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Tons Galore July 18th/19th 2003

Denham 1st XI overhauled Little Marlow's formidable 262 in an epic run chase, the Second XI scored over 300 but couldn't winkle out Wargrave, while the Sunday XI finished just 4 runs short of The Lee's 248 in a tense and thrilling 40-over match.

1st XI v Little Marlow

The Little Marlow openers took full advantage of a perfect batting track and knocked up 230 at high speed before being separated. Even the immaculate Phil Dickson was a little flustered, his 15 overs costing 1/95. Their captain declared on 262/2 after just 40 overs. This left a lot of overs to get Denham out; they wouldn't escape this time...

Stuart Payne (18) and Flash Tobin (20) got Denham off to a sound start, but the accelerator was really pressed to the floor when Chris Johnson (59) and Joe O'Hara (44) came together in a dashing partnership of 106. The infamous Fenwick was struck for 5 fours in an over by Chris. Paul Hazell (49) and David Hales (44 not out) then took up the cudgels, with Denham passing the Little Marlow score after 56 overs, and with 3 wickets to spare.

2nd XI v Wargrave: Shepherd's 186

Mark Shepherd produced the innings of his life on Saturday, knocking up 186 out of Denham's immense 304, with Ambrose Treacy (57) being content to play second fiddle most of the time. Our roving reporter, Sam Rogers, said that Mark's first 60 runs came in only 17 shots, but that he was dropped when at 16, 30, 30 and 116.

Ambrose and Mark were also in the wickets, but this time it was Ambrose with the lion's share (4). Wargave made a good fist of the chase initially, but shut up shop when the sixth wicket went down, finishing over 60 short of the Denham total but still achieving the draw.

Sunday XI v The Lee: Hazell Nuts 135

The Lee's classy opener Swain stroked himself to 133 runs unbeaten, most of it in partnership with Knott (47) and Bridgman (34), as the visitors posted the very competitive total of 248/5 off their 40 overs. Ian Collier (2/47) got a couple of early wickets making us hope in vain for another five-fer, while James Nicholas (skipper for the day) bowled with real bite for his 2/23 off 7.

Paul Hazell cunningly avoided a first-ball duck this week by sending in James Nicholas to open. James then managed the difficult balancing act of shouldering the ball onto his stumps first ball.

Paul and the irrepressible Chris Johnson (42) then knocked up 95 in quick time before Chris chased a very wide one and perished to the hostile Humphries (3/40). Martin Kenneally then gave Paul good support in a partnership of 69. By this time the asking rate was approaching 8 an over, while the visitors had ringed the boundary with everyone apart from the wicketkeeper, making boundaries hard to come by. The centurion Swain (2/44) was making it very difficult to score heavily off his end, while Kenelly (4/55) was beginning to take wickets as Denham's batsmen sought to take chances off him.

It came down to the last over with Denham needing 15 to win. Harish managed a couple of improbable boundaries and got down to the last ball with 5 to win. He swung mightily - but missed. The stumps were spreadeagled and Denham had lost by 4 runs. Paul was left high and dry at 135 not out.