After four wins in Week 1, could the club keep momentum in Week 2?
Aldershot 1s v Royal Ascot 1s
The 1s were on the road to Aldershot 1s, the same fixture and week as last season where Aldershot would get the better in a tight run chase.
Mike Brown won the toss and the 1s decided to bat first. Jayasingh and Gamble went into open but Aldershot struck early as Gamble was out to the second ball faced, as Morton took a brilliant catch at point off the bowling of Biscontin.
J Gamble c G Morton b N Biscontin 0
6 for 1 – 1.6 overs
Jack Kendall came to the crease and with Joshua Jayasingh they looked to rotate the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking over. But a lack of communication between Jayasingh and Kendall saw Jayasingh run out easily by George Morton for the second wicket to fall.
J Jayasingh run out (G Morton) 14
21 for 2 – 6.4 overs
Amir Hameed was introduced into the attack and it was a brilliant move by Aldershot as he had Jack Kendall out lbw to leave the 1s floundering.
J Kendall lbw b A Hameed 9
33 for 3 – 9.2 overs
Jerry Hare and Nick Sweetman were now at the creased and decided to attack and put some pressure on the Aldershot attack. Some great running between the wickets and ferocious boundary hitting from both players including a huge 6 by Hare off Kisko saw them bring the 50 partnership up in just 7.3 overs.
However, Hameed was brought back into the attack and Hare tried to go downtown once too often and was smartly stumped by Grover.
J Hare st C Grover b A Hameed 21
85 for 4 – 17.4 overs
Calamity then struck as Tony King edged behind to go first ball to swing the momentum back Aldershot’s way.
A King c C Grover b A Hameed 0
85 for 5 – 17.5 overs
Andy Murray saw the hat-trick ball off with a well-timed 2.
Despite wickets falling at the other end, Nick Sweetman continued to attack and reached a great run a ball 50 with a “sweetly” timed boundary.
Sweetman and Murray rebuilt the innings and put on another 50 partnership in just over 8 overs to help the 1s reach 135 for 5 at the end of the 26th over.
They soon passed the 150 mark when Kyle Kisko managed to bring one back against Sweetman to have him out for run-a-ball 81, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
N Sweetman lbw b K Kisko 81
162 for 6 – 32.4 overs
Andy Murray was then dismissed as he tried to gain momentum to the Ascot innings as Hameed did the damage again in his final over with Varney taking a simple catch at cover to help claim Hameed’s fourth victim.
A Murray c T Varney b A Hameed 31
175 for 7 – 36.5 overs
At this point the Aldershot bowling and fielding made runs difficult for the 1s and Nick Wiggett was next to go as J Grover took a catch off the bowling of T Varney.
N Wiggett c J Grover b T Varney 2
185 for 8 – 40.6 overs
Skipper Mike Brown came and went quickly as Varney claimed his second victim lbw
M Brown lbw b T Varney 1
191 for 9 – 42.4 overs
Kevin May was last man in and with Will Ellison saw out the full 45 overs to leave Ascot on a competitive total of 198 for 9.
Nick Sweetman 81 (81 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes)
Amir Hameed 9-0-45-4
Alex Farr and Kevin McDelling opened the innings for Aldershot. Skipper Brown is renowned for his unorthodox opening bowling choices and this time he gave Nick Sweetman the second over. Unfortunately, it was only a one over experiment as the over went for 11.
The momentum was definitely with Aldershot as the 50 partnership came up at the end of the 10th over, with the batsmen looking in command.
But with the first ball of the 11th over, the Flying Dutchman, Will Ellison, had McDelling out plumb lbw.
K McDelling lbw b W Ellison 16
50 for 1 – 10.1 overs
Ascot then started to put the squeeze on in the field and that pressure led to the second wicket as Calum Grover went for a scratchy 3 off 18 deliveries as Gamble took a smart slip catch off Nick Wiggett
C Grover c J Gamble b N Wiggett 3
60 for 2 – 13.6 overs
At the other end, Alex Farr went on to make 50 in only 43 deliveries. As with Nick Sweetman, Farr looking to be batting on a different plane to the rest of the team.
However, more trouble fell upon Aldershot as Ravi Gilbert was deceived by Kevin May’s infamous slider and went cheaply to an lbw.
