Chesham CC w/e 5thAugust
Chesham gained a notable home win over Home Counties Div 2 leaders Aston Rowant after for once winning the toss and inviting the visitors to bat. After a solid start Alex Watson took the first wicket with the score on 39 followed by the start of a long 19 over spell by Matt Rance in which he went on to take 3 for 52. Aston continued to bat slowly and wickets fell at regular intervals as Rance , Nouman Aslam and Pip France (2 for 57) established a strangle hold and had reached 133 for 6 after 50 overs. A belated hard hitting partnership between Wes Morrick and Leo Bethell then enabled the visitors to reach 181 for 6 off their allotted 58 overs. Chrsham’s reply began unpromisingly when opener Alex Morgan was bowled without scoring, but then followed two good partnerships; first 74 between Matt Rance (38) and Luke Webb and then 56 between Webb and Andy Goddard (17). When Webb was bowled soon after tea for a well compiled 78, followed by Mark Eteen shortly after, there were a few jitters amongst the home supporters before skipper Jason Rance (34*), supported by Robin Pritchard, made some lusty blows to carry his side home by 5 wickets in 46 overs. Next Saturday Chesham host struggling Reading.
The 2nd X1 were involved in an unsatisfactory draw away to Harefield 2s. Batting first, Chesham totalled 205 for 8 off their 52 overs, with Ed Turner (55) and Chris Hedges (46) the highest scorers. Harefield were soon in trouble at 39 for 4 but there then followed a long, tedious and unambitious partnership which took the final score to 117 for 4 off 48 overs. There seems little point in such an innings but mercifully from next week the remaining games revert to a straight win or lose format.
The 3rd X1 achieved a welcome victory over TVL 5a leaders Hillingdon Manor. Batting first, Chesham totalled 194, with Mark Newsome (46) top scoring. Hillingdon were then bowled out for 127, with David Hughes-D’Aeth taking 3 for 38.
The 4th X1 took part in a low scoring draw with Chalfont St Peter 2nds. In Chesham’s 124 total Stuart Watson top scored with 29 and in Chalfont’s reply of 92 for 7, Luke Saunders took 3 for 28.