2’s cruise home as Mike James starts where he left off

By Harry Chapman

A sunny day at the Meadow welcomed in the 2018 season and newly appointed captain Harry Chapman won the toss and opted to bowl on a wicket that looked to do a bit early on.

The honour of the first ball of the season fell on Ben Pyne’s shoulders and he must have felt the pressure as he sent the ball down leg side, being lucky to not be given a wide. However this didn’t put Pyne off as he soon picked up the first wicket of the 2018 season, claiming Mo Islah for a duck thanks to a nice bit of work behind the stumps by Ryan “the better brother” Smart.

It was in the next over that Pyne struck again, removing the Stevenage number three for just one caught - at mid on by Harry Chapman. Harry Bennie opening the bowling for the first time at league level and bowled tidily at the Pavilion End with little reward in his first 5 overs. Bennie was replaced by Sunni Durani, and the silent assassin picked up his first Northchurch league wicket at the expense of Mankani - out LBW for 14.

2017 player of the season Jack Randall worked hard from the Meadow End but like Bennie was unlucky not to get a wicket in his first spell.
Drinks came and Northchurch felt they had won the first quarter - with only the Stevenage opener being able to get into the 20’s. Chapman brought himself on and struggled at first to bowl the lines he’s used to bowling from the Pavilion End. But he soon found his rhythm to remove both Barrett and Nair, bowled and LBW respectively.

Finishing with figures of 2/29 from 10, Chapman left the seamers to finish off the great work they started from ball one.
First Bennie removed the Stevenage opener to bring an end to a well watched 45. Then came the rewards from a great first spell for Durani as he picked up 2 wickets to finish with figures of 3/44 off from his set of ten. Randall was the last bowler to get in on the act trapping Parcurri LBW for 21 to finish on 1/22. The final wicket went to the young seamer Bennie as he had the number 11 caught by Ryan Smart to end the innings with a ball to spare, bowling Stevenage out for 173.

Jimmy Smart and Randall opened the innings for Northchurch, fresh off of seeing their names in the hand book for the 2017 season. They showed exactly why, putting on 34 in eight overs, with Jimmy, in particular, looking in very good shape for someone who took the winter off.
Jimmy was the first man to go, however, playing around a straight ball for 19. The Stevenage players were ecstatic at the wicket until they realised this brought in Mike James.

After a few moans and groans as they remembered the torrid time they had bowling against James last year (like most teams did) - they got play back underway knowing they needed to break this partnership to have any chance in the game. Eight overs and 30 runs later they got their wish, sending a very tired Randall back to the pavilion for what even he will describe as a scratchy 33.

Next to the crease was Ryan Smart and it was this partnership that would prove to be the vital one. Smart, combined with James, both gave themselves plenty of time to get in, but once in they were able to punish the bad ball and even a few not so bad balls to see Northchurch home with 19.5 overs to spare.

Mike James top scored with 80 not out including 3 sixes and one lost ball and he was very well supported by Ryan who finished 26 not out.

It was a very convincing win by the 2’s and a great team effort. It was brilliant to see Ali Fantham making his first league start since August 2016 and apart from a dropped catch that we will be hearing about for the rest of the season, he added the experience needed to an already well-polished side.

Next up for the 2’s is a trip to Northampton Exiles where they will be hoping to build on this performance.

Man of the match: Mike James for his brilliant innings.