Sunday XI: Ivor Heathed

Stuart Payne after his wicket

James Nicholas's Report

After Saturday's mid-afternoon downpour, Denham batted first (versus Iver Heath) on a pitch where the ends were bone dry and the middle two thirds were mud.

Considering this, the pitch actually played its best for quite some time and opening pair Russell Bowry and James Nicholas piled on the runs right from the word go. Russell in particular looked in superb form, punishing the Iver Heath opening bowlers to all parts and bringing up his 50 inside 9 overs. He fell soon after to a splendid catch on the boundary for 52.

Denham continued to score freely and most batsmen got starts. James looked in fine form until being given out LBW dubiously for a well made 26. Joe O’Hara also produced an excellent display of hitting to make 45, including some trademark massive sixes and he was well supported by Jeff Simpson who made a good 38.

Denham were bowled out just before the end of their 40 overs for a formidable 251.

Denham’s two 1st team opening bowlers Faisal Mahmood and Phil Dickson opened the attack and soon had the Iver Heath reply in tatters.

With the score on 27/4, captain Bobby Rai decided to let everyone turn their arm over and with his 2nd ball Muttiah Muralithuran (oh sorry, I meant Stuart Payne) took another wicket with Joe taking the catch at mid on. Joe had previously given odds of 100-1 of Paynie taking a wicket first ball. I wonder if he’d have caught the catch had it come to him a ball earlier?

At one point Iver almost got back in the game as some of the part time bowlers strayed off line, but the re-introduction of Faisal soon ended any hopes they may have had and their innings petered out for 180, giving Denham victory by 71 runs.

Denham
Bowry 52
Nicholas 26
Rai 20
Seedall 13
Simpson 38
O’Hara J 45
Mahmood 21
Braithwaite 7
Payne 10
Dickson 0
Coulson not out 5

Iver Heath Bowling:
Stanfield 8.0.51.2
Seymour 8.0.42.0
Williams 8.1.50.3
Ferris 6.0.34.1
Vigar 8.0.54.3
Taylor 1.0.6.0
Mitchell 0.2.0.6.1

Iver Heath
Mitchell 25
Terry 14
Seymour A 0
Williams 0
Clark 1
Smith 2
Ferris 46
Taylor 41
Seymour 31
Vigar 2
Stanfield 2 not out

Denham Bowling:
Dickson 7.0.25.2
Mahmood 7.2.2.19.3
Payne 2.0.17.1
Nicholas 6.0.26.0
Bowry 2.0.13.0
Simpson 3.0.9.0
Seedall 3.0.23.0
O’Hara 3.0.20.0
Rai 2.0.20.1

League Tables, 4/9/05 | 1st Team Averages 21/08/05 | Sunday & Non-League Averages (11/09/05)