Scorecard

Bletchley Town v Horspath Cricket Club 1st XI on Sat 23 Jun 2012 at 13:00
Match was Drawn

Match report From Bletchley Town Website:

Bletchley Town were thwarted by the rain in their efforts to beat runaway leaders Horspath as they closed in on a memorable victory at Manor Fields on Saturday. With 8 overs remaining, Bletchley needed just 37 runs to win, and had 8 wickets remaining as they closed in on the visitors’ total.

Earlier, Bletchley had won the toss and opted to bowl first on a firm pitch at Manor Fields despite the wet weather. With Mark Roberts back in the side, he and James Sprittles started well and did not give much away in the early exchanges. Horspath’s openers were watchful early on as the ball swung around, and just as they had looked to overcome the opening attack, Mark Roberts struck to bowl Joey Todd for 10. Number 3 Jimmy Phillips looked to attack from the off and although he hit a couple of streaky boundaries of Sprittles, he was soon back on his way as Sprittles persevered and had him well caught behind by Ward.

The experienced Shabaz Ali joined opener Robbie Eason at the crease, but Bletchley were right in the game bowling tightly and fielding well. James Clark replaced Roberts at the Rugby Ground End and kept the pressure on the visitors’ batters. Ali never really looked settled and found scoring tough, and out of sheer frustration, he mistimed a drive off Clark and was well caught by Matt Shepherd at cover. Wasim Fayyaz joined the attack and took a wicket with his very first ball when he trapped ex-Northants and Durham UCCE all-rounder Patrick Foster LBW for a duck. Horspath now 109-4.

Eason passed 50 and survived a couple of scares but his solid innings was a testament to how well Town bowled. However, as he looked to up the tempo, Clark deceived him with a slower ball to bowl the Horspath opener for a well-made 61. Skelton followed soon after when Fayyaz turned one to induce and edge to Ward.

With Horspath running out of overs, the lower order had no answer to Clark and Fayyaz who ran through the lower order. First, Fayyaz had Andy Wynd caught at mid-wicket before the visitors’ captain Adam Krol found Paul Strong a mid-on for a duck. Then, Clark dismissed Biggs and Mason cheaply to send Horspath packing for just 150 in 50.3 overs. Fayyaz impressed again, taking 4-10 from 8 overs whereas Clark put in a long shift of 16.3 overs for his 4-47 as underdogs Bletchley had set up the chance of a victory.

Bletchley started cautiously given the pitch was not easy, but Paul Strong and Matt Shepherd survived some early scares until Shepherd was trapped LBW to the miserly Lee Mason for 12 to leave Town on 19-1. Raj Lall, who looked in good form last week at Leighton Buzzard, was watchful in defence and he and Strong looked to chip away at the target set.

Scoring was not easy as Horspath bowled and fielded with relish including a fiery spell from Foster and Will Eason whose swing caused problems. Both Strong and Lall were going along nicely until Strong suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem he suffered on the opening day of the season which inhibited his movement considerably. However, his stoicism wasn’t unrewarded as he went on to pass fifty.

Lee Mason returned from the Football Ground End and won an LBW decision against Raj Lall (28) to leave Town 96-2 but with 12 overs to go, the hosts were favourite. With the clouds gathering, the drizzle started and when umpires Beck & Irvin brought the players off, Bletchley were 114-2 needing 37 from the last 8 overs to deny them the chance of victory. Paul Strong was unbeaten on a solid 51 not out, Graham Simpson unbeaten on 12. As Bletchley had not got within 30 runs at this point the rain rules dictated that they only received 6 points to Horspath’s 10, which was scant reward for an excellent performance.

Horspath Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
150		        
Joey Todd b roberts 10
Robbie Eason (347758) b clarke 61
James Phillips (1001030) ct sprittles 15
Shahbaz Ali ct clarke 19
Patrick Foster lbw fayyaz 0
Mark Skelton (385160) st fayyaz 5
Will Eason (3426179) Not Out  15
Andrew Wynd b fayyaz 6
Adam Krol (907291) ct fayyaz 0
Jack Biggs ct clarke 1
Lee Mason lbw clarke 0

Bletchley Town Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
roberts9.0219119.002.11
sprittles12.0440140.003.33
clarke16.3147411.752.85
simpson5.002300.004.60
fayyaz8.011042.501.25

Bletchley Town Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
115 (42.3 overs)		     
strong Not Out  51
shepherd lbw mason 12
lall lbw mason 28
simpson Not Out  12
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Horspath Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Will Eason (3426179)7.011600.002.29
Lee Mason12.031829.001.50
Patrick Foster10.333000.002.86
Adam Krol (907291)9.003500.003.89
Jack Biggs3.00900.003.00