Chesham CC w/e 11th June
Chesham 1st X1s TVL Div I title aspirations suffered a set back at Stoke Green on a damp pitch responsive to spin. The home side fielded three bowlers with experience of first class cricket in Pakistan who proved too skilful for Chesham’s batsmen, which included three current Minor County players. Batting first, the Green began aggressively against the Chesham opening attack but this changed rapidly once Jack Mciver (3 for 34) took over and in particular when spinner Pip France was introduced. His spell of 5 for 36 reduced them to a total of 152 off 38 overs with Matt Yeabsley (2 for 15) weighing in with two late wickets. In reply Chesham struggled throughout on a deteriorating pitch against the two wily spinners Butt and Aziz who bowled unchanged for all but three overs. Although Andy Goddard fought hard to top score with 34, they were eventually dismissed for 120 in the 52nd over. In spite of this result, however, Chesham remain top of the division but by only six points.
Another pulsating finish to a rain affected Div 2a match at the Meadow saw Chesham 2nds beat North Maidenhead 1sts by a single wicket off the penultimate ball. Earlier the visitors, having at one time been 25 for 5, eventually totalled 210 for 9 off a reduced 44 overs, with Sahaan John hitting 81. Peter Clifford (6 for 56 ) was Chesham’s outstanding bowler. With only 40 overs to bat Chesham’s innings began strongly with an opening partnership of 65 between Brendan O’Donovan (30) and Tom Free (33) followed by a fluent partnership 63 between Chris Hedges (17) and Ed Turner (43). With Sahaan John taking 6 for86 – he had quite a decent game - the innings then subsided to 183 for 9 with only two overs remaining before powerful hitting by Jack Gibbins (42*) and Jamie Anderson saw their side home with a ball to spare.
The 3rd X1 suffered defeat at the hands of Div 4a table topping Cranbourne by 3 wickets. After losing early wickets to an off spinner with an interesting action, Chesham eventually totalled 186 for 8, thanks largely to major contributions by Graham Rance (69*) and A.Nair (45).. Chesham bowlers fought hard and seven wickets fell before the visitors gained their victory in the 42nd over, Joseph Rance taking 3 for 34.
In Div 7b, after Farnham Royal had totalled 225 for 6, the 4ths finished on 144 for 9 after a valiant rearguard innings by young Raheem Mohammed, who held out for 20 overs to help attain a draw.