Monday May 18, 2009

Sunday 3rd May 2009 v Hawridge & Cholesbury C.C (Away)

Fulmer lost by 5wkts. 116 all out. Hawridge 117-5 (39.5 overs)

Arranged at just 5 days notice, a welcome addition to the fixture list saw Fulmer trek up into the Chilterns for a memorable 40 over encounter at the delightful ground of Hawridge & Cholesbury C.C. 

Cricket really was the winner as we encountered splendid hospitality and a bunch of genuine village green enthusiasts who appreciated both how to play the game and run a cricket club in the true spirit of the game. Although we lost a low-scoring match, there was still plenty of positives for Fulmer to take from the game. 

Not least the season debuts of three young lads, all more than useful with bat and ball, brought along by Dave Paddon. There were also two wickets for new member Mark Overall as he turned his arm over for the first time in only his second game – this after completing the London marathon the week before. 

For the third game running Fulmer lost the toss and were asked to bat first in chilly and overcast conditions. Danny Jackson got the scoreboard ticking with a blistering cover drive off the front foot and Nicky Box was calm and assured after his strong early start to the campaign. 

But there were no liberties to be taken with the home team’s opening pair of bowlers, and Danny was quickly on his way when again hitting airily on the up into the covers. Omer at number three had impressed mightily at Ballinger in the final game of last season. A boundary got him off the mark and his 26 was somewhat disappointing as he skied a return catch to the bowler with a rush of blood when well set. That proved to be our top score, as nobody else made much of an impression with the bat. 

It was unfortunate our top order failed to see off the opening quicks, and we were 5 down before the home skipper began rotating the bowlers. In fact 10 were used in all by Hawridge, as a mixture of nurdling and extras got us up to an almost respectable 116 all out. 

Hawridge in reply batted with great caution in the face of some extremely accurate bowling, although the openers never looked likely to get out, and played every ball on merit. At the drinks break they were 57-0 from 20 overs and the result still in the balance. First over on the resumption Nick Box finally got one through to hit leg stump, and when Phil Mison snared their danger man for 57 with a juggling catch at deep backward square, Hawridge really got the jitters. 

Zeeshan bowled 6 pacy over for just 3 runs, Uzair had 1-15 off 7 and Omer 1-10 from 4. The score crept into three figures as the batsmen could barely get the ball off the square and overs ticked down.  

With every man on his toes in the field and tension mounting, Hawridge inched over the line with a single from captain Colloff’s spin with just two balls remaining in the match. What had seemed a foregone conclusion at 104-2 turned into a real nail-biter for the second Sunday running.  

We very much look forward to meeting up with the hospitable folk of Hawridge again soon, and we’ll be looking for revenge. The evening was fittingly rounded-off with burgers and local Tring bitter in the conviviality of the clubhouse.