Third win in a row against a youthful Redbourn team

Our fourth game was once again away, this time to Redbourn who we played in the controversial seasons opener last year, the controversy being captain Downes not walking after a highly suspicious noise which most people in Hertfordshire heard, resulting in a letter being written to the club – not bad going for our first week in the Herts League! He still insists that he didn’t hit it. Redbourn had clearly come prepared this time and provided an umpire, much to our amusement.

Yet again Captain Downes lost the toss and Redbourn put us in to bat. Conor Spicer, the tall young opening bowler bowled a useful opening spell down the hill, using his height and the hill to good effect. At the other end P. Cridland bowled at a gentle medium pace and his second over went for 12 runs to get the Village off to a steady start. In the fifth over Spicer bowled George Lee for 9, with Rory MacLeod coming to the crease having learnt the lesson of the week before and not being left in the toilet. Runs came fairly easily until the last ball of the ninth over when Spicer had Zaf caught behind for 14 (44 for 2). Pete Jaffe strode in and watched from the other end for an over before striding back out after being caught first ball at slip from off a short wide ball from Spicer, playing the shot he had just been talking about not playing! (54-3) Jon Bird and Rory defended solidly for the next few overs before gradually upping the run rate once more. The change bowler Raymond Smyth was bowling down the hill with great variation, producing a mixture of beamers and long hops to an accompaniment of grunts and snorts as he steamed in down the hill, before surprising Rory, who had just passed 50, with a fine ball which clipped the top of off stump (112-4). Dave Flavell (13) played a short innings before also being surprised by a similar ball to the one which dismissed Rory (140-5). At the other end Jon Bird got hit in the ribs by another beamer! Sanket Shah (20) played in his usual lively style and together with Jon Bird rapidly pushed the score on before Jon was caught for 39 (181-6). This left Sanket and Wingnut, a marriage made in heaven, at the crease. Opening bowler Spicer returned to the bowling attack, only for his first over to go for 10. Sanket was out in Spicer’s second over, by a great one-handed catch at square leg by Tom Cridland (196-7). Sanket was so surprised that he didn’t walk immediately, desperately trying to think of an excuse not to be out. Darshan ‘Quacky’ Raval came in and was removed for his usual duck caught at slip by Bajpai to give Spicer his 5th wicket (196-8 from 39 overs). Wingnut then pushed the score on with a lively 30 not out, assisted by Richard Downes (3 not out) before we declared on 227-8 from 44 overs.

The Redbourn innings started with Quacky and Downes bowling with the old ball. Darshan had opener P Cridland dropped by Downes at point before Downes fortunately had him out LBW to a ball which pitched outside leg. Darshan then bowled the other opener to leave Redbourn on 9-2. Downes then caught and bowled N Marino and had M Cramer caught at mid off by Birju Lukka (17-4). Dan Lennox (18) was then well run out by Zaf after a poor mix with other batsman Tom Cridland. (29-5). Cridland then managed to run out J Jackson after good work by Birju (29-6), and Wingnut took a lovely catch at gully off Darshan’s bowling to remove Bajpai (30-7). Cridland and Duncan Lennox then battened down the hatches and the score crawled along to 47 before Lennox was caught by Sanket off Birju. The snorting R Smyth then livened up the innings with a few lusty blows and few more swings and misses before mistiming one to Flavell at mid on off Burger again (58-9). Fittingly, the final wicket of Spicer came from a run out by Sanket to give T Cridland (12 not out) his hat trick of run outs. Redbourn 64 all out, MHV win by 163 runs.

Conclusions
A hard game for a young Redbourn side who will only get better. Village for once batted and fielded well to complement their usual excellent bowling.

Mill Hill Village 30 points, Redbourn 3.

Duck Board
Darshan Raval 2
Zaf Basit 1
Marcus Cara 1
Lee Crocker 1
Dave Wing 1
Pete Jaffe 1