AMERSHAM CC

Scorecard

Cove 2 v AMERSHAM CC Saturday 2nd X1 on Sat 31 May 2008 at 13:30
AMERSHAM CC Lost 5 Wkts

Match report Amersham II returned to earth with a five wicket defeat to Cove this week. Amersham arrived disappointed to find a pitch that had certainly not been covered in the days before the game. No suprise really upon winning the toss the Cove skipper decided to ask Amersham to bat first on a paddy field of a pitch, not helped by an outfield that had not seen a mower for a few days. Runs were going to be hard to come by and if we could post a total of 150 plus, this would be something we could defend. Amersham opened up with Nick Piper (14) and Steve Emsley (26), who batted very sensibly in the difficult conditions, with the ball jumping and seaming around. Emsley in particular playing his shots when the ball was pitched up to him. Emsley and Piper had added 34 valuable runs in the first fifteen overs, which was just what was required as the Cove opening attack was tiring. Emsley was unfortunately bowled by the Cove first change bowler which lead to a rapid fall of wickets and Amersham declining from 45-1 to 81-7. James Dolleymore then decided that best form of defence was attack, in partnership with David Sidebottom (13) and Hanook Gill (11), proceeded to hit the Cove attack to all corners of the ground. He reserved his best for a mouthy colt Cove off-spinner, hitting him for 30 runs in two overs, including three huge sixes, this silenced him pretty quickly and leaving him with the expensive looking figures of 0-35 off 4 overs. Whilst Dolleymore was at the crease a final score of over 160 was possible. Unfortunately Dolleymore (53) was caught and bowled by Cove's best bowler Tomsett, who claimed 6-24, making a maiden Amersham half century. The remaining two wickets fell quite quickly and Amersham were eventually all out for 137, some twenty or thirty runs short of a stiff target.

After a superb tea Amersham took to the field knowing that they needed early wickets to put the pressure on Cove. This was not be as the pitch seemed to have flattened out and the Cove openers proceeded to follow James Dolleymore's tactic of punishing the bad ball. Amersham's bowlers were unable to find a consistent length and line, with the first wicket not falling until after fifty runs were on the board. Piper shuffled the bowlers around, in an effort to stem the runs. James Harmer made a welcome return to Amersham colours, conceding just 19 runs from his seven overs but it was not until the introduction of David McKay (2-12) together with Steve Emsley (2-53), in his second spell, did Amersham look threatening. Cove lost four wickets in getting the last twenty runs and left Amersham reflecting on a case of what could have been achieved with a few more runs and more accurate bowling in the first ten overs of Cove's innings. Cove reaching the target with five wickets and twenty overs in hand.

As a footnote to the game, I personally would like to place on record that having played over 25 years of senior league cricket, this had to be least enjoyable game I can ever recall playing. The consistent sledging and bad mouthing from the opposition, which in turn encouraged some of the more youthful Amersham players, completely ruined the game. When even county colts start to join in with this behaviour, you think where are they learning it from and what league cricket might be like in a few years time! I would ask that both teams reflect upon their behaviour and play the game in a fair but competitive spirit!

Whilst I am on my soapbox, I would like to point out that in the second eleven this season, we have already used 24 players in the first four league matches. If we are going to be competitive this season, we need a settled side and people committing to being available as much as possible over the next fourteen weeks. I look forward to seeing everybody putting as many ticks in the availability section as possible!

Nick Piper

AMERSHAM CC Saturday 2nd X1 Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
137		        
Nick Piper Caught  14
Steve Emsley Bowled  26
Andy Rhodes Lbw  4
James Heslop Caught  2
James Dolleymore Caught  53
David Sidebottom Bowled  13
Jerry Alwyn Lbw  0 2
David McKay Lbw  2 1
Hanook Gill Bowled  11
Matthew McKay Caught  0
James Harmer Not Out  0

Cove 2 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Cove 2 Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
140 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

AMERSHAM CC Saturday 2nd X1 Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Steve Emsley10.0253226.505.30
Hanook Gill5.011600.003.20
James Harmer7.011900.002.71
Matthew McKay6.0025125.004.17
David Sidebottom2.001400.007.00
David McKay3.411226.003.27