R Gilbert lbw b K May 4
76 for 3 – 16.6 overs
While Ferguson rebuilt the innings with Farr, Aldershot who had been comfortably ahead of the run rate, were now starting to fall behind.
Farr was key to the Aldershot innings, and in the end he was the next wicket to fall as he chopped on to the stumps off Jerry Hare, for a fine 76.
A Farr b J Hare 76
126 for 4 – 27.6 overs
At this stage, Aldershot were still the favourites needing just over 4 an over to win.
But Ascot took another wicket with a tumbling catch by Kevin May off the bowling of Andy Murray to dismiss James Ferguson
J Ferguson c K May b A Murray 22
131 for 5 – 29.5 overs
Kevin May then deceived Kyle Kisko with his wrong’un to get another well deserved wicket
K Kisko lbw b K May 0
132 for 6 – 30.2 overs
At this point Hameed joined Morton at the wicket – and while they didn’t get out, only scored 23 runs off the next 10 overs, leaving them nearly 9 an over in the last 5 overs.
Nick Wiggett bowled the 41st over – only 4 runs scored and 10 an over needed.
Jerry Hare bowled the 42nd over – only 2 runs scored and 12.67 an over needed.
Joshua Jayasingh bowled the 43rd over – only 3 runs scored and 35 needed off the last 2 overs.
Will Ellison conceded only 6 off the 44th over and Joshua Jayasingh bowled the last over conceding just 8 runs for the 1s to take an unlikely win.
Aldershot finished on 178 for 6 off 45 overs to lose by 20 runs.
Alex Farr 76 (off 81 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes)
Kevin May 5-0-15-2
Nick Sweetman was man of the match in a tight contest.
Royal Ascot 2s v Boyne Hill 3s
The 2s were at home at the Racecourse Ground with Boyne Hill 3 the visitors. Rob Handley won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.
Handley and Billy Baker made a confident start for the 2s as they made 53 off the first 10 overs. So it was a bit of a surprise as Baker was given out caught behind off the bowling of Matt Carter.
B Baker c S Hayes b M Carter 32
67 for 1 – 13.1 overs
Gareth Baker joined Handley at the crease and Handley went on to a well-constructed 50 in the 21st over, which also saw the 50 partnership between the two – as Ascot made good progress at 118 for 1 off 21 overs.
Gareth Baker was scoring at a run-a-ball and was in sight of a 50 when Goodman took an exceptional catch at long-on to deny him off the bowling of Steve Abraham.
G Baker c D Goodman b S Abraham 48
162 for 2 – 30.4 overs
Jason Carr came to the crease, and the 2s out the foot on the accelerator and Handley took most of the strike. The 200 came up in the 39th over with a brilliant cover drive by Jason Carr.
Rob Handley then reached 3 figures with a slog sweep off Tiwana in the 41st over. The 2s continued at 10 an over to the end and reached 255 for 2 off 45 overs.
Rob Handley 136 (off 153 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes)
Joel Greene and Raj Tiwana opened for Boyne Hill but Greene was soon back in the pavilion as Andy Wiggett struck leg before.
J Greene lbw b A Wiggett 4
9 for 1 – 3.2 overs
However, Miller came to the crease and with Tiwana took the score to 56 in 10 overs, and reached their 50 partnership in the next over.
Myles Trainor was brought back into the attack and he had Tiwana out lbw to bring a much needed wicket for the 2s.
R Tiwana lbw b M Trainor 34
72 for 2 – 14.6 overs
Matt Carter then fell in the next over to a good catch by Handley at gully off of Andy Wiggett.
M Carter c R Handley b A Wiggett 1
75 for 3 – 15.5 overs
Trainor’s next over then saw Akash Vasa edge behind for a simple catch for Corsini to see Boyne Hill in deep trouble
A Vasa c D Corsini b M Trainor 2
78 for 4 – 16.4 overs
Chris Goode came to the crease but could not stop the rot as Jason Carr had him plumb lbw, with Boyne Hill now needing over 7 an over.
C Goode lbw b J Carr 6
96 for 5 – 22.4 overs
At the other end Gareth Miller tried to keep Boyne Hill in the match but was cleaned up by Carr to end any hopes for Boyne Hill
G Miller b J Carr 44
99 for 6 – 24.1 overs
Jurgen Fourie was then run out by Corsini next ball as the wheels started to fall off the innings.
