Another week, and more signs around the ground for Cricksim. Selection was straight forward for the 4th week in a row.
The 1s were on the road to Jacks Booth Ground visiting Sulhamstead & Ufton 1s.
Sulhamstead & Ufton won the toss and elected to bat on a good wicket. Mike Brown opened the bowling and as his wont, decided to open with the underused Kevin May at the other – in keeping with his quirky bowling tactics.
This time, the tactic worked as May had Chris Mercer out plumb lbw with his fifth ball.
C Mercer lbw b K May 1
2 for 1 – 1.5 overs
Aaron Briggs joined Phil Walden at the crease. Ascot continued to keep the line tight and the runs down. Another bowling change saw a wicket third ball. Nick Wiggett bowling a heavy ball at Walden who could only fend it off to gully for Nick Sweetman to take an easy catch.
P Walden c N Sweetman b N Wiggett 6
22 for 2 – 6.3 overs
After 10 overs, Sulhamstead & Ufton were 34 for 2 with Briggs and Marc Thompson at the crease. They led a mini-recovery with Briggs being the main aggressor but the introduction of Kevin May back into the account brought dividends as Briggs tried to hit a six but found Andy Murray at long-on who took a great catch just inside the boundary.
A Briggs c A Murray b K May 37
66 for 3 – 15.2 overs
Seward came to crease and was nearly back in the hutch when Murray couldn’t hold on to a difficult caught and bowled chance. However, Thompson was going well at the other end and helping to get the run rate above 4 an over. But just when it looked like he was going to go on and get a well deserved 50 he edged behind for Tony King to take a good catch off the bowling of Will Ellison.
M Thompson c A King b W Ellison 40
98 for 4 – 23.1 overs
Seward then soon followed as he lost his off stump after being beaten by pace from Nick Wiggett.
J Seward b N Wiggett 12
106 for 5 – 24.3 overs
Dove should then have followed two balls later, but James Gamble dropped a relatively simple chance.
Skipper Brown then changed the bowling again and it was that man again, Kevin May, who took the next wicket as he got one to straighten against Sanjay Dove for a simple lbw decision.
S Dove lbw b K May 10
126 for 6 – 28.6 overs
Ascot continued to make runs difficult to get and Craig Palmer was the next man to go taking 19 deliveries for his 3 before being caught by Jack Kendall at cover off Nick Wiggett.
C Palmer c J Kendall b N Wiggett
136 for 7 – 33.4 overs
Matt Burrows continued to battle at the other end, but with overs running out he took one chance to many and holed out to Mike Brown off the bowling of Jerry Hare.
M Burrows c M Brown b J Hare 33
157 for 8 – 39.1 overs
With overs running out and Sulhamstead & Ufton looking for every run, Matthew Gill was next to go as he was smartly stumped by Tony King off Jerry Hare.
M Gill st A King b J Hare 9
170 for 9 – 42.1 overs
Joshua Jayasingh finished the innings off as Jack Kendall took the catch to dismiss Christian Blackford as they finished the innings on 176.
C Blackford c J Kendall b J Jayasingh 9
177 all out – 43.3 overs
Marc Thompson 40 (off 58 balls, 3 fours)
Kevin May 7-0-21-3, Nick Wiggett 8-0-23-3
At the halfway point, the score looked around 25 – 30 under par. Joshua Jayasingh and James Gamble opened the batting for Ascot.
They made a solid start as they took 40 off the first 10 overs. But just as Ascot were looking comfortable Jayasingh was caught at gully by Phil Walden off the bowling of Matthew Gill
J Jayasingh c P Walden b M Gill 23
49 for 1 – 14.3 overs
Jack Kendall was in next and hit his first three deliveries for four. However, after attempting a quick single, Kendall was run out by just a few inches following a direct hit by Seward.
J Kendall run out (J Seward) 15
68 for 2 – 17.2 overs
Sweetman joined Gamble at the crease, and Ascot consolidated looking not to lose any more wickets. The 100 came in the 26th over as Sweetman smashed a six over deep square leg. Another six from Sweetman off Dove brought up the 50 partnership in the 28th over.
This time, Doug MacDonald made the breakthrough as Gamble edged to Briggs.
J Gamble c A Briggs b D MacDonald 48
135 for 3 – 28.6 overs
MacDonald did the trick again with in his next over as Sweetman was well caught by Thompson.
N Sweetman c M Thompson b D MacDonald 45
140 for 4 – 30.5 overs
Ascot were wobbling with Tony King and Jerry Hare now at the crease. Both were circumspect as Ascot were well above the run rate. The 150 came up and they were within 3 runs of victory when Tony King fell to Dove as Mercer took the catch at mid-wicket.
