Ist XI: Denham Challenge Brushed Aside

Denham lost their first game of the new season to Penn and Tylers Green by 8 wickets on Saturday.

Asked to bat first Denham scored slowly but looked likely of making a score in excess of 200 as Rai made 52 and Sabherwal 45. However 5 wickets from Hyde saw Denham bowled out for just 159.

Penn had no trouble in knocking off the runs and did so for the loss of just 2 wickets. Radford being the top scorer with 64 not out.

Denham 4pts Penn & Tylers Green 20pts

The pond at Tylers Green. Tis said they drown losing cricketers there to feed the fish...

2nd XI v White Waltham

Catch a falling star…..

Whites were un-crumpled from the bottom of coffins and kit bags that had resided in the back of the cupboard under the stairs for the last 6 months. Bats (of the cricketing variety) were grabbed from the back of the wardrobe or under the bed. Crusty boots and spikes were pulled on and we were ready to go! And so it began…..the Morrant Chilterns League Division 2, 2nd XI 2007 season.

Match day had been proceeded by the warmest April on record so it was of no surprise to see grey clouds scudding across the sky at the start of the game and temperatures back to where they should be for the start of an English cricket season: Cool and chilly. Sleeveless sweaters the order of the day.

The toss was won. A good start (at times last season this was as good as it got on game day but the author shall remain more optimistic at the start of a virgin season) and White Waltham were asked to bat.

The game generally meandered along for most of the afternoon which in general was nice for the first game back in the saddle. Simpson, O’Hara (junior; 4/59) and Ashworth bowled with control and thought and we did OK. WW were restricted to 201 for 8. Much due to a cultured 93 from skipper Dennis Allen.

Football they say is a game of two halves, I would suggest that cricket is a game of batting, bowling, fielding and catching. Yes, catching: we failed abysmally to appreciate that if the ball comes to a fielder in the air, without having touched the ground, after it has left the willow wand it should be his moral intent/duty/responsibility/obligation to catch the damn thing! Not today.

The innings interval was enhanced considerably by a splendid spread on the tea table: Fresh and fluffy sarnies and all manner of other savoury and sweet goodies. Thank you Mrs Simpson.

So two hundred runs to get and then we win: simple. And so it seemed for the first 12 overs: Dalton (34) and Tobin (28) tucked in (even after such a stupendous teatime feast) and reached 60 odd. Then the cards (and wickets) came slowly tumbling down. A few runs from Simpson (24) and Schembri (15) and others and we continued the meandering to reach 161 for 7 from our 48 overs. Honours even.

White Waltham probably shaded it on the day and they got what they deserved and so did we: one game in and still unbeaten.

Sunday XI 6th May: Royal Household Are Unamused

Denham played the Royal Household last Sunday, in the beautiful setting of the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The team pose for photos

After a poor batting performance last year, skipper Bobby Rai decided to field first and an early success by Ambrose Treacy signalled an encouraging start.

However, the batsmen soon got into their stride and made it a difficult afternoon for the bowlers and fielders, posting a score of 316 for 4.

James Nicholas with two wickets and Harish Bhatt with one wicket were the only other successful bowlers.

During the overpriced tea, overlooking the rows of 07 Range Rovers sitting idle on the estate, Denham contemplated their mighty task.

Their reply began well with an opening stand of 86 from Bobby and Akhil Saberwal.

Even after James Nicholas was out, with the score on 122, there seemed to be plenty of batting to come.

However, the batting failures of recent weeks continued and Denham subsided to 159 all out, with Bobby top-scoring on 69 and Akhil making a stylish 36.

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2nd XI Continued

Last year we had the champagne moment, this year we will have the lowlight and highlight….

Highlight: definitely tea. No question.

Lowlight: our catching. No question.

Denham 7 points, White Waltham 13 points.

The other games were fairly one-sided, with Braywood, Binfield and Cookham Dean returning 30-pointers, and with Amersham Hill also winning.