J Fourie run out (D Corsini) 0
99 for 7 – 24.2 overs
Sam Hayes and Issac Greene then battled it out for the next few overs, but another poor call led to another run out.
S Hayes run out (D Corsini) 10
124 for 8 – 35.1 overs
Abraham and Greene then consolidated and looked for bonus batting points. Greene eventually fell as he edged to one that ripped from Ben Clark.
I Greene c D Corsini b B Clark 20
151 for 9 – 43.3 overs
Boyne Hill finished the 45 overs with 156 for 9, to earn the 2s a comprehensive 99 run victory.
Gareth Miller 44 (off 56 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes)
Rob Handley was man of the match.
Royal Ascot 3s v Finchapstead 4s
At Locks Ride, Marc Ames won the toss and elected to bat first. Weeks and Tom Clarke opened the batting and Tom Clarke showed intent straight away with 3 fours and a six in 10 deliveries.
Despite the explosive start, last week’s centurion Ralph Weeks struggled early on and was out cheaply caught by Woodford off the bowling of Dylan James.
R Weeks c G Woodford b D James 6
46 for 1 – 7.1 overs
Tom Clarke went on to bring up his 50 off just 35 balls with a six off Tuney. Clarke was eventually out for a quick-fire 64 off 43 deliveries as he played-on off Adil Mohammed.
T Clarke b A Mohammed 64
91 for 2 – 13.5 overs
Calum Dougal came to the crease and Finch were able to dry up the runs. Deep Mohain was stumped after going down the track to Ahmet Tuney.
D Mohain st C Ward b A Tuney 22
104 for 3 – 18.5 overs
Mark Wiggett came to the crease and set about gaining the initiative back to Ascot. Dougal was next to go as he played on to Longstaff.
C Dougal b C Longstaff 29
144 for 4 – 28.2 overs
Dan Mallett was next in and gave able support to Wiggett to take the innings deep but with less than 5 overs to go fell to Tuney as Woodford took another good catch.
D Mallett c G Woodford b A Tuney 15
190 for 5 – 40.3 overs
Tom Dummigan played a good cameo innings to provide some impetus in the last several overs with a quick-fire 20 and Mark Wiggett was able to reach a well earned 50 with an over to go.
The 3s finished with a respectable 220 for 5 off 45 overs.
Tom Clarke 64 (off 43 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes), Mark Wiggett 51 not out (off 73 balls, 4 fours)
Chris Ward and Michael Simmonite opened for Finch. They made a steady start going at 4 an over when Tom Dummigan took a great wicket at mid-wicket off the bowling of Tim Howson to remove Simmonite.
M Simmonite c T Dummigan b T Howson 20
34 for 1 – 8.3 overs
Gary Woodford came in but was soon walking back as Tom Clarke took a catch on the deep square boundary off Dummigan.
G Woodford c T Clarke b T Dummigan 1
36 for 1 – 9.1 overs
Adil Mohammed joined Ward and they started to rebuild the innings. A partnership of over 40 was developing when Marc Ames got one to turn sharply and Tom Clarke took a simple catch at slip to remove Ward.
C Ward c T Clarke b M Ames 31
82 for 3 – 18.6 overs
Several overs later Mohammed fell as he edged behind to Mike Wyatt, as Finch slipped further
A Mohammed c D Mallett b M Wyatt 37
104 for 4 – 23.5 overs
Matt Tingle soon followed as he edged behind off Tim Howson.
M Tingle c D Mallett b T Howson 8
113 for 5 – 25.3 overs
Simon Bewick then fell next delivery edging to Deep Mohain at third slip
S Bewick c D Mohain b T Howson 0
113 for 6 – 25.4 overs
Finch now needed 5.5 runs per over with 4 wickets remaining.
Ames brought himself back into the attack and was rewarded with the wicket of Tuney, to become Mallett’s third victim.
A Tuney c D Mallett b M Ames 1
119 for 7 – 27.4 overs
Longstaff quickly followed as Mallett took his fourth catch off Tom Dummigan.
C Longstaff c D Mallett b T Dummigan 2
122 for 8 – 28.3 overs
8 soon became 9 as Howson claimed his fourth victim as Ames took the catch at first slip.
C Marsden c M Ames b T Howson 4
135 for 9 – 32.5 overs
In the end, despite a valiant innings from Danny Floyd with 23 not out, it was a run out by Mike Wyatt that finished the match.
