Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

Summary

The 2nd XI had a commanding victory over Braywood 2nd XI, the 1st XI were destroyed by 'A Ringer' - a new Braywood player - but the outstanding performance of the weekend was Gary Hales's 206 not out to enable the Sunday side to do the double over Uxbridge 2nd XI.

Denham v Braywood 1st XI (No scorecard - problem with book)

Denham had Braywood struggling at 97/5, when in came their mystery player, Ayub. He was from Bradford, some said. Others noticed that when he bowled later, he had to have his field positionings translated into English. Wherever he came from, his 67 got Braywood up to a respectable 227/9, with Trevor Blackburn Denham's most successful bowler with 3/65.

Denham got off to a reasonable start, with Paul Hazell (48) and Flash Tobin (28). Then on came Ayub. He looked like an orthodox off-spinner, then every so often he would bowl the wide one which turned in to take the stumps form three feet away. A little while later Denham were all out for 147 with Ayub having taken 7 for 26.

Denham v Braywood 2nd XI (No scorecard - book not available)

Denham 2nd XI soon had the visitors in trouble due to some excellent bowling by Faisal (4/32 off his 15 overs). They never recovered and were dismissed for 89, with Mark Shephard, Simon Johnson and Akhil each chipping in with 2 wickets.

Denham swept to victory in under 12 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets, with Mark Dalton (43 not out) back to his old form and well supported by Mark Shephard (28).

This victory means Denham are only 11 and 12 points respectively behind Binfield and Wargrave, with Hurley and Braywood only another 10 or so points further away.

Sunday XI v Uxbridge 2nd XI (See scorecard)

Uxbridge were hampered when two of their players did not turn up. They were to be even more hampered when Gary Hales got going. We were privileged to see one of the best batting displays by a Denham player for many a year.

Dave Tang (28) supported him well in an opening partnership of 132 - Gary was over 90 at this time.

He soon reached his (first) hundred and still looked as fresh as a daisy - mind you, most of his runs had come in boundaries, with just the odd single at the end of the over to keep the strike. His timing had been so good that he had hardly seemed to touch the ball - apart from those he hit for six. He did seem to be putting some effort in trying to clear the trees at the Bowls Club side, achieving it at least once.

He knuckled down again and reached 150 with about 10 overs of the 40 remaining.

Could he get to 200? There were some unwelcome signs that he was getting tired and finding fielders with his drives and pulls. But then he got a second wind and started finding the boundary again. At the end of the 40 overs he had reached 206 not out in 126 balls received, out of a Denham total of 299/4. It was a truly magnificent innings.

When Harish Bhatt acquired two early wickets via two spectacular catches from Skipper Brathwaite, we hoped for a quick victory, but Suleman (83) and Tinsley (78) rallied well and knocked up a threatening 160 for the third wicket. It was the irrepressible Ambrose Treacy who broke the partnership (ending up with 3/50), as the Uxbridge challenge subsided in darkening skies, finishing at 246/6 off their 50 overs.