Friday May 28, 2010

Saturday 1st May 2010 v Hillingdon Manor (Away)

Hillingdon Manor 190 bt Fulmer 163 by 27 runs

A late addition to the fixture list for this season saw Fulmer making the short journey up Hillingdon Hill on Mayday for something of a local derby.  

Both sides were pretty well matched, but Fulmer paid dearly for spilling two real dollies in the field early on that allowed the hosts to make perhaps 40 runs too many. At 102-7 in reply to 190 our hopes looked as dark as the gathering rainclouds, but with the spinners on some plucky lower order batting made for a tight finish to a fine contest. 

Batting first on a spongy strip gave Manor the best of the conditions, but the quicks kept a good line with an economy rate of just three an over from the first hour, both openers departing before into their stride. Hillingdon’s strength on the day came at 3 and 4. Good clean hitting down the ground and a positive approach put the home side into a more comfortable position, although Derrick and Uzair both spilled lofted drives they would normally have taken in their sleep. 

With Fulmer desperate for a breakthrough Ali from the deep came up with a direct hit to remove the Manor’s vice-captain – run-out to a piece of brilliant cricket on 49…He was not best pleased. The drinks break saw Manor just three down but wickets then fell at regular intervals, being shared around the bowlers, and we had a winnable target to chase. 

Uzair threatened to get the runs at a gallop, smashing two enormous sixes out of the ground, but in attempting to slog sweep again to the temptingly short square leg boundary fell bowled behind his legs for a slightly disappointing 31. Skipper Tony King hung around but had a day when his timing was off, Phil Mison at 8 nurdled his way to 16 as he and Sohail tried to marshall the tail. But in vain. Sohail had a day to remember, being last man out and top scoring with 32. 

Ironically, holding out for one or two more overs in the enveloping gloom would have seen us escape with a draw. No sooner had both teams come off, the heavens opened and a deluge of Biblical proportions swept the outfield.  

Penned in the clubhouse however, Phil at least was delighted to learn half the Hillingdon side are big Fulham supporters, with arrangements being made to meet in Hamburg for the upcoming Europe League Final.  

An enjoyable contest and excellent tea, let’s hope we see Hillingdon Manor again soon.