Chesham CC 1^ST August

An important victory over Stoke Green for the Chesham 1^st X1 has resulted in them climbing up to second place in Div 1 of the Thames Valley League. However, this win was not achieved without considerable angst and owed much to a fine knock by skipper Jason Rance. Batting first, Chesham were in immediate trouble, losing their first four wickets for a paltry 32 runs to the wiles of Stoke Green’s first class experienced spin attack. As all others fell around him Jason Rance hit out and received some support in a partnership of 45 with Chris Hedges (10), the only other batsman to reach double figures. It was only when the total had reached 138 that Jason finally became the 9^th wicket to fall after a great innings of 87 made out of the 106 runs scored while he was at the wicket. The last wicket fell in the 39^th over soon after without further addition to the score. In reply, Stoke Green found runs just as hard to come by and both Dan Babula and Asad Rehman (2 for 27) took early wickets. Wickets then fell regularly mainly to the hostile pace of Babula (4 for 63) and later to off spinner Umar Aslam ( 3 for 17) before, in a tense finish, the Green were dismissed for 120 in 44 overs to give Chesham 25 valuable points.

At home in Div 2a the 2^nd X1 fared less well after batting adventurously to total 254 for 7 dec in 50 overs against Old Merchant Taylor’s 1^st X1. After an opening half century stand between Jamie Gardiner (32) and Richard Gregory (25), young debutant Tom McInley smashed a quick 37 before a fluent century partnership between Graham Rance (63) and fifteen year old Nouman Aslam (57*) enabled an early declaration. In the field however, the Chesham bowlers, not helped by 5 dropped catches, struggled to contain the OMT batsmen who cruised to victory for the loss of only five wickets, Jamie Anderson taking 3 for 50.

In Div 5a the 2^nd X1 scored freely to total 252 for 8 dec, in which Julian Swain hit 101, Ed Turner 65 and Matt Yeabsley 46. Boyne Hill made little effort to chase this score and were content to hold out at 207 for 8 off 50 overs.