Cross Arrows CC v Amersham CC Saturday 1st X1 on Tue 19 Sep 2006 at 11.00am
Amersham CC Won 35 runs
In a fitting end to the club's 150th anniversary celebrations Amersham concluded their season with a visit to Lord's to play against MCC side Cross Arrows on the Nursery ground.
Having been inserted on a lifeless wicket and after considering the small boundaries and quick outfield, Amersham knew they would have to bat aggressively to set a defensible total. Opener Rob Viney (74) set the tone by taking three boundaries from the opening over and then continued to bat impressively in partnership with brother Andrew (39). In addition to blunting the Cross Arrows attack, the Vineys' 113 run partnership allowed Paul Weston sufficient time to recuperate from a painful back spasm and take up his rightful place at first wicket down.
Having come through adversity, Weston was not prepared to let his Lord's opportunity slip and tore into the bowling, freeing his arms to record 12 fours and eight sixes on his way to a dominant hundred. Weston was ably supported by Luke Jackson (38*) who calmly claimed the club batting trophy by three runs with his trademark insouciance.
Buoyed by the large total behind them, Amersham gave the new ball to left arm mafia Danny Bulman and Duncan "media centre" Ward. Both men were rewarded for excellent spells by uprooting the stumps of one the Cross Arrows openers apiece. However, Cross Arrows fought back aggressively as Alam (86) and Lunel (68) engineering a breathtaking partnership of 148 in just over an hour of play, with Alam particularly severe on the Amersham bowling, as he treated pace and spin alike with disdain.
Amersham needed a moment of brilliance to stem the flow of runs, duly provided, as so often this season, by Bulman. Alam lofted a Chris Owen delivery towards the short long-off boundary, only for Bulman to extend a long arm and pluck the seemingly certain six from the air. With one end now open, Amersham found an effective bowling partnership in Owen and Chris Sowden; the low-bouncing wicket aiding Owen's skiddy seamers and slower balls while Sowden aimed relentlessly at the base of the stumps at a brisk pace.
The Cross Arrows batsmen continued to attack in search of the victory despite wickets falling at regular intervals. When the ninth wicket fell, Cross Arrows still required 55 runs for victory but Morrick shepherded the strike and struck out powerfully to give Amersham cause for concern. However, Sowden was not to be denied and removed Morrick's middle stump to conclude a memorable day and memorable season for the club.
Chris Owen
Amersham CC Saturday 1st X1 Batting
310 for 4
Cross Arrows CC Bowling
Cross Arrows CC Batting
275 for 10
Amersham CC Saturday 1st X1 Bowling