usually just slapping it skywards). After 28 overs the Harpsden total was just 124-4, but with Crazies having bowled out both Boden and Rechner the scoring rate started to climb, much to umpire Heath’s relief, who was a constant reminder that 220 was the minimum required! But to everyone’s delight 138 runs came off the closing 12 overs thanks mainly the ever aggressive Hodgkiss and a fantastic cameo from Willy Foster who scored 18 from the last over.

Having set a daunting 262 Harpsden took the field with great confidence and opened with the spin of B.Hancock and swing of Foster. Both having bowled well the previous day it was no surprise to see them both tightly and limited the scoring well to further increase the asking rate for Carzies Hill. This trend continued throughout the innings and as a result wickets started to fall. Harpsden were also helped by Chuckles Funtime who was the anchor of the Crazies innings, literally putting a stop to any movement in their score. As a result Jack Broome became ever more popular behind the stumps with his constant encouragement and vociferous appeals.

The flood gates really opened when Williams, with help from Broome, removed the stubborn Funtime for 45. Harpsden rotated their bowlers regularly giving some of their less experienced bowlers a chance to stake a claim for more regular action. Andy Grimmer was able to claim 2 wickets as well as Adam Birkett taking one scalp, the inquiries continue into how this was allowed to happen.

The innings was finished off by the returning Foster who capped a fantastic individual display returning figures of 5.5-2-5-3.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hepburn and Hancock Shine For Harpsden

Harpsden v Catchiteers – 13th June 2009

Catchiteers
Murray ct Bradley b Ashmore 7
Janus b Greenwood 10
Cardew ct Hodgkiss b Foster 42
Read ct Farmer b Hodgkiss 9
Beard c & b Foster 16
Perry b Hancock 3
Meek ct Hepburn b Hancock 9
Davison b Hancock 21
Malpas Run Out 2
Johnson Not Out 1
Meek b Hancock 0

Extras (w3, b1,lb2) 6
TOTAL 126 All Out


Best Bowling : Hancock 4-27, Foster 2-7


Harpsden
M.Hodgkiss Not Out 46
J.Bradley b Murray 0
G.Hepburn ct Read b Murray 68
J.Paice Not Out 5

Extras (w4, b4, lb1)
TOTAL 128-2


Harpsden lost the toss and were put in to field on a hot Saturday afternoon. Harpsden made a strong start with the ball, with openers Ashmore and Greenwood bowling with a good line and length to leave Catchiteers on 40-2 after 9 overs. Catchiteers then rebuilt and looked to be on course for a competitive score. However when Foster and Hancock were brought into the attack, they managed to plug the runs and take regular wickets. Hancock in particular bowled some very good leg spin to take figures of 4-27 from 7.2 overs. This meant that Catchiteers were eventually bowled out for 126.
Harpsden made the worst possible start to their innings, losing Bradley in the second over. This brought Hepburn to the crease to join Hodgkiss. Hepburn wasted no time in taking the attack to the Catchiteers bowlers, dispatching the first two balls of his innings for four. He continued in this vain, smashing 11 fours and 3 sixes, one of which cleared the longest boundary with considerable ease. When he was eventually caught for 68, Harpsden were just 19 runs short of their target. Hodgkiss and Paice then finished off the game, to take Harpsden to their target in just 14.1 overs.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Harpsden v Young Lions

Sun 7th June 2009

Harpsden’s Sunday side managed to find a sufficiently long break in the weekend rain to fit a 40 over game in against the Young Lions team from West London. On the previous two meetings the Lions had proved too strong for the hosts so Club Capain Andy Norton was keen to prevent three defeats in a row. Lions batted first and were quickly in trouble on the sticky wicket. Captain, Rajiv, top edged an easy catch off Greenwood and when Nismal went lbw off Balaji for the top score of 22 it was obvious that Lions were not going to post a high score. Alfred Cary bowled some excellent off spin taking three wickets and Toby Stevens mopped up the tail with 3 wickets in 2.2 overs. Although the target of 107 looked easy enough the Harpsden batsmen were taking nothing for granted on this very difficult wicket and this was proved true when Neil Sweet uncharacteristically ‘ducked’ and Harpsden struggled to 10 off the first six overs. However Tom Hancock soon got to grips with the track and stroked the ball around with ease, his confidence growing every over. Andy Norton joined in with some solid hitting and with the weather worsening the two accelerated the scoring. Harpsden reached the total having used only half the allotted overs to win by 8 wickets.

