Chesham CC w/e 21sth August
On a Saturday when rain curtailed many league matches, both Chesham 1st and 2nd X1s were fortunate to complete important victories. In a closely fought TVL Div 1 match at Cove the home side opted to bat first and scored consistently throughout their order to total 221 for 8 off their 50 overs. Jason Rance (3 for 50 ) and Asad Rehman (2 for 44) being the most successful bowlers for Chesham. Due to a delay for rain, our good friends Duckworth and Lewis, via their acolyte Lee Wiles, calculated that Chesham would need to score 216 to win off 48 overs. They lost Matt Rance without a run on the board before Mark Eteen (21) and Luke Webb (22) took the score into the 50s before both were out in quick succession. Jason Rance (36) then joined Andy Goddard (33) in a well compiled partnership of 66 when the former was dismissed to be followed soon after by the latter with the score on 128 for 5 and the game in the balance. Tom Free fell cheaply before what proved to be a match winning stand between Pip France and Gift Kwatsha (18) took the score to 195 for7. France ( the man not the country!) eventually fell in the final over at 213 for a hard hit 53 off only 37 balls leaving Chris Bridges and Umar Aslam to score the few remaining runs needed for a two wicket victory. With Stoke Green losing Chesham are now a mere 5 points behind and the title beckons.
In the 2ndX1 matchat the Meadow, Tring Park 2nds batted first and had reached 68 apparently without much difficulty before losing their first wicket. With the gates thus opened their remaining wickets fell for the addition of only 44 runs as they were all out for 112, having failed to cope with the spin of Nouman Aslam (6 for 13) and Chris Royals (4 for 23) , the innings ending just as the heavens also opened. With most of their innings played in intermittent rain Chesham owed much to the determination of Brendon O’Donovan (50) and Ed Turner (30) to see them home by 5 wickets. Thanks were also due the cooperation of a pair of apparently waterproof umpires and the good sportsmanship of the Tring players in continuing although severely handicapped by a soaking wet ball. Chesham are now safe from relegation worries.
The 3rd X1 game against Beaconsfield 2s was abandoned after Chesham had declared on 178 for 6 with Phil John top scoring with 43. The 4th X1 might have preferred to be rained off as they suffered heavy defeat by Farnham Common who overtook Chesham’s meagre total of 74 for the loss of a solitary wicket. Oh Captain, my Captain, where were you in our hour of need!
In the Chess Valley Sunday League Div1 Chesham were beaten by Harrow St Mary by 8 wickets.