D James run out (M Wyatt) 2
140 all out – 35.6 overs
Tim Howson – 9-0-33-4
The 3s will be happy with an 80 run win with 9 overs to spare and Tom Clarke was named man of the match.
Fleet 3s v Royal Ascot 4s
The 4s were the visitors at new team, Fleet 3. Ascot won the toss and elected to bat first. This looked like a poor decision when Rob Bennett was out in the first over caught and bowled by Batchelor.
R Bennett c & b D Batchelor 1
2 for 1 – 0.6 overs
Nine deliveries later Batchelor picked up John Dunnet lbw.
J Dunnet lbw b D Batchelor 6
9 for 2 – 2.3 overs
Trapani was joined by Paul Ames – his first innings for Royal Ascot and they got the innings back on track. The 50 partnership came up in the 12th over.
But soon after, Ames departed as he was cleaned up by James Fairbairn
P Ames b J Fairbairn 28
67 for 3 – 14.2 overs
Richard Wyatt provided further momentum to the innings and was looking well set when he edged onto the stumps off Ben James.
R Wyatt b B James 24
103 for 4 – 24.1 overs
Several overs later Nino Trapani was smartly stumped by Barrett off Fairbairn leaving the 4s in trouble with 5 down.
N Trapani st L Barrett b J Fairbairn 41
116 for 5 – 26.6 overs
Fleet kept the run rate down as Rob Major and Gary Abrams tried to get the scoreboard ticking over. With 10 overs left they managed to break the shackles and the 50 partnership came up in the 39th over.
In the 44th over, the 4s reached 200. Gary Abrams made a hard-earned 50 but fell with 2 deliveries left.
G Abrams b J Martin 50
210 for 6 – 44.4 overs
The 4s ended the innings on 214 for 6 with Rob Major making 47 not out.
Gary Abrams 50 (off 54 balls, 6 fours, 1 six), Rob Major 47 not out (off 63 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes), Nino Trapani 41 (off 68 balls, 2 fours)
Chillery and Stilwell opened for Fleet. A solid start soon disappeared in the 7th over when first Chillery was run out by Richard Wyatt.
T Chillery run out (R Wyatt) 10
30 for 1 – 6.2 overs
Then two balls later Stilwell chipped an easy catch to Major off Jacob Parry.
K Stilwell c R Major b J Parry 20
33 for 2 – 6.4 overs
East and Barrett started to rebuild but then Luke Barrett played all round one from Major
L Barrett lbw b R Major 14
65 for 3 – 14.6 overs
Bas Pal was then introduced into the attack and got one to go with the arm to remove Hilditch.
D Hilditch lbw b B Pal 1
69 for 4 – 15.6 overs
Pope and East kept Fleet in the match as the run rate climbed above 5. The 50 partnership came up at the end of the 27th over. But Ollie East soon went as Richard Wyatt took a great catch off Ian Dummigan to leave for a well-earned 42.
O East c R Wyatt b I Dummigan 42
122 for 5 – 27.4 overs
Pope with the help of Gary Whiting helped keep the required run rate at 5 before Archie Pope fell just short of 50 as he edged behind off Richard Wyatt.
A Pope c N Trapani b R Wyatt 46
172 for 6 – 35.6 overs
Gary Whiting took up the run chase aided by Ben James. But James fell in the 42nd over to another great delivery from Pal
B James lbw b B Pal 7
193 for 7 – 41.5 overs
In the end, Fleet needed 8 runs off the last over to win. Jacob Parry was given the cherry for the last over.
44.1 Parry to Whiting, FOUR, Parry can’t believe how he squeezed that out to the boundary
44.2 Parry to Whiting, one run, Quick run by Whiting and Martin
44.3 Parry to Martin, no run, Martin missed that one by a mile
44.4 Parry to Martin, no run, That ball was a total mystery to Martin
44.5 Parry to Martin, one run, A risky single but Martin gets off strike
44.6 Parry to Whiting, one run, That is close. Ascot are appealing loudly as Ames makes a direct hit. But the umpire gives it not out! If only DRS was available. It’s a TIE!
After 90 overs of tension, the match ends in a tie with Fleet finishing on 214 for 7. Rob Major was named man of the match.
Keep safe and keep well and remember the Week 2 scores are now up at https://royal-ascot.fantasyclubcricket.co.uk/
Royal Ascot Cricket Club 