A King c C Mercer b S Dove 15
174 for 5 – 40.6 overs
But next over, Jerry Hare scored the winning run to continue the 1s great start to the season, with a 5 wicket victory. Kevin May was named man of the match.
178 for 5 – 41.4 overs
James Gamble 48 (off 73 balls, 2 fours), Nick Sweetman 45 (off 49 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes)
Doug MacDonald 9-0-29-2
The 2s were at home to Binfield 2s. Handley won the toss and elected to bowl first. By the end of the first over that looked like an inspired decision.
5th ball of Myles Trainor over was an absolutely beauty as he cleaned up Steve Jeffrey.
S Jeffrey b M Trainor 1
6 for 1 – 0.5 overs
Next ball, he had Olly Nicholson squared up lbw.
O Nicholson lbw b M Trainor 0
6 for 2 – 0.6 overs
Dom Mathias was joined by James Collett at the crease and despite the two early wickets, they decided to go on the attack. By the end of the 10th over the 50 partnership was reached and Binfield were up and running on 62 for 2.
The runs continued to flow from the bat and the 100 came up in the 17th over. Next over Mathias reached 50 with a four through the covers and more than a run a ball.
The 100 partnership was then quickly followed by Collett’s 50 as he pulled Aarav for four. At 120 for 2 at the half-way mark, Binfield looked set for a big total.
But the breakthrough came from a superb googly from Samm Daniel which drew Collett down the wicket and Dan Corsini took an excellent stumping to end the innings.
J Collett st D Corsini b S Daniel 59
121 for 3 – 22.6 overs
Then, the big wicket of Mathias fell in Daniel’s next over as Gareth Baker took a good running catch on the long-on boundary.
D Mathias c G Baker b S Daniel 61
130 for 4 – 24.5 overs
Binfield needed to regroup but Handley kept the pressure on. Lewis Hall was next to fall as he chipped to Ben Clark at mid-on off Andy Wiggett.
L Hall c B Clark b A Wiggett 6
139 for 5 – 28.3 overs
Next ball, Toby Lancaster edges behind to Dan Corsini
T Lancaster c D Corsini b A Wiggett 0
139 for 6 – 28.4 overs
On the hat-trick ball Paul Edgington played and missed.
Allan-Canty and Edgington quickly changed the momentum looking to attack at every possibility. The partnership made 29 when Carr got Allan-Canty lbw for a quick-fire 30.
M Allan-Canty lbw b J Carr 30
168 for 7 – 33.1 overs
Scott Butler fell two balls later as Carr beat his defences to bowl him.
S Butler b J Carr 0
168 for 8 – 33.3 overs
A mix-up in the next over between Edgington and Bullett saw Samm Daniel make an easy run out.
C Bullett run out (S Daniel) 4
175 for 9 – 34.4 overs
That left the last wicket partnership of Edgington and Warwick. They looked to see out the overs while taking any singles on offer.
But Aarav came back on and Nathan Warwick played on to see Binfield all out for 191
N Warwick b A Radhakrishnan 11
191 all out – 40.3 overs
Dom Mathias 61 (off 72 balls, 7 fours), James Collett 59 (off 72 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes)
Handley and Billy Baker got the 2s off to a solid start and were 37 for 0 off the first 10 overs. But Warwick then struck as Billy Baker played on.
B Baker b N Warwick 18
37 for 1 – 10.3 overs
Gareth Baker was next in and runs were hard to come by as the Binfield bowling and fielding kept the score in check. The required run rate increased to over 4.5 an over. Ascot could have been in further trouble when Baker gave a simple chance off the bowling of Lancaster but was dropped by Jeffrey.
Progress was steady and at 74 for 1 off 20 overs the game was still in the balance. Ascot then hot the accelerator as the 100 came up in the 24th over and Rob Handley made a hard earned 50 in the 25th over, with the required run rate dipping to 4.1.
Toby Lancaster finally got his reward as Handley offered a chance which was safely taken by Collett.
R Handley c J Collett b T Lancaster 58
122 for 2 – 27.5 overs
Jason Carr was next in and the run rate initially slowed down. But Gareth Baker started to score freely, Baker brought up his fifty with a nifty leg glance in the 33rd over and with 10 overs remaining the 2s needed 42 to win.
With a last throw of the dice, Paul Edgington rotated his bowlers to try and get a breakthrough, but the partnership realised 50 with more than 6 overs remaining.
A fine cover drive to the boundary by Gareth Baker finished the match with a flourish in the 42nd over leaving Baker on 85 not out and Carr on 23 not out for a decisive 8 wicket victory.
