Ist XI Beaten ...

...But we're still top of the table

The 1st XI lost their first match of the season on Saturday, against Winchmore Hill, in a last-over thriller.

Denham batted first and knocked up a respectable 226-8 off the maximum 52 overs, with Russell Bowry top-scoring on 51.

Winchmore Hill overtook that total with just one ball to spare: 227-6 off 47.5 overs.

Denham 8pts Winchmore Hill 20pts. Denham are still top, 3 points clear of Braywood and Hurley, with Winchmore Hill just 2 points behind them.

Sunday XI (12th) v Woodley:

James Nicholas's Report

Skipper for the day, Russell Bowry won the toss and put Woodley into bat.

A tight start from Denham opening bowlers Phil Dickson and James Nicholas kept runs to a minimum early on, but they struggled to take wickets regularly until Woodley were pushing for runs towards the end of the innings.

Stanley had been the mainstay for most of the innings until dismissed by Harish Bhatt for 62. Harish came up with some very colourful appeals as usual, including a massive roar of howzat when actually bowling Barraclough middle stump for 34!

James Nicholas was brought back into the attack at the end of the innings to bowl some leg spin (mainly to try and give Woodley some more runs for us to chase) and picked up a wicket when Riaz played on for 12. Woodley finished on a competitive 202/6 from their 40 overs.

In reply Denham lost a wicket early on with Stuart 'The Excusemeister' Payne getting caught off a ball that hit him 'high up on the bat'.

James Nicholas and Faisal Mahmood then put on 41 for the next wicket before Faisal was bowled by a short pitched ball that shot along the ground. James was struggling to keep rather too many of these sorts of deliveries out, and only just managed it on several occasions.

Recent century maker, Jamil was then dismissed for just 1 bringing Richie 'You bowl it anywhere and I'll hit it through mid wicket' Braithwaite to the crease. Richie lived up to his name and with an excellent display of hitting made 37 before finally skying one.

At 119/5 Denham needed just under 7 an over with Steve Bull joining James at the wicket. Both produced an excellent display of running between the wickets to bring the score required down to 18 from 3 overs.

However Woodley fought back with some very tight bowling and when James mullered the ball back past the bowler for a certain four, it struck Bully on his bat and dropped at his feet. This would have put Denham right back in the driving seat.

With Bully then run out in the final over for a well fought 22 it was left to Russell Bowry to try and score the 2 runs needed for victory from the final ball. A swing and a miss and Woodley won the game by 1 run with James stranded at the non-strikers end on 80 not out.

A disappointing end to a very closely contested game played in excellent spirit by both teams.

2nd XI: Satchmo Sings!

The Twos go marching on!

Skipper Payne's Report

The circus moved on to Binfield, where, upon yours truly winning the toss, it was decided to field first on what looked like a good batting strip.

Ambrose Treacy and Akhil Saberwhal started off steadily, although both were guilty of bowling too many wides. Indeed, Akhil managed to bowl opener Coleshill second ball, only to be no-balled.

This set the tempo of the day, while we kept Binfield's batsmen quiet, top score was set by extras, with 46: 30 wides and 9 no balls.

Dave Tang took a stunning catch in the second over , only to break his finger, heal thyself physician.

A steady 25 by B. Hughes was sufficient to set us 157 to win, with the pick of the bowling Ambrose's 15 overs, 4 for 46, while Akhil chipped in with 3/24. It would have been a Michelle, but for the Rock inexplicably bringing a slip catch under control with his chest, before realising he should have pouched it. He'll have that bruise to remind him for a while.

We set off with Bobbie Rai and Mark Dalton putting on 31 steadily for the first wicket. When Bobbie fell for 19, Mark was joined by Chris Ambler, who seemed to have sewn the game up for us. However, Denham can't be expected to win comfortably. With Mark departing for 44 at 99, we quickly became 105 for 4.

Ambrose, having regaled me with tales of derring-do in the last two seasons, succumbed to a duck, and last weeks hero J.K. made only 2. The skipper, not looking to shirk responsibilty, took to the crease, faced the last ball of the over, and then spoke to Mr. Ambler. Let's settle it down, have a look for a few overs, and take it from there. Next ball Chris is back in the pavilion, obviously stirred by the battle call.

Akhil joined me, and we steadily tried to keep the ship afloat. Akhil, striking the ball well, kept the momentum up. Despite the barracking from the boundary to speed it up, informing all and sundry "we've plenty of wickets in hand", we edged towards the total.

With 30 runs needed from the last 6 overs, some cow pie was called for. A couple of rural heaves from Farmer Giles at the skipper's end, saw us home in the last over with 5 balls to spare.

Mr. Simpson's comment that it was left too late, was riposted that it would only have been too late if we hadn't won.

With the whole team breathing a sigh of relief that Umpire Knowlson would be unable to barrack them for giving a game away by such wasteful bowling, Denham 2's stride on.

5 pts to Binfield, 20 pts to Denham. Only Littlewick Green now stand between Denham and the top spot.

Woodley
R Stanley 62
G Wickens 7
M Barraclough 34
T Bucknall 27 not out
A Riaz 12
J Raja 2
K Brant 20
D Foster 4
Total 202/6 in 40 overs

Bowling Dickson 8.3.15.1 Nicholas 8.0.28.1 G O'Hara 8.1.37.0 Ashworth 8.2.35.0 Bhatt 6.0.43.3 Mahmood 2.0.29.1

Denham
S Payne 9
F Mahmood 28
J Nicholas 80 not out
J Shaikh 1
R Braithwaite 37
S Bull 22
R Bowry 0
Total 201/6 in 40 overs

Bowling Y Khan 7.2.22.1 Reeves 6.0.33.0 Foster 5.1.21.1 Riaz 7.1.31.1 Raja 8.1.37.1 Brant 7.0.43.0