Chesham CC w/e 24th July 2016
Chesham 1st X1 continued their challenge for the TVL title with a comfortable demolition of Windsor – the cricket team not the castle! Wndsor batted first and their early batsmen scored freely against the Chesham seam attack. Having rapidly reached 60 without loss, the introduction of spinners Pip France and Umar Aslam changed everything and wickets began to fall regularly, including a rather bizarre run out from which neither batsmen nor fielders emerged with credit. A brief flurry of runs for the 7th wicket followed by a further collapse resulted in a total of 188 with France having taken 5 for 54 and Umar 3 for 72 each in spells of 22 overs. Chesham set off in aggressive style until Matt Rance fell with the score on 27. There then followed a partnership of 46 between Andy Goddard (16) and Mark Eteen. Joined by Luke Webb, Eteen, having recently experienced a poor run of scores, began to show his true class and without further loss Chesham coasted home in only the 30th over with Eteem unbeaten on 114* and Webb on 46*. With Stoke Green having also won Chesham remain in second place.
Perhaps the performance of the day was by the 2ndX1 in which they eventually held the upper hand in their drawn game at unbeaten leaders Finchampstead 2nds. With Chesham batting first a decent start between openers Brendan O’Donovan (16) and Julian Swain was followed by a rapid collapse to leave the side reeling at 65 for 5. Then Swain (100) was joined by Jamie Gardiner (59) and the pair batted brilliantly in a partnership of over 120 runs before the innings tailed away to a final total of 222. When Finchampstead replied they were immediately confronted by spinners and former county players Russel Lane (15) and Gary Loveday (0) both fell cheaply. Wickets fell regularly to Asad Rehman (5 for 87 in 21 overs) , Nuuman Aslam (3 for 55 in 16 overs ) and Chris Royals before the final pair blocked out at 206 for 9.
An excellent all round effort by Chesham 3rds resulted in an overwhelming victory over Hillingdon Manor by 8 wickets. Hillingdon were dismissed for 178 with the wily Martin Wheeler taking 5 for 45 assisted by Hamza (2 for 24) and Sam Rance (2 for 42). In reply Chesham were never in trouble with Mark Hughes D’Aeth (95), Luke Dawson (38) and Graham Rance (42) carrying them home in fine style for the loss of only 2 wickets. Meanwhile the 4th X1 continued on their merry way with another crushing victory, this time over Chalfont St Peter 2nd by 7 wickets. Chalfont were dismissed for a paltry 51 mainly by M.Latif ( 6 for 24) which Chesham overhauled for the loss of 3 wickets.
On Sunday Chesham made an early morning trip round thrM25 for a North London League match at Wanstead where they suffered defeat by 105 runs. Wanstead made 199 for 3 in spite of a good spell of bowling by Tracey Sturges. In reply Chesham were limited to 95 Ffor5, in which Helen Crawley top scored with 27.
In the Chess Valley Sunday League Div1, Chesham beat local rivals Hemel Hempstead by 51 runs. In Chesham’s innings of 257 for 9 Graham Rance hit 75 not out. Hemel were then dismissed for 200. In Div 5 the 2nd X1 lost by 17 runs to Ley Hill 1st X1. The Hill’s total of 212 owed much to Craig Peterson’s innings of 137. For Chesham Chris Royals top scored with 77 in a total of 195.