Young Lions
Nayman c Run out 14
Rajiv c Balaji b Greenwood 4
Nismal c LBW b Balaji 22
Yashwin c St Birkettj b Cary 4
Justin b Cary 8
Shaan b Balaji 11
Mihire b Cary 0
Manoj c Norton b Stevens 2
Viram c Hodgkiss b Stevens 13
Anand c Sweet b Stevens 1
Kavit Not out 3
extras 25
TOTAL 107
Best bowling T. Stevens 3 for 7

Harpsden
N Sweet c Mayan b Rajiv 0
A Birkettc&b b Manoj 11
T Hancock Not out 65
A Norton Not out 28


extras 6
TOTAL 110

Best bowling Rajiv 1 for 23

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

A time to cash in?

Harpsden Sun Vs Pinkney's Green

Harpsden Sun 1st Innings 271/1 Closed (Overs 29.5)
N Sweet c&b C Heyes 79
A Hurst Retired 101
P Burtt Not Out 67
A Norton* Not Out 3
Extras (b12 lb1 w1 nb7) 21
TOTAL 1 wickets for 271


Pinkney's Green 1st Innings 40/9 All Out (Overs 15)
C Heyes c T Sampson b T Stevens 16
W Heyes b W Stevens 0
A Gandhe b W Stevens 4
S Withana b W Stevens 0
C Adams b T Sampson 4
I Hann b T Stevens 0
Sharad c T Hancock b M Hodgkiss 2
Shiv b M Hodgkiss 8
M James b A Balaji 2
S Jinman Not Out 1
Extras (b1 lb0 w1 nb1) 3
TOTAL 9 wickets for 40


Harpsden were pleased to win the toss on a very hot Sunday afternoon and did not hesitate when choosing to bat first. Sweet and Hurst opened up for Harpsden and set about savaging a weak Pinkney’s Green attack. After 12 overs both batsmen had reached 50 and the Harpsden total was already well beyond a hundred. Sweet was the only wicket to fall after a mammoth opening stand of 174. His departure, if anything, increased the run rate as it brought the hard hitting Burtt to the crease who smashed 67 runs from just 38 deliveries. At the other end Hurst went on to complete a century, and Harpsden declared on 271 after just 30 overs.

The Pinkney’s response never really got off the ground as both opening bowlers Toby and Will Stevens had opportunities to take a hat trick. The pair went on to remove 5 of the Pinkney’s top 6 leaving no chance of a recovery. Hodgkiss and Balaji claimed the wickets to win the match in quick time.

Harpsden vs Reading Lawyers

Reading Lawyers 1st Innings 129/8 All Out (Overs 27.1)
M Symms c J Paice b M Hodgkiss 11
M Burrows lbw b T Nugent 1
B Harrison b M Hodgkiss 45
C Lynch c W Stevens b M Hodgkiss 12
W Lake b J Paice 14
D Loosemore* Not Out 13
N Burrows c W Stevens b M Hodgkiss 4
S James b T Nugent 0
M Seymour c J Bradley b A Cary 11
extras (b8 lb8 w1 nb1) 18
TOTAL 8 wickets for 129

Harpsden Sat 1st Innings 130/6 Closed (Overs 27.2)
Matt Thomas b W Lake 23
A Birkett b M Burrows 45
Gireesh b W Lake 8
J Bradley lbw b M Seymour 15
A Cary b W Lake 2
W Stevens* st ? b D Loosemore 9
I Nugent Not Out 6
R Birkett+ Not Out 15
extras (b0 lb1 w2 nb0) 6
TOTAL 6 wickets for 130


Reading Lawyers batted first in this 40 over game and made a solid start through Harrison and Symons. But the game was swung in Harpsden favour by spells from Hodgkiss and Paice, wickets fell at regular intervals until and Harpsden were well on top at drinks. With T.Nugent returning to complete his overs Reading Lawyers were put in further trouble and were eventually finished off by A.Cary (thanks to a good catch by Justin on the boundry).

In response Harpsden started aggressively with Matt Thomas striking some huge blows, but fell to one that nipped back off the pitch. Adam Birkett was the only Harpsden batsman that could be pleased with his efforts as he came away with a solid 45. Others came and went but the Lawyer’s total was never going to be enough and Harpsden took the honours.