194 for 2 – 41.5 overs
Gareth Baker 85 not out (off 89 balls, 10 fours, 1 six), Rob Handley 58 (off 77 balls, 8 fours, 1 six)
Gareth Baker was named man of the match.
The 3s were at Locks Ride, with Cove 3 the visitors. The 3s won the toss and elected to bat first. Ralph Weeks and Tom Clarke opened the batting.
They got off to an explosive start with 21 off the first two overs. The 50 partnership came up in the 8th over and after 10 overs were 67 for 0.
Cove’s first chance came in the 13th over when Tom Clarke offered a chance off Raegan McLean Jr, but Richard Ive dropped the catch.
A drive for 3 saw Tom Clarke reach his 50 off 55 deliveries. The next over saw the 100-mark reached. Just as Cove were starting to flag, they got the breakthrough.
Raegan McLean Jr was the bowler as a flick of the legs by Ralph Weeks was well caught by Adil Tahlat for 49.
R Weeks c A Tahlat b R McLean Jr 49
104 for 1 – 17.1 overs
Next over, Deep Mohain was lbw to Tahlat and Cove had a bounce back in their fielding.
D Mohain lbw b A Tahlat 1
107 for 2 – 18.3 overs
Calum Dougal was next in and with Clarke looked to put the pressure back on the bowlers. A six from Tom Clarke helped bring up the 50 partnership in the 26th over and the momentum swung back Ascot’s way.
In the 32nd over, a brilliant cover drive for 4 off Richard Ive brought up Tom Clarke’s century and the 200 for Ascot. The next over saw the 100 partnership but eventually Cove then got their man.
This time Ive took a great catch off the bowling of Tahlat to remove Tom Clarke for 107 off 107 deliveries.
T Clarke c R Ive b A Tahlat 107
209 for 3 – 33.5 overs
However, the runs continued to flow, and Calum Dougal reached 50 in the next over. But the 3s despite with wickets in hand could not end with a big flourish. The 50 partnership came in the 43rd over.
In the final over, McLean Jr took two wickets. First, Mark Wiggett chipped the ball to mid-on for Kips Finney to take an easy catch.
M Wiggett c K Finney b R McLean Jr 31
271 for 4 – 44.2 overs
Three balls later, he had Dan Mallett out lbw
D Mallett lbw b R McLean Jr 1
273 for 5 – 44.5 overs
The 3s innings finished on a bit of a damp squib but they had still reached a strong total.
273 for 5
Tom Clarke 107 (off 107 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes), Calum Dougal 73 not out (off 77 balls, 9 fours), Ralph Weeks 49 (off 44 balls, 5 fours)
Raegan McLean Jr 7-0-43-3, Adil Tahlat 9-0-49-2
Farmiloe and Swannell opened the innings for Cove. Swannell was dropped twice in consecutive overs. In the 4th over, Dan Mallett could not hold onto a difficult chance off Tim Howson. Then in the next over Calum Dougal dropped an easy chance at cover off James Summers.
Ames brought himself and it was third time lucky for Ascot as Tim Howson took the catch to remove Swannell.
R Swannell c T Howson b M Ames 6
31 for 1 – 7.2 overs
Deep Mohain was brought on and should have had a wicket in his first over but Howson could not hold onto the chance from Farmiloe. But the reprieve was short lived as next ball Ames had him well caught by Ralph Weeks.
R Farmiloe c R Weeks b M Ames 25
36 for 2 – 9.1 overs
Ashwood and Robinson looked to rebuild the innings, but the required run rate was increasing to 7 an over.
Ames made the breakthrough again and Weeks took the catch as Tom Robinson fell for 27
T Robinson 27 c R Weeks b M Ames 27
79 for 3 – 18.5 overs
Shanthi was now at the crease and while Cove didn’t lose any wickets the Ascot bowling attack was not conceding any runs. After 25 overs, Cove were 90 for 3 but the required run rate was now over 9 an over.
Shanthi and Ashwood tried to increase the run rate, but something had to give, and Summers had Shanthi well caught by Mark Wiggett at slip.
N Shanthi c M Wiggett b J Summers 19
125 for 4 – 32.6 overs
Ashwood then fell three balls later becoming Ames fourth victim.
M Ashwood lbw b M Ames 37
127 for 5 – 33.3 overs
With the required run rate over 13 an over, Cove then started to look for batting points.
Cupid and Gilbertson scored freely without chasing the total. Unfortunately, it was not Deep Mohain’s day as another catch was dropped off his bowling by Mark Wiggett.
Cupid and Gilbertson reached their 50 partnership in the 44th over, but then Gilbertson’s innings was ended as Tim Howson removed his off stump.
