1st XI
Matches
Sat 03 Aug 2019  ·  Division Three A
Northchurch Cricket Club
1st XI
176/9
175
Luton Town & Indians CC - 2nd XI
1s Stay top with Mark Houbdinley escape act

1s Stay top with Mark Houbdinley escape act

Tom Vila5 Aug 2019 - 13:56
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Syers leaves stands early from game of the season

Luton were always going to be hungry for a win after surrendering a decent position to Northchurch at their place early in the season. They made an aggressive start after winning the toss and batting, but lost their captain early to a booming drive at Darren James, which picked out Garraway at extra cover. Vila combined twice with Suckling in his second over to reduce the visitors to 10 for three, before a beautiful piece of bowling from James set up erstwhile premier league player Bashir to knock his leg stump out of the ground.

Johnson broke a niggling fifth wicket partnership of 30 by encouraging a loose drive which was pouched one handed by Hobley on the short drive (his other hand occupied by a piece of quiche, not yet consumed after the drinks/quiche break).

Clean hitting Singh came in at seven and began hitting cleanly, stroking several straight maximums, including one that had no respect for the sight screen that got in its way and another that waved at the spectators on the terrace below as it enjoyed its happy trajectory over the pavilion. That was not to be the biggest of the day though…

Singh’s innings was eventually ended by Johnson, who induced a top edge which spiralled to Mike James at short third man. Angry bowler, batter smashing it, crowd behind commenting what a dolly it appeared to be. No pressure for Mike who clung on gratefully.

With an end open, the Skipper committed Darren’s remaining overs to the fray and he duly steamrolled the Luton tail to secure his second five wicket haul of the year. The number three, who had shown great resistance to reach his fifty, had a dart but could only manage two boundaries before edging Vila behind. The Luton innings closed on 175, with 13 overs unfaced.

Luton knew that run rate would not be a problem for Northchurch; they would need to bowl the home team out on a flat pitch. It was Bhatia that gave them more than an smidge of hope in doing so, as his brilliant opening spell reduced Northchurch to 35 for 4. Some nip here and a decent Yorker there brought Garraway and Mike James together, with a rebuilding job to do

When the pitch flattened a little, the pair began to look settled but disaster struck when Gaz took a characteristic quick single to mid off, only to see the fielder gather the ball on a kind bounce and throw the stumps down with Tom not even in the frame. Queue scenes of joy from the visitors, who had been on the receiving end of a Garraway ton earlier in the year.

Hobley strode to the crease with a hill to climb. The gradient became a little steeper when Mike miscued his usually reliable lofted drive to mid off and the hill became a mountain, as Romit chopped on after an encouraging partnership of 25.

At 87 for seven, Northchurch would need all the depth in the batting line up. Hobley maintained a calm head in the middle and, together with the skipper, settled things down to nibble away at the total. Bat the overs, it seemed, and the game would be won. However, after compiling 45 together, Vila was lost just after the second drinks break, bowled through the gate by the off spinner Dalvi.

Darren joined Hobley and took the aerial route to get of the mark, clearing the long, long boundary at wide mid-on, while Hobley took little risk to accumulate at the other end.

With the runs required reduced to just 30, the opposition captain committed his best resources to ensure the game did not go the distance. James would not be intimidated by the return of the opening bowler and took on the big shot again, only to find that he had picked out the one man outside the ring.

Best number 11 in the league, Ollie Johnson, joined Hobley, determined to provide the required support to make the 26 neede from the last four overs. A nudge, a tickle and some hard running kept the pair in sight of victory, however the plan to target the short boundary in the 49th over did not come off; Dalvi’s darts were too good to get underneath.

Ten required from six balls. Left arm spin from the pavilion end and four fielders guarding cow corner. A single brings OJ on strike, a late cut, too late (!), too fine (!), dropped by the keeper (!), gets Hobley back into the action. A hard run two. Six needed from three balls, no margin for error.

It should be mentioned at this point that earlier in the day, the boundary rope had been positioned by the bowlers’ union and sat about 70 meters from the wicket. Surely, the shot over extra cover’s head, down the hill to the large gap on the offside boundary was the percentage shot?

It should also be mentioned that the second XI, having wrapped up their game at Wheathampstead, were all back home. The terrace was packed, the atmosphere tense. One notable absentee, however, was Chris Syers, who had given up on the chase and gone home, having watched all day. Lol.

Back to the action. Afridi tosses it down, Hobley’s eye light up, he gets down on one knee and produces the sweetest strike with a slog sweep. It sails up the hill towards square leg who is momentarily interested before realising that it is still on the way up over his head. He can only watch as it flies over the top hedge into Tring Road (and probably into Tring).

Massive cheers from the pavilion, Hobley’s arms aloft in the middle of the pitch and OJ holding back tears, confirm that this was an ‘I was there moment’. The undoubted hero of the day was Hobbers, who's Stokesian innings of 65* was one of the finest examples of finishing a game the crowd will ever have the pleasure of watching. Bad luck Chris...

Commiserations to Luton Town, who played their part in a brilliant game of cricket and were very decent in what must have been a bitter defeat. Also thanks to the umpires and scorers for officiating brilliantly.

The win keeps the 1s top of Div 3A, with a tough game away at now 3rd placed Letchworth in prospect for next week.

Match details

Match date

Sat 03 Aug 2019

Kickoff

13:00

Competition

Division Three A
Team overview
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