Weekend Summary - TVL week 1
"I'm all about the economy rate today"
Certainly the quote of the week from Henry Morris, at the end of his run up on Sunday. The following over went for 19, including two sixes into the adjacent field.
With most sides across the League having had little preparation due to an incredibly wet start to the summer, there was always going to be some rustiness going into the first round of league matches. However, Chesham blew most of that out with an unbeaten weekend, with wins for the 4ths and the Sunday 2s and positive draws for the 1sts and 2nds.
As far as I'm aware there are no actual photos of cricket being played this week, but here the Sunday 2s enjoy an extended tea interval at Berkhamsted. It is fair to say that I have never seen a side so animated at tea as they were when City fired in the late winner!
Sadly Chartridge remained unplayable and so the 3rd XI will start their season next week away to Slough.
The Meadow, however, was in excellent condition considering the rain, and Ollie Turner won the toss and decided to bat as the 1st XI began their campaign for promotion. An imperious innings of 129* off 156 balls from Aftab Habib allowed Chesham to post a commanding total of 226-8 off 52 overs against an accurate Kidmore End attack.
Spin was the weapon of choice for Chesham, with the majority of the overs being split between Andy Goddard, Chris Royals and Mo Asuaf. The early dismissal of Kidmore's dangerman Tom Sheldon effectively ended their assault on Chesham's score, and the game petered out into a draw. Chesham gained 13 points for their efforts and occupy third position in the table.
Next week the side has a tricky away fixture against Burnham. Burnham boast overseas player Waqar Ahmed, who won the John Newton Award for the most outstanding player in the entire Thames Valley League structure last year, taking 54 wickets in the process. The sides met twice last year, with Chesham edging a low scoring season opener by two wickets, before going down by 3 wickets at The Memorial Ground in the return fixture.
The 2nd XI also drew batting first, in an away fixture at newly promoted Marlow Park. Brendan O'Donovan led the way with 84, supported by quickfire 30s from Graham Rance, Steve Ayres and Rohith Sylendra which allowed the side to declare after 49 overs on 242-6.
Curiously, Marlow Park decided not to launch a serious attempt at Chesham's score and finished on 215-5, Dave Porter having taken three wickets.
This weekend the 2nds take on the other newly promoted side, Farnham Royal. Farnham have been something of a yo-yo side of late and the last meeting between the 2nd XIs occurred in 2010, with Farnham Royal winning the first match comfortably before Chesham returned the favour with a 25 point win at The Meadow.
The 4th XI got their season off to a flyer, hammering Chiswick & Latymer by 79 runs. Batting first, Henry Morris (73) and Ben Woodward (40) led the way as Chesham reached 201-8 off their 52 overs.
Chiswick's reply never really got going and with wickets falling regularly to Ben Marote, Kevin Heffernan and Guy Fowler, the game was up. Henry Morris rounded off a fine personal performance by wrapping up the final three wickets in double quick time for just four runs. Chiswick were all out for 122.
Burnham will be the first visitors to Chartridge this year on Saturday.
Finally, on Sunday the Sunday 2nd XI started their season with a nervy win away at Berkhamsted. After David Hughes-D'aeth removed both openers for ducks, Chris Royals (3-16) and Mark Hughes-D'aeth (3-27) dismissed both of Berkhamsted's overseas pros before reducing Berkhamsted to 70-8. The innings recovered somewhat, but Berkhamsted were dismissed for 133.
Against an experienced slow bowling attack, Chesham had some difficulty, but a mature innings of 69* from Mark Hughes-D'aeth, carrying his bat, and a fast 39* from Henry Morris saw the side home for the loss of 4 wickets with 2.3 overs to spare.
This Sunday Chenies and Latimer visit The Meadow for a local derby.
Finally, some perspective for our 1st XI. As was mentioned last week, the side put in a good performance against Premier League Banbury in the National Cup. Banbury travelled up to play past winners and three times finallists Kibworth and bowled them out for 44. Read into that what you will!
You can find scorecards and statistics on the club's play-cricket website (www.chesham.play-cricket.com) and follow updates from the club on twitter (www.twitter.com/CheshamCricket) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cheshamcc)
Fortcoming Fixtures:
1st XI vs. Burnham (Away)
2nd XI vs. Farnham Royal (The Meadow)
3rd XI vs. Slough (Away)
4th XI vs. Burnham (Chartridge)
Sunday 2nd XI vs. Chenies & Latimer (The Meadow)
League Tables
1st XI (TVL Division 2B)
http://www.tvlcricket.com/wtable2b.htm
2nd XI (TVL Division 4A)
http://www.tvlcricket.com/wtable4a.htm
3rd XI (TVL Division 5A)
http://www.tvlcricket.com/wtable5a.htm
4th XI (TVL Division 8B)
http://www.tvlcricket.com/wtable8b.htm