D Gilbertson b T Howson 35
177 for 6 – 43.5 overs
Deep Mohain bowled the last over and finished with the very economical figures of 9-1-22-0.
180 for 6 – 45 overs
Marc Ames 9-1-26-4
The 3s ended up as comfortable winners by 93 runs. It was a close call for man of the match, but Tom Clarke was given the honour.
The 4s were on the road to Ickenham 4s at the Oak Avenue ground. Ickenham won the toss and elected to bowl first. Bennett and Dunnet were the Ascot openers and made a solid start with 36 for 0 off 10 overs.
John Dunnet was the first wicket to fall as Gaurav Pal had him lbw.
J Dunnet lbw b G Pal 21
40 for 1 – 11.3 overs
The Ickenham attack kept the runs down until Trapani got rid of the shackles with a 6 off Mark Harris, followed by another 6 off Sean Alexander.
Good progress was being made by the 4s and Bennett and Trapani brought up the 50 partnership off the 22nd over, followed by the 100-mark reached by another 6 this time from Rob Bennett.
But soon after, Rob Bennett played on to Sean Alexander and the 4s lost their second wicket.
R Bennett b S Alexander 36
107 for 2 – 23.2 overs
Ames joined Trapani at the wicket, and several overs later Nino Trapani made a well crafted 50. Ascot were comfortably going at 4.5 runs per over and Trapani hit his fourth 6 of the innings but fell several deliveries later to a great catch from Robert Peck off the bowling of Alexander.
A Trapani c R Peck b S Alexander 71
154 for 3 – 33.4 overs
Richard Wyatt was next in but after hitting his first delivery for 4, he was out several balls later.
R Wyatt lbw b R Peck 8
163 for 4 – 34.3 overs
Major joined Ames and they kept the run rate ticking over and waited for the last 5 overs before hitting out. In the 44th over, Ames reached his second consecutive 50 with a 6 over mid-wicket and also brought up the 50 partnership.
He then fell with one delivery left in the innings as he was out lbw to Brandreth.
P Ames lbw b P Brandreth 50
218 for 5 – 44.5 overs
Rob Major finished on 20 not out.
218 for 5 – 45 overs
Nino Trapani 71 (off 76 balls, 6 fours, 4 sixes), Paul Ames 50 (off 69 balls, 5 fours, 1 six)
Sean Alexander 9-0-52-2
Brandreth and Jary open the batting for Ickenham and made a good start as they comfortably made 45 for 0 off 10 overs. The 50 partnership was reached in the 12th over. With Ickenham looking comfortable, Basudev Pal was brought on and did the trick as second ball he had Sam Jary caught by Gary Abrams.
S Jary c G Abrams b B Pal 26
75 for 1 – 17.2 overs
Peter Brandreth reached his 50 with a 6 over long-on next over and at 87 for 1 after 20 overs, Ickenham were still well placed. But Pal made the breakthrough again as he got Brandreth to play on.
P Brandreth b B Pal 59
95 for 2 – 23.2 overs
Two balls later Pal did the trick again as Marner was taken by a great catch from Rob Bennett in the gully
H Marner c R Bennett b B Pal 5
96 for 3 – 23.4 overs
The runs dried up now as the 4s put the pressure on with tight bowling and fielding. One great piece of fielding from Richard Wyatt saw Will Sims run out.
W Sims run out (R Wyatt) 6
109 for 4 – 27.6 overs
Richard Sims was next to go when Abrams got one to straighten and was given lbw.
R Sims lbw b G Abrams 9
112 for 5 – 29.1 overs
With 15 overs left, the required run rate was now nearly 7 an over. Mark Harris and Sean Alexander set off well and the partnership was going a run a ball. The 50 partnership was reached in the 38th over and with 5 overs left, Ickenham needed 45 to win.
Jacob Parry came back into the attack and first ball produced a great delivery which took the edge of Mark Harris bat and was safely pouched by Nino Trapani.
M Harris c A Trapani b J Parry 27
174 for 6 – 40.1 overs
Despite the fall of the wicket, Ickenham took 9 runs from the over including a 4 from new batsman Gaurav Pal.
Dylan Baker bowled the 42nd over and gave some control back to Ascot as he only conceded 3 runs. The next two overs from Pal and Baker conceded only 4 runs and that sealed Ickenham’s fate as they needed 29 runs from the last over.
Major’s last over went for only 3 to seal a 25 run for the 4s.
193 for 6 – 45 overs
Peter Brandreth 59 (off 84 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes)
Basudev Pal 7-1-26-3
Nino Trapani was man of the match and another good week for Ascot.
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Royal Ascot Cricket Club 