Scorecard

Northwood Cricket Club 1st XI v Watford Town on Sat 04 Jun 2011 at 1:00
Northwood Cricket Club Won

Match report Result: Won




Northwood faced old adversaries Watford Town against whom we have had some battles in the past , most of them involving the LBW Law. This was to be no exception. Watford’s skpper Neil Sen won the toss and asked us to bat probably because he thought they could bowl us out cheaply , which on previous stats probably was a fair shout. Still we would have batted first anyway and on a hot sunny afternoon, batting was the preferred option.

Ali Khan turned up late having been ill all morning but managed to get to the crease with Nuss. He hit 3 fours through the covers, before getting under one and being caught at fine leg by a fielder who was apparently in the wrong place. That was to be the end of his day as he went to hospital as he was still ill. throwing up. He never returned to the ground as the hospital wouldn’t let him out. Northwood would be down to ten in the field.

Stewie then joined Nuss at the crease and together they built up a good platform from which the team could build. Both hit the bad ball to the boundary and rotated the strike around well apart from when Nuss took a three to Watford's overseas player who would have run out Stewie from the Farm by about half a pitch. Khaled Manzoor came on to bowl and tricked Nuss by changing from bowling off spin to leg breaks. This was weathered and they took the score to 115 before both were to be adjudged LBW, Nuss to the non spinning left arm spinner for 35 and Stewie out for 47, 3 short of a well deserved 50. Max Sidiqui and Mahmood came and went, Mahmood disappearing completely in his car before tea and not returning. Gobbo using his new bat looked in confident mood, with David Goodhew hitting 24 in his usual rombustuous manner before being bowled. At 169 for 6, Steve Hussey came to the crease joined Gobbo, and they took the score up to 197 with Gobbo finally out for 15. Umar Khan, Ali’s little brother and James Lewis came and went with Jamie’s average plummeting further to 1.5 beaten by the slower ball. Steve Huss took the score up to 204 before he was caiught behind for 19.

Jackie Watson did her usual excellent tea, and Northwood took the field with no Ali, still in hospital and with Mahmood nowhere to be seen. There must have been something in the tuna sandwiches as Watford went off like a train. Mo Manzoor must have had a party to go to as he hit the ball to all parts. Jims went for 43 in three overs and Stewie 22 in 2 and off 7 overs Town were 59 and the two less fielders things did not look good. Goodspons then bought on Gobbo at the Gate end, and one over later Umar Khan came on. We all remember watching Shane Warne’s introduction to the world stage where he stuffed Gatts out of sight. Those at Northwood on Saturday will say similar things for Umar’s first ever ball for Northwood. This pitched outside Mo’s off stump and span in to take the top of middle stump. This gave the Northwood boys heart seeing the free scoring batsman dismissed for 38 with such a wonder ball.

Gobbo got in to the act getting number 3 caught by Stewie at Mid off but the Town keeper who opened the innings was getting increasingly frsuttrated not being able to score freely . He took exception to Gobbo strangled appeal which he hit and this broke his concentration. Stange how some folk appeal for everything when they are fielding and when they are batting you cant politely enquire of the umpire as to the straightness of that delivery. Good for us when he got out as he was in, but not good for Town as he played right across a straight one off Gobbo, much to skpper Sen’s annoyance. 60 for three.

At this point runs were getting extremely hard to come by. Both Gobbo and Umar bowled extremely tidly proving extremely difficult to get either of them away, with Umar proving very difficult to play with the amount of turn he was getting. With only 7 fielders skipper Goodspons was inspired, placing fielders in exactly the right places to strangle the Watford response and make runs a premium.

Umar then caught Khaled Manzoor snaffling a hard hit caught and bowled with consummate ease. 110 for 4. Goodspons chased on from slip to third man and with a direct hit he accounted for Afridi. Neil sen skipper was getting increasingly frustrated. He played straight and was very circumspect but no runs were being scored. He then hit Umar in the air to Jims at Long on. Maverick still had a lot to do to get underneath the ball. He ran in full pelt and caught if diving down in front of him. This was a key wicket Neil can be a destructive player often taking a game away from the opposition. Northwood started to smell the lager at 111 for 5 and Goobo was starting to salivate , visualising his jug. Raj Alhuwalia went LBW to Gobbo for 0 followed by Number 8. another LBW victim. 124 for 8. Umar got his fourth by trapping number 10 LBW to finish on 4 for 40.

The final wicket came to Gobbo which was good as this meant he had to buy a jug. Number 10 tried to whack the ball. He missed a straight one and was bowled. Watford finishing on 145 all out, with Gobbo taking 5-50.

With 9 players, Northowod showed what could be done in adversity. All played their part in the field with no misfields, no dropped catches, building pressure on an increasingly frustrated Watford Town. The team spirit was excellent. David Ball commented that the fielding was some of the best he had seen us come up with. David Goodhew had every position covered and Umar and Gobbo bowled with guile precision and great accuracy . Just shows you what you can do. Let's build on that and with players coming back aim for 30 points against our friends and old enemy, Abbots Langley next week!! Big game. Either that or get Judy to put something special in next week's teas.

Northwood Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
204		        
Ali Khan Caught  16
Nigel Hussey Lbw  33
Stuart Reeve Lbw  47 1
Aleem Sidiqi Bowled  4
A Mahmood Bowled  6
Paul Richardson Caught  11
David Goodhew Bowled  24
Steve Hussey Caught  19
Umar Khan Lbw  0 1
James Lewis Bowled  0 1
Ram Nandiraju Not Out  0

Watford Town Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Watford Town Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
145 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Northwood Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Lewis3.003200.0010.67
Stuart Reeve2.002200.0011.00
Paul Richardson16.3350510.003.03
Umar Khan16.0440410.002.50