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Summary

James Nicholas shone with bat and ball on both days, but Denham drew both League games with Winchmore Hill sides and lost narrrowly to Odney on Sunday.

Denham v Winchmore Hill 1st XI (Scorecard )

Denham enjoyed a fine start of 86 for the first wicket from Stuart Payne and James Nicholas before the skipper perished for 26. James carried on, playing with great fluency, to falter just 8 short of a well-deserved century.

Dave Maynard chipped in with 23 and Paul Hazell was back to his majestic best, crashing an unbeaten 79 as Denham reached 253/4 off their 52 overs. One of Paul's sixes landed on the Winchmore Hill pavilion roof - and wedged there.

Phil Dickson bowled a very fine spell of containing bowling (0/30 off 15 overs), and Winchmore Hill fell behind the rate to the extent that they needed 10 an over. Then Dodderidge and C Massey started to get the 10 an over.

A fine piece of cunning captaincy ensued. They had been running smart twos to Pete Schembri on the boundary. Pete was quietly motioned to come 10 yards forward. Next time they tried it, a smart pick-up and throw from Pete resulted in the dangerous Dodderidge bring run out for 81. Soon afterwards Dave Hales came back to winkle out Massey for 63.

The new batsmen scrambled singles. It came down to 20 wanted off the last 2 overs. An excellent penultimate over from James Nicholas gave away only 2 runs and they managed only 11 from the final one to reach 247/4 at the end of their 48 overs. A fine and even contest.

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

Winchmore Hill went all out to ensure they got the points they needed to guarantee winning the League, notching up an unassailable 255/8 in the process. The Stallion, after spending half the match behind the stumps, and taking an absolute blinder of a diving catch (his words not mine!), took off the wicketkeeper's pads and produced 3/44 with the ball. Faisal also took 3 wickets.

Denham performed less well with the bat, depite creditable knocks by Faisal (42) and Ambrose Treacy (48). Poor Ambrose was suckered out of his fifty by the youngest member of the opposition.

It was obviously going top be a draw with Denham 149/7 with 3 balls to go. A wicket fell and panic ensued.

Young Master Daniel Leach was promoted in the order to see out the last two balls. He was given detailed instructions: "Just block out the balls", "If it's not on the stumps ignore it", and so on.

Down came the first of the deliveries. "Oh no", cried the crowd, as he slashed at one outside off stump and the ball went high in the direction of the slips -

- and through them. Daniel had scored a run for Denham 2nd XI (Was it his first run for them? It certainly won't be his last).

The next ball was boringly blocked by the other batsman and the match ended with Denham 150/8, with Winchmore Hill caring more that they had won the League with a week to spare.

Sunday XI Match v Odney (Scorecard )

Denham got off to a fine start with Dave Matthews and James Nicholas, reaching 90 for the fall of the first wicket (Dave, for a fine 40). After James was out for 63, Denham lost their way for a while (3 wickets fell with the score 179). Dave Maynard (27) and Andy Leach (31) contributed rapid cameos and some scrambled runs from the tail got Denham up to a competitive 202/8 off their 40 overs.

For Odney, Weight, despite injuring himself so he could only bowl off two paces, plundered 3/20, while Roberts put the brake on proceedings with his 2/33, and Finlay (2/60) picked up both openers.

After a slow start Tim Roberts started flaying the ball to all parts. Jack Grover got him eventually, through an excellent catch by Dave Maynard, but by then it was too late. Roberts had scored 114 and Odney were in sight of victory. Despite the best efforts of James Nicholas (1/27 off his 8 overs), and Richie Brathwaite (bringing himself on too late in the match: 1/17 off 4.4 overs) Odney reached their target in the near darkness with 14 balls and 7 